Page 44 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"I'm going to take Lauren back to our room so she can catch her breath," Andrew said.

"Good idea," Bennett agreed.

My gaze moved to the influencers. "I'm sorry to cut our time short. I hope you enjoyed yourselves."

"We did," Kat said. "Just sorry you had such a rough time, Lauren."

The others murmured their agreement.

"Thanks. I hope I'll see you again before you leave the island."

"We'll be here through the grand opening," Tyler replied. "I actually caught some of your flight on my camera if you want to see it. I was shooting you sitting on the horse, looking like a queen, right before Sally bolted. Do you want me to show it to you?"

"I don't think she needs to see it. She just lived it," Andrew said.

"I will pass," I agreed.

"We've got a cart to take you back to the lodge," Bennett said, tipping his head to the young female driver waiting in the golf cart.

"Thanks."

"Our resort medical staff hasn't arrived yet, but there's a small medical center in town if you'd rather go there and get checked out," he added.

"I don't need a doctor. I'll be fine."

Andrew helped me to the cart, and it was a quick ride back to the resort. But even sitting for that long intensified the pain in my hip. Hopefully, it wasn't anything serious. Because I really didn't want to have to deal with a bigger injury.

As we entered the room, Andrew said, "I think you're lying about how hurt you are, Lauren. You're walking like you're in a lot of pain."

"I just need some ibuprofen and maybe a bath."

"Let's start with ice. See if we can't get the swelling reduced." He paused. "I think I left the ibuprofen with Jay."

"I have some in my bathroom bag," I told him as I headed into the bedroom. I stretched out on the bed on my good side and closed my eyes as I fought against the pain. Andrew returned a moment later with a glass of water and pain medication. I swallowed three tablets and then settled back into the comfortable mattress.

"I'm going to get you some ice," he said. "I'll be right back."

"Thanks."

As he left, my phone started vibrating in my jean jacket pocket, and I pulled it out. I'd taken it along to take photos on the ride, but, of course, I'd been too afraid to take my hands off the reins to make that happen.

A notification from my social media channel revealed I'd been tagged in a video posted by Tyler. I had a feeling I knew what it was, and while I didn't want to relive the nightmare, I was curious to see what it had looked like.

Of course, Tyler had added some fun text to the post, but I was more interested in the actual video. One second, I was sitting on my horse looking beautiful against a magnificent tree-covered hillside, and then I suddenly screamed as Sally jumped about a foot in the air. I clutched wildly at the reins before the horse took off.

Frowning, I played the video back again a few more times, pausing it right before the horse jumped. Andrew had thought Sally had been stung by a bee, but it seemed like something was moving through the air. The video was too grainy to really tell what it was, but it kind of looked like a rock.

My pulse leapt. Maybe the horse had been hit by a rock and not stung by a bee.

I played the video again, looking more closely at the first few frames where I could see people behind me: Harper, Colin, Andrew, and Bennett were all there.

If a rock had come from that direction…

My breath came fast as ridiculous thoughts filled my head. There was no way one of them would have thrown a rock at me or the horse. And maybe it wasn't even a rock.

As I heard the suite door open and close, I turned the phone face down on the bed. I didn't know why I didn't immediately show it to Andrew, why I didn't let him tell me I was imagining things. Before I could think too long about it, he entered the room, setting a bag of ice on the bedside table.

He gave me a sympathetic smile. "Let's get you out of those jeans and see what's bruised."

---