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They were his people. That much was clear. The stories belonged to his past, but how much had the others exaggerated? Then his smile faltered as he looked toward her. Lydia’s fingers tightened on the menu. Had he remembered the question she’d asked him at the barn? Because she hadn’t forgotten his answer. He held up a finger to the other table and headed straight for her.

“Hey, sorry I’m late,” he whispered, brushing his lips to her temple. “Want to come over and meet my friends?”

Behind him, the table of strangers was still calling out to him, the others joining in with the first girl.

Lydia looked up at him. His touch against her temple was familiar enough to make her pulse quicken. She’d wanted this evening with him. She still did. But first, she needed to find out how much of what those people said was true.

“Hey,” he murmured again, “everything okay?”

She blinked several times, dragging herself from those spiraling thoughts. “What? Yeah, of course.”

Chet’s eyes stayed on her, concern bleeding into his entire demeanor.

She looked at their empty table. They’d chosen this dinner as a chance to spend time together again. She hadn’t expected to begin by asking why strangers had been the ones to tell her his past.

“Lydia? If you don’t want to meet them, that’s fine. We can order⁠—”

“No. No. I’m good.” She stood up. Her smile was tight, and she was sure he could tell. Meeting his friends would confirm whether she had it right. Then she and Chet could talk at their own table.

Chet’s hand slid into hers, and he tugged her over to the table. “Hey, guys. How’s it going?”

“Chet, man! What have you been up to?”

There were murmurs among the group as they offered updates on their lives. For a moment she assumed they wouldn’t bring up the rodeo at all. But then one of the guys leaned forward and asked, “Why aren’t you competing on the usual rodeo circuit? I’ve missed watching you in the arena.”

She stiffened. Not only that, but she could feel Chet’s hand tighten around hers. This was it. The moment of truth. She couldn’t have predicted his reaction even if she’d tried.

“I’m too busy right now. Got a business with Jason Dennison. Don’t really have time to compete these days.”

Right now. These days. Lydia held on to those two phrases while the conversation continued around her. He’d built a business here and talked about staying, but she still had no idea what had brought him off the circuit. Or what might draw him back. The question she’d practiced in the truck returned to her, carrying far more now. What future did he picture here?

So where did that leave her?

Did he see their relationship as part of that future?

Bile rose in the back of her throat, and she itched to pull her hand out of his.

“Hey,” one of the guys said, his attention on her. “I think I know you.”

She stared at the man, frozen. “I don’t think so.”

He snapped his fingers. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ve seen you around before. You dated that one guy. What was his name?”

“Oh yeah. Wasn’t it Dash?”

“That’s right.” The first guy nodded. “You were Dash’s girl.”

Dash’s girl. Nobody called her that anymore. These people remembered her from a life she’d already had to pick herself up from, and now she stood beside Chet while they waited for her to smile. She needed a minute alone so she didn’t have to pretend she was taking all this well.

She slipped her hand from Chet’s. “I need some fresh air.” With that, she hurried away.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Was it something I said?”

Chet stared after Lydia, his frown deepening. Jordan’s question barely registered until he was nudged.

“Dude, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”