Page 65 of Forever To Me

I shrug. “If you want.” I'm trying to play it cool, but I'd love to go for a ride with her.

She smiles. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

And damn it, I would too.

Violet starts talking to Winnie and murmuring to her as she pets her and turns to look at me. She stands close to Maximus’ stall who apparently is jealous that he’s not getting the attention.

Sure enough, Maximus gives her a solid nudge right between the shoulder blades.

Violet lets out a startled yelp, and stumbles right into me.

I react fast, my hands wrapping around her upper arms just as she crashes into my chest. The impact knocks the wind out of me, but I barely register it because she’s flush against me. Her chest is against mine, my hands still holding her steady.

Her breath hitches, a sharp sound in the quiet barn, and she turns her head slightly. I catch the surprise in her eyes.

Every muscle in my body is tight. I know I should let her go. She’s myfriend.

But I don’t. Not yet. I like how we’re close.

My jaw tenses, and my throat bobs with a hard swallow.

She doesn’t move either. I can feel her hesitating, like she’scaught between laughing this off or doing something reckless. Like she knows that if either of us goes the reckless route, things are going to change for us.

Then, Pickles bounds up to us, tail wagging.

Violet turns and breaks free, pointing a sharp finger at Maximus. “You did that on purpose.”

Maximus snorts at her and blinks as if he’s completely innocent. Liar.

Violet laughs as she kneels down for the dog like she’s her new favorite person.

“Oh, I forgive you for earlier,” she coos, squatting down to scratch behind her ears.

I playfully roll my eyes. “I thought she was a velociraptor?”

She grins up at me. “She’s just a wild baby.”

I shake my head, watching as she fits too easily into my world.

I knew letting her in was a bad idea.

But I don’t think I can stop it now.

That evening, after dinner, we sit together, watching the sky fade into the familiar deep oranges and purples.

Mack and Violet are still bickering about whether Ty or the new guy is better on the show they’re watching, Heartland.

Maggie listening, but she watches me.

I ignore her.

Mostly. Because I know she’s trying to tell me something. Something along the lines of like, look at what’s happening here. Isn’t her niece great? Yeah, she is. But I’m not telling her that.

Eventually, Mack yawns. “I’m gonna go to bed.”

She stands, stretching. Then, without thinking, she leans down and hugs Violet.

Violet freezes for half a second, then melts into it.

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