Page 1 of Hooves & HeartStrings

one

“So, what do you think?” My uncle asks as we get out of the car. “Home sweet home for the summer.”

Holding my hand up to block the blinding sun, I squint as I look around. Palm trees line the street, the summer air warm against my skin and the overwhelming smell of sea fills my nose. My uncle's house is right on the beach, so close I can hear the seagulls cry and the waves crash against the shore. “It’s… warm?” I say, not really having an opinion yet.

I’m spending the summer in Coral Springs with my uncle. My mom thought it would be a nice break and give me the time I need to decide between a couple of very important opportunities I’m facing that would majorly affect my future. She may have also mentioned that we don’t spend much time with her brother John since he’s human.

“I know, it’s a little different from what you're used to, but I promise, after a few days, you're going to love the Coral Springs life.” He chuckles as he rounds the car and grabs my bags out of the trunk.

“I don’t know about that,” I mumble to myself. “I can take those.”

My uncle hands me my bags as we head inside the house. It’s a nice place with an open floor plan. It’s not cluttered, only a few things here and there. And very clean. Looking down at my feet, I remind myself to make sure I’m always wearing something to cover my hooves because they would scuff and dent his nice wood floors.

“So, let me give you the tour,” he says as he starts to guide me through the house. “Here’s the living room and the kitchen.” He points to the rooms I can see from the front door before taking me down the hall. “Here’s the bathroom. It’s nice and big. I don’t take baths, so I had a shower installed. I guess it works out that I’m a big guy too, hey,” he jokes, nudging my arm. I give him a small smile and nod. My uncle John is over six feet tall and built like a linebacker, but his personality doesn’t fit his looks. It’s why I say don’t judge a book by its cover, because he’s one of the sweetest, soft-spoken human men I’ve ever met.

He’s my mother's brother and a human like her. He hasn’t really been around monsters that much, but I like that he’s trying. Taking me in this summer is a big step in doing that. Coral Springs is becoming one of the biggest monster/human mixed towns in the country. Coral Springs University begins welcoming monsters for the first time this fall and will be the first University to do so.

So, I can expect a lot of doe-eyed college students around this summer. Yay.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like being around people, but I haven’t had very many good experiences with humans. A lot of them see monsters and think we're freaks. Add in the fact I’m only a half-breed, part human-part centaur, which made me a punching bag growing up.

Due to my looks, I’ve never fit in; a normal centaur has four legs, and I have two. Not monster enough for the monsters, and not human enough for the humans. It’s why my mother sent me here this summer in hopes of finding a place that will accept both sides. I came here to please her, but I’m still unsure of what I want to do. I guess I can’t make any decisions just yet, seeing as I haven’t heard back from either of the programs I’ve applied for. No matter which one I pick, it’s going to change my life in a big way.

“And here’s your room,” he says, bringing me to the last door at the end of the hall. “Mine is across from yours.”

I step into the guest room and smile. There's a king-sized bed and I sigh in relief, knowing I’ll at least fit in it. I’m the same height as my uncle, and finding sleeping accommodations hasn’t always been easy when traveling.

“I’ll let you get settled in. You're welcome to come and go as you please, but no parties. If you're going to bring a girl home, please don’t do that while I’m here.” He grins. “You're twenty-one, you're an adult. Let loose and have fun this summer. Just not anything illegal. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail. Your mother will kill me.”

“Don’t worry.” I chuckle. “I don’t think you're going to have to worry about parties and girls with me.”

He nods and turns, leaving the room. Looking around, the room is nice. Pale green walls, with carpet and a dark oak, huge ass bed, and dresser. Walking over to the bed, I plop down and lie back, staring at the ceiling. I pass out as soon as I shut my eyes, the exhaustion from traveling catching up with me. Before I know it, he's calling me for supper.

After we're done eating, I head out back and hang out on the porch. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to handle these hoodies and sweatpants here. It’s a little cooler now that the sun is going down, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a hot summer.

Sitting in one of the deck chairs, I take out my cell phone and text my group chat, letting my friends know I’m here and safe.

Not even two seconds later, I’m getting a video call. Grinning, I shake my head and press accept.

“Hey there, man!” Brooks says. “Come on! Show us around.”

“There’s not much to show,” I tell him. “I just got here.” But I turn the camera around so that they can see the beach.

“I can’t wait to get there.” Sawyer sighs wistfully, her feline eyes gleaming. “I wanna feel the sand through my paws.”

“Any hot girls?” Flynn chuckles deeply. I’m about to say no when something catches my eye.

A girl is running on the beach, just a small little thing. Can’t be more than five feet. Normally, someone running wouldn’t be anything that gets my attention, but there’s something about her. Her blonde hair is up in a ponytail, bouncing with each step. My eyes run down her body, stopping at her sports bra. I lick my lips, continuing down and stopping where her tight shorts hug her ass. My cock twitches at the sight of her. But it’s not her looks that have me captivated, it’s the way she stops to catch her breath and pulls out her phone. A second later, she's smiling as she bursts out into a dance. She’s too far away to hear her, but I can tell she’s singing whatever song she’s listening to.

“Earth to Lucius,” Hayes says.

Atlas chuckles. “I think we got our answer.”

This pretty little ball of energy continues down the beach and only when she’s out of sight do I look back down at my phone.

“What?” I ask, frowning at all of their smug, grinning faces.

“Who’s got you all smiley?” Sawyer asks with a giggle.

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