Page 54 of Downpour

“Only one way to find out.” I closed up the bottle and took his hand. The world spun, but only a little.

“Come on.” CJ put a hand on my back and led me over to the horse. “Don’t do that,” he said when I reached out to touch Anarchy. “Have you ridden before?”

“When I was a kid at a birthday party. Does that count?”

“It does today. Climb up.”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to touch her.”

“She can’t bite you if you’re on her back.”

“No, but she can throw me off.”

“Not if I’m on there with you. Now get up on the saddle before you get deep-fried by the sun.”

Anarchy let her displeasure be known by huffing in annoyance when I put my sneaker in the stirrup. I did a half-decent job at heaving myself up with what little energy I had left.

“Saddle’s only made for one, so I’m going to sit behind it,” CJ said as he threw his leg over and settled on Anny’s back. “Hold on.”

He reached around me and grabbed the reins.

“You know Ray’s gonna chew your ass out about this, right?”

The thought of Ray anywhere near my ass made my spine turn electric.

“He’s the one who told me to go on a walk.”

CJ let a wry laugh slip. “Yeah, and he’s the one who called me when you didn’t come back after two hours and no one had seen you.”

“Two hours?” I thought I had only been gone for the thirty minutes I told Ray. “I’m so getting fired for this,” I grumbled.

“You’re gonna get yelled at, but you’re not getting fired. He likes you too much.”

“He doesn’t like me. He tolerates me.”

“For Ray, that’s the same thing.”

Anny picked up her pace and delivered us back to Ray’s house. He was sitting on the deck, scowling as CJ helped me down and marched me to my execution.

“Stay on the paths next time,” CJ said before tipping his chin at Ray. “Mind if I use your tap to refill my water?”

Ray cocked his head toward the sliding door, and CJ took that as a yes.

Ray didn’t say a word to me as I loped up the steps.

CJ passed me on his way back out. “Make sure you drink a lot. You’re gonna be sunburnt. Don’t forget what I said about staying on the paths.”

“Thanks. I will,” I said softly.

Silence hung between Ray and me as CJ rode away. “I’m sorry,” I whispered as I stood in front of him like a kid getting scolded. “I went too far and I was trying to find my way back, but I didn’t have service and then my phone died, and I?—”

“I was worried.” His stubbled jaw flexed with tension.

“CJ said you called him.”

“I called everyone.”

Guilt gnawed at me. “I’m sorry.”

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