Page 21 of SnapShot

She’s got a spicy attitude, and it takes an experienced rider to keep her in line, though I never had any issues with her. Maybe she could feel that we’ve always been kindred spirits.

Leading her out of the hauler, I take her to the stall and get her settled in for the night. I give her some hay, grain, and an Oreo as a special treat. Grams used to get so irritated with me when I did that.

“You’re going to give her diabetes. The poor girl,” she’d chastise.

Thinking of her brings a small smile to my lips. I try not to think of her often because I can’t shoulder the pain for long. She was my entire world, and when she pops into my head, it’s usually the shell of her that I cared for until her end. I suppose that’s why I don’t like to revisit the past if I can help it.

“Hey, no tears. This is supposed to be a fun girls’ trip,” Kate encourages from Bully’s stall next door. I offer her a nod and a smile.

“You’re right. No tears.”

Bully is Kate’s solid black stud who is the same age as Sasha. She’s had him just as long as I’ve had Sasha. Our animals have been through everything with us. They’re getting up in age but still act like foals most of the time. I can remember training the hard-headed little things. Kate and I would switch houses every day after school to work with both horses equally. Eventually, we had two incredible animals to get into trouble with, and we definitely did.

Kate’s parents didn’t live but a half mile down the road, so we would sneak out at night, taking the horses on joy rides beneath the glistening moon. When we became teenagers, we would ride up to the football players’ bonfires after a Friday night win. Most times, a plethora of alcohol was involved as well. We used the horses to avoid getting any DUI’s. Worked like a charm.

“I think they’ll be good for the night. You ready?”

“Yeah, I’m ready; I need a drink.” I follow Kate’s lead up to the camper.

Fully equipped for a good night, we make our way to the center of the campground where we’re sure to find a bonfire raging, music blaring, and cards playing.

This particular trail ride is an annual thing that Kate and I used to attend every year before college and life got in the way. This is our first year back, but we don’t miss a beat, slipping in with old friends like no time has passed at all.

After a few games of glow-in-the-dark Texas Hold Em and UnoFlip, the familiar beat of mine and Kate’s song comes over the portable speaker somewhere closer to the fire. Her excited shrill fills my ears.

“Let’s fucking dance, bitch!”

She doesn’t give me a second to respond before I’m being launched from my seat and pulled toward the fire. The beat to the song “Low” by Flo-Rida takes over the entire campground, people hooping and hollering with excitement as a massive dance party commences.

You’d think that a bunch of hick-ass horse people would be jamming to some Hank Williams Sr, and we do, but who can resist the epic era of 2000s hip hop? No one that’s here now if the backwoods rave going on is any indication.

Kate is a natural born dancer, so she attracts the attention of the crowd almost instantly. I have a few moves, but I’m happy to back up and give her the spotlight. The crowd gives her a wide berth to show out, forming a circle around her as she does her thing.

I’m cheering her on from the front row, screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs. The multiple drinks I’ve consumed add to the euphoria I’m running on. I can feel the heat burning my cheeks, letting me know that I need to slow down on the drinks for a bit.

There’s roughly sixty people here, all dancing and having a great time, but I can feel a hand on my shoulder as I turn my head to see who it belongs to, though I already have a sneaking suspicion. His hand finds its way to my waist as his mouth grazes my ear to greet me in a low growl.

“Hey, stranger.”

Brad and I used to hook up here every year in high school, but I haven’t talked to him in years. I know what he wants, and he’s fun. But my mind immediately goes to Charlie. We haven’t had the exclusivity talk, yet my stomach rolls at the thought of fucking things up with him.

It’s this thought that makes me turn full circle to face Brad and remove his hands from my waist, beginning to weave through the crowd to get somewhere quieter. “Hey, Brad. No hard feelings or anything, but we won’t be hanging out this time.”

“Why not? You got a man now?” He sounds almost offended at the thought.

“Yes, I do.”

“Where is he?”

“That’s not really your business, is it? I’m sure you can find someone else to keep you company tonight. I’m going back to have fun with Kate.”

“I don’t want someone else. Your pictures have been driving me crazy for too long. I miss the real thing.” This gets my attention for all the wrong reasons. I’ve never sent him any pictures before. Even when we were messing around, it was truly just sex.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m your biggest fan, baby. Who do you think is buying all of your content? I’m BigRick24.”

I can’t keep a poker face. I’m completely dumbfounded. What the fuck? How is that possible? I’ve seen pictures of Rick on his profile.

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