Page 12 of Talk About… Rivalry

My eyes fluttered closed as I tried to push all of those awful thoughts away.

“Sidney!” Avery’s shout startled me enough I dropped the photo, the glass shattering on impact.

“Shit,” I cursed. “Sorry.”

Not wanting to cut myself I scooted the shards away with my foot and kept moving.

“Woman, talk to me or I’m climbing my pregnant ass up those stairs to join you,” Avery warned me.

“What’s wrong?” I recognized Maverick’s voice and bit back a groan. Great, that’s just what I needed.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Just found an old photo and accidentally dropped it. I’m making my way further back. I’m sure Gran’s stuff is not close to the front and this place is a hoarder’s paradise.”

Muffled voices filled the air as she covered the phone and hissed at Maverick. I couldn’t make out what was said, so I ignored them both as I continued further into the dusty attic.

When I reached an old table I paused again. There were piles of old leather and an array of tools I couldn’t really make sense of. Stepping closer, I inspected the box resting on top to find some gorgeous satchels and even a few custom bridles inside.

“Apparently, Gran did leatherwork,” I said, a bit surprised and more than a little intrigued. Dad had mentioned a time or two I was a lot like her but I didn’t know she was artistic, too.

“That’s so cool,” Avery said. “Did you find something?”

“Yeah, a whole workbench. She’s got tools, leather, and some completed pieces. I know she ended up with bad arthritis as she got older and probably packed all this away.

“You should steal it and take it back to your place. You’re always picking up new hobbies,” Avery mused.

I considered her words for a moment. Maybe connecting to someone in my family, even in a distant way, would be healing. There was a fair chance I would never try it, but she was right, I loved to try new things and this could be fun.

Glancing around I spotted a half empty box and pulled the old blankets from inside before loading up Gran’s things and carrying it back to the stairs, leaving them there. I’d have to ask my dad if he minded first anyway.

Now that I knew where her stuff was, it didn’t take me long to find the box of books. Thankfully this one was labeled. I grunted as I picked it up, the old romance novels weighing more than I thought.

Dad was waiting outside when I made it to the porch. I dropped the box on the bench so he could load it up and take it into town. He heard the screen door slam and worked his way over to me.

“Find it?”

“Yes,” I said, pointing at the box. “Right there. Actually, I found her old leatherworking stuff, too. Mind if I take it back to my place so I can mess around with it?”

It was there so fast then gone again I almost convinced myself I’d made it up, but I swear that man almost smiled.

“Go ahead.” With that he turned away and headed back for the stables. I didn’t question it further as I retrieved the box and carried it home.

If nothing else, it would make one hell of a distraction.

Taylor

“Waiting for your girlfriend?” Mom teased as I looked out the window again. I shot her a glare but didn’t argue. Sidney and I had flirted for as long as she’d been coming here, but she made no move and neither had I.

Maybe it was the lack of scent surrounding her, or the way she looked so lost when she thought no one was watching, but I’d been hesitating on asking her. That and I overheard her and her best friend talking about mates and Sidney seemed against the idea.

I could have listened more, but that wasn’t my style. I’d rather Sidney be the one to tell me about herself.

“Not my girlfriend. Don’t you have books to keep?” I shot back, filling up the water pitcher to take around the dining room. She laughed to herself as she walked away, muttering aboutcowardly sons. I swear my mom was one more lunch away from asking her out on my behalf.

Like clockwork, the clock hit noon and the door was opening. Sidney walked in looking as gorgeous as ever. She had her chestnut hair coiled into a braid on one side, sunglasses resting on her head. Her green eyes scanned the room, a smile forming on her face when she saw me.

It looked like she’d spent the day outside, dust and grass stains on her knees and cheeks red from the wind.

“Another day fighting with that horse?” I asked as I walked up to greet her.

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