Page 71 of Flirting With My Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

But then Valentine goes down, and there’s an audible gasp that ripples through the audience.

It all happens so fast, but the horses don’t stop. Seconds later, Thunder is across the finish line.

“And once again, Ahead of the Storm wins the Blue Mountain Derby!” the announcer calls. The crowd goes wild, and a vet rushes out to assist Valentine.

I’ve finally beaten Valentine, but the victory tastes sour in my mouth.

“Dad?” I look down to see Hayden’s worried face. “Is Valentine going to be okay?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know, buddy. The vet is down there right now, checking on him.”

Jenni is crying, her hands covering her mouth. She cares so deeply for her horses. It always breaks her heart to see them struggling. And it breaks my heart to see her hurting. I want to go comfort her, but everyone around me is congratulating me.

Nothing about this feels right, and that’s all I can think of as people are shaking my hand and hugging me, slapping me on the back.

I’m ushered to receive my prize, along with the trainer and the jockey. Music is playing and a garland of flowers is being placed around Thunder’s neck.

Jenni is on the sidelines, taking all of it in while Valentine is with the vet.

I walk up to the stage where my trophy is waiting for me. The governor of Georgia is there, along with the mayor of Blue Mountain and many others I recognize as being big shots in town. Dad is up there with Mom and Jenni’s parents as the owners of the Blue Mountain racetrack.

It’s one of the biggest races of the year, right up there with the Kentucky Derby.

When I get up there, the governor smiles at me and hands me the trophy. When it’s my turn to speak, I lean into the microphone, a camera focused on my face. “Ahead of the Storm and Brian raced beautifully today. Along with our fantastic trainer, they worked hard to earn this victory. But this win should have gone to Loves Comes Quickly. Had he not become injured, he would have won this race. So while I can’t take away the win from Brian or my wonderful trainer, I will be taking my percentage of the purse money and will be giving it to Jenni Finley, the owner of Love Comes Quickly.”

I turn and look at her. She’s standing before me with shock on her face. “Jenni, I love you and I have for a long time. I know this win would have gone to you if it weren’t for that injury.”

“Would you look at that! True love is in the air,” the announcer called. The crowd cheers, and Jenni looks up at me with tears streaming down her face.

When the ceremony is over, the crowd has dispersed, and the reporters have finished questioning me, I don’t see Jenni anywhere. Eventually, I find her in the stables with Valentine.

“How’s he doing?” I ask her.

She looks up to see me, eyes wide in surprise. “Oh, hi. I wasn’t expecting to see you in here. I thought you’d be off celebrating.”

“The celebration isn’t as fun without you.”

“Oh.” She looks a bit unsure of what to say.

“So what did the vet tell you?”

“It’s not good. They’re saying he’ll never race again. He’s lucky he’s still alive. Many horses don’t recover from an injury like this.”

I put a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Jenni. I know how much you love Valentine.”

“Thank you for what you said up there, giving me the purse money like that. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I love you,” I say.

She nods. “I know.” She laughs a little. “You did mention that. In front of everyone.”

My heart freezes for a moment. “Was that not okay?”

She smiles. “Langston, it was more than okay. I wasn’t sure if you would still want me after you found out I couldn’t have kids.”

“Of course I want you. Being with you is the most important thing to me. Children can come in whatever way you want, whether that’s adopting or fostering or just having Hayden. He’s plenty.”

“But you said you want a whole house full of kids.” Her voice is small when she says it.

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