Page 56 of Beat around the Bush
My nose scrunched. “I guess when you put it like that, it does sound kind of gross.”
Lennon slid the saddle off, the bridle still looped over his arm, then passed me. I slid the door to the stall shut, then followed him to the tack room.
“You up for hanging around after everyone leaves?” he asked me as he set the saddle on a stand. He heaved a breath as he faced me.
“I don’t want to impose…”
He pressed his lips together, studying me. “It’s not imposing if I’m asking, Oakley.”
My eyes dropped to his chaps and the snow lightly dusting his boots as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I guessed he was right.
“That’d be nice. Thank you.”
He nodded, then we headed back outside to watch the rest of the skiers do their laps.
***
The fire in the fireplace crackled as a log settled, sending sparks up the chimney. We all sat around the Bronsons’ living room resting from the long day. Beckham had gotten home from hisflight a few minutes before dinner. His friend had dropped him off here, and now he was enjoying a beer in the chair across from Reed.
People had skied for another hour after Lennon went, then we’d all mingled, talking about anything and everything. After Reed and Callan put the horses away, the neighbors had left and we all headed inside. We’d shed our snow clothes, leaving them to dry in the front entry. I was now in my white thermal and black leggings with my fuzzy socks pulled up past my ankles.
Charlotte had made pulled pork in the slow cooker, so we’d all sat around the table inside their home and ate, drank, and laughed. It felt good being around a family so large, being as I was an only child, and my only family was down in Colorado now.
After dinner, we’d all moved to the living room. Lennon was to my right on the couch, sitting next to Callan. Bailey and Lettie had taken the love seat, while Reed and Beckham sat in separate chairs by the bookcases. Brandy was sitting on the floor with her back to the coffee table, her feet outstretched as Lettie aimlessly swung her legs, tapping Brandy’s socked feet. Charlotte sat perched on Travis’s knee, his hand rubbing circles on her outer thigh.
“I still can’t get over how far you flew when you fell, Cal,” Bailey said through a laugh.
“He looked like a little snowball after,” Lettie said, giggling from all the naughty hot chocolates.
“This is why you should always ride the horses,” Reed murmured.
Callan sat back in his chair, not caring that they were practically picking on him for falling. “I almost liked the falling more than I did going around the track. Plus, Brandy here is slow,” he teased.
Brandy sat forward, mouth agape. “Am not! You’re just too much of a daredevil. Any faster and you would have broken a limb. I knew you were going to fall.”
“Says the daredevil herself,” Lettie shot at her.
Reed grunted from his chair with his arms crossed, but Brandy promptly ignored him. Beckham’s gaze darted between everyone, a look of nostalgia crossing over his features. It was clear he missed his family when he was away, and even just watching them interact in person brought him joy.
My phone buzzed in my pocket on the side of my thigh, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from my dad.
Dad:Divorce is being finalized today. Thought you should know.
My heart felt like it stopped in my chest. It was actually happening.
I knew the entire time that this was coming, but for some reason, I didn’t expect it. I clicked the screen off and slid the phone back in my pocket.
“May I use the restroom?” I asked Lennon.
His brow furrowed as he studied my face. “Yeah. Down the hallway, third door on the right.”
“Thanks,” I said before getting up and making my way down the hall.
I didn’t go into the bathroom. Instead, I leaned my back against the wall, looking up at the ceiling.
I was having such a good day, and it all came crashing down in an instant with one simple text. One small sentence. My family would never be the same again, and I hated that I had no choice but to accept it.
Inhaling a shaky breath, I swallowed the emotion lodged in my throat. I shook out my hands, forcing myself to get it together. It could still be a good day. I could act like I never got the text, but it’d be on the back of my mind regardless.
