Page 78 of Valentine Nook
“We’re going for a ride. I need to check a couple of fields,and I thought you might like to come. You said you wanted to borrow Thunder.”
Maybe I need to work on my delivery because I wasjoking. Wasn’t it clear I was joking? I’m sure Lando must have known I was joking.
Because there’s no fucking way I’m getting on Thunder.
“Um, yeah, I don’t know about this. I didn’t mean?—”
Lando brushes his thumb across my cheek. “You’re not riding Thunder. Don’t worry. Only I ride Thunder.”
That doesn’t make me feel better. “I haven’t ridden since my accident.”
“I know, that’s why I’m going with you.” He vaults over the fence, jumps down on the other side, and pats the brown horse.
Next to Thunder, from across the road, the brown one looked smaller, but up close, he’s fucking humungous.
“This is Sunday. You couldn’t find a more passive, dopey horse if you tried. I promise he’ll look after you.”
“Sunday?”
“Yes.” Lando grins. “Because he’s lazy like one.”
I stare at Sunday. I can’t get a good read of him because he’s too busy eating grass, which I guess is better than prancing about.
Thunder nudges his head forward as if to say “you can do it”—or it could easily be “hey, donut lady, move your ass”—so I step on the fence and climb over. Sunday doesn’t even bother looking at me, but Lando sees me hesitate, nonetheless.
“You need to think of it like riding a bike. If you’ve done it once, you can do it again. But anytime you want to stop, we’ll stop.”
I wish I shared his enthusiasm or even half his confidence. Lando’s gathered up Sunday’s reins and is holding them out to me.
I take a deep breath. I’m literally getting back on the horse.
After slipping my foot into the stirrup, I grip the saddle and heave myself up.
“Okay?” I’m so high up that Lando’s head is tipped back.
I manage a nod and try not to focus on how hard my heart is pounding while I take another big inhale through my nose.
Leaving me with Sunday’s reins, Lando mounts Thunder, who immediately leaps about whinnying with excitement.
Lando doesn’t shift, just sits there laughing while telling Thunder to stop being such a dick.
I hold my breath, expecting Sunday to do the same thing.
But he stays munching on his grass.
Lando wasn’t kidding when he said Sunday was passive. I think he might be stoned.
At this rate, it will take us forever to get anywhere.
But it turns out Sunday was just waiting for Thunder to get his shit together because the moment it happens, Sunday stops eating, lifts his head, and trots after his friend.
“Sorry, Thunder gets a bit excited sometimes. Taking a long hack through the fields is his favorite thing to do.”
Sunday and I level up beside them. “What’s Sunday’s favorite thing?”
Lando chuckles. “Thunder. He has a massive crush and follows him everywhere he can.”
Poor dopey horse of mine, I know exactly how he feels.
