Page 93 of All Too Well

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Everett

Miles, is that what the kids are calling it these days? Hey, baby, come meet me for an interview at the barn, I’ll show you my stallion.

Killian

Ainsley is great, don’t fuck it up.

Thanks for the unsolicited advice.

Everett

It is you. The chances he’s going to fuck it up are pretty high.

Miles

This is true. You are a pretty big idiot.

I huff and put the phone away. “Okay, let’s go.”

“I take it the Frisbee team is involved in this?”

“Not even a little. Other than we’re going to Killian’s ranch.”

“There’s a park there?”

I grin. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

After we arrive, we go through the huge gates, and her eyes are like saucers. “This isn’t a ranch. This is like a compound for the rich.”

I snort a laugh. “You don’t even know the half of it.”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Just let me surprise you for once.”

She sighs but doesn’t press me for more. I take her hand, pulling her back to the barn. The trainer exits. “Hey, Lachlan.”

“Good afternoon, Pete. This is Ainsley.”

They shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you. Do you work here?”

He nods. “I’m the head trainer for Mr. Thorn.”

“Killian runs this ranch and boards his racehorses here,” I explain.

She looks to Pete. “You do? Wow. I love horses. I had one until I was in high school, but ... that was a long time ago.”

Until Peaches had to be sold because Ainsley was getting ready for college. The way she cried when the Admiral told her it was time to let her go. I remember the tears, the way she curled up in my mother’s garden and sobbed. Mom wouldn’t let me go out there, saying that sometimes girls need a real good cry and we needed to give her space to grieve.

I’d like to take that pain away, because as far as I know, she hasn’t ridden since.

“Pete, could you show us to the horses you saddled?”

Ainsley’s head whips to me. “What?”

I step closer, a smile on my face. “We’re going to ride.”

“But . . . you hate horses.”

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