Page 135 of Choosing Forever
“With all the trees?”
Brody leaves Darren and comes to me next. Honey’s tack is very Poppy, with pinks and even a light sparkle that glistens in the sun. I’d bet Garrison had it custom ordered for her.
“That’s the one,” Darren says, his voice wavering with a silent laugh.
My blood runs hot. “Oh.”
Looking between us, Brody starts to groan and scrunch his face. “You’re kidding. Here? On the ranch?”
“Don’t fucking say it like that. I know for a fact you had sex in this very stable when you were sixteen,” Darren retorts.
“But in the cabin? Does Johnny know that you defiled his home?”
“We didn’t defile his home!” I argue, debating fanning my face. “It wasn’t his place then.”
Darren adds, “And it wasveryrespectful sex.”
“Alright, that’s enough of that. I’m already goin’ to have to decline his invites over for a few months, maybe years now,” Brody says with a dramatic sigh.
“Give it up, Diva. Help my girl up on her horse so we can go before we scandalize you more.”
I meet his stare and shake my head, smirking. He winks at me before I focus on mounting the horse. Brody stands close, but I can almost feel the watchful glare coming from Darren every time he tries to help me. The stool works wonders for me, and finally, I get myself up.
“Alright. I’m goin’ to let Johnny know that you’ll be on your way, and he’ll check on you every few minutes. Keep to the road, and the horses will do all the work for you. Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“It’s not my first time on a horse, Brody.”
“You’ve only had a few lessons, though.”
“Lessons,” I ask, startled. “When did you take horseback lessons?”
Darren shoots daggers where Brody stands.
“A few weeks ago,” Brody answers for him.
“Why?”
Reluctantly, Darren lifts his glare and looks to me. The sheepish expression on his face calls to me.
“Just in case.”
Instead of asking more questions here, I let it go. Brody’s a great guy, but he’s not who I came here to spend time with. Especially with all of these revelations appearing.
I lift a hand to the road. “Ready to go?”
“Very.”
“Just keep your phones on you, and call if you need anythin’. I’m still sendin’ Johnny to check on you,” Brody calls when Darren leads Sky into action. “I’ll be here when you’re done!”
Honey follows Sky without needing me to tell her to, and I swallow my nerves when we get onto the road. Moving side by side, the horses bring us together. I look over at Darren and grip the reins.
“Is there a reason behind why you wanted us to do this ride here that doesn’t include going on a date?”
“This place is special to us. It’s not the same as the drive-in, but we’ve made memories here.”
“It feels different now,” I confess.
“Everyone’s older. They’re gone doing their own things. Rory and Johnny will always be here, Anna and Brody too, whenever they’re not gone touring. Bryce will stay as long as Daisy wants to. But even with Poppy’s new house, she’ll still be hours away. Her life has expanded far beyond Cherry Peak.”
