Page 218 of Beautiful Collide

“Gracie,” I correct.

“What?”

“The horse has a name. It’s Gracie.”

Molly rolls her eyes. “Have I ever mentioned you’re insufferable?”

“Only every day since we’ve met.”

“Well, you are.”

“Enough stalling.”

She crosses her arms at her chest. Defiant as always. “I’m not stalling.”

“Sure you are.”

“You ever think maybe I have no interest in riding a horse?”

“No.”

“Wow.”

“I think you’re scared. And that’s okay, but I’m here to tell you—you have no reason to be scared. Fear is just a lie we tell ourselves until we find the courage to rewrite the story.

“Now that we have that settled, let’s start with getting you on her back, and we’ll go from there,” I say, grabbing the mounting block and setting it beside Gracie. I turn to her, extending my hand. “Come here.”

She hesitates, staring at my hand and then at Gracie.

Molly trembles slightly, but she still places her hand in mine.

She trusts me.

Don’t screw this up.

I’m not sure why she’s the way she is or what causes her panic, but I can tell that this moment is important.

For her.

For me.

“All right,” I say, positioning myself beside her. My hands move to her waist, steady and deliberate. “I’ll lift you. Just hold on to the saddle.”

Before she can second-guess herself, I lift her, settling her onto Gracie’s back.

She grabs the saddle horn tightly; her knuckles are so white I’m almost afraid she’ll break something.

“Relax.” I keep one hand on her leg. “I’ve got you.”

She takes a shaky breath, and I see her grip loosen just a little.

“Perfect. You’re doing amazing. Much better than I did my first time.”

She looks at me over her shoulder, her brows furrowed. She clearly doesn’t believe me. I’m not lying. It’s true. “Please. You expect me to believe that?”

“Yep.” I grin. “Believe it or not, the first time I got on a horse, I fell off . . . twice.”

That earns me a reluctant smile, and something in my chest eases.

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