Page 29 of Stay With Me

We plod along in silence for a bit, my body moving easily with my horse.

“You know, this isn’t so bad. The view’s almost as nice as when you fall off your paddleboard and your T-shirt glues to your skin—almost.” His tone is teasing, but when I look at him, his gaze is heated. “I find your confidence so sexy.”

My body pulses in response, heat spreading as I feel his gaze continue to rake over me.

Laughing, I kick Ebony into a trot. “Stop that. We’re going to enjoy this ride and then you’re going to take me for dinner.”

Young Jae clicks at his horse. After some awkward grunting and quicker steps follow behind me. Pressing my lips together to hold in my laugh, I stop my horse and wait for him to catch up.

“Dinner sounds good, but if you like having sex with me, please don’t make me go that fast again.” He grimaces, adjusting in the saddle.

I can’t hold my laughter in anymore, leaning forward in the saddle, I clutch my stomach. “Oh my gosh. Okay, I promise.”

We take it slow through the trails, talking about work and life. When we come out the end, disappointment fills me. A complete contrast from the relief on Young Jae’s face.

“If you start riding again, I’m happy to watch you, but I think my butt is staying out of the saddle from now on.” He dismounts with a grimace as soon as we’re close to the hitching post where a staff member waits.

Grinning, I nod. “It’s a deal.”

Thanking the staff, I give the horses some pets before we get in the car to head out.

“There’s a restaurant in Thistle Creek that I’ve heard is really good. It’s called ThaiLicious. The family that owns it has been in town for a long time, and the restaurant is one of Alberta’s top three Thai spots.” Young Jae pulls out of the driveway. “Want to try it?”

“Absolutely.”

The drive to Thistle Creek from the ranch is short and we talk the entire time. This feels like a date and a lot of the inner turmoil from before eases. Young Jae may not verbally express how he feels about me, but he shows it and maybe that’s enough.

I have loved living with him and have felt more at home than I have in the past five years with Jake. When I think about moving out, it makes me sad.

I know I should be looking for places, but not much is popping up from my inquiries so I’ve basically hit pause. Only one possibility has arisen, and I’m supposed to go see it in a couple weeks. Part of me hopes it will fall through. Young Jae hasn’t mentioned me leaving, so I don’t feel as bad as I maybe should.

Chewing on my lower lip, I glance over at Young Jae. He’s singing along to the radio, his hand tapping along on the steering wheel.

Despite our many years of friendship, maybe it’s too soon to live together as more than friends anyway. We don’t even know what we are yet and I’m overthinking everything. Except the sex, that has been great.

And the fact that our friendship seems steady as ever.

A laugh whooshes out of me. I’m being ridiculous.

“What’s so funny?” Young Jae turns the already quiet music down even more.

Shaking my head, I mutter, “Nothing really. I was just thinking about how funny life is sometimes.”

It’s close enough to the truth that I don’t feel like I’m lying to him, but not so truthful we have a conversation that could lead to answers I may not want.

He hums, reaching his hand over to rest on my leg. “Sometimes, I think things just work out how they’re meant to.”

Resting my hand over his, I squeeze it and agree.

ThaiLicious is packed, and when I say packed, I mean every table is full.

Gaping as Young Jae gives his name, stating he has a reservation, I smirk when he takes my hand and we follow the hostess back out onto the patio to an empty table overlooking the creek.

“Someone is full of surprises today.” I’m beaming as he holds my chair out for me before sitting down.

He reaches across the table for my hand again, his thumb stroking over the sensitive skin. “I love seeing how happy and relaxed you are. You’re more at ease than you’ve been in a long time and I never want that to disappear.”

The server arrives to take our drink orders and I quickly scan the menu, ordering a Thai Iced Milk Tea. Young Jae orders the same and she leaves us to decide on dinner.

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