Page 30 of Walk on the Wilde Side
I point at Doc. "Did you hear that, buddy?"
We lead the horses out to the yard. I built a short mounting block for Rio. Nev uses it to climb on.
We ride in silence for a few minutes as we head out of the barn area toward the part of the ranch that is mostly overgrown with shrubs and grass. It was our playground growing up, the "perfect amount of space filled with things that couldn't be broken" Nate's mom, Stevie used to say. She stayed with us longer than the other moms, and we all got used to having her around. She was the closest thing to a mom any of us ever had. She'd even bake cookies at Christmas and fill stockings with treats. But even she could only take so much from Finn. When he came home stoned and drunk one night, with a hooker on each arm, Stevie packed her bags and walked out. None of us cried except Nate. It wasn't something we did … often … but we sure as hell wanted to.
"Remember that time when Ronan, or was it Colin, decided he could climb to the top of that pine tree to check out the hawk's nest," Nev says. For a moment she steals my breath. The sunlight illuminates just how incredible she is. Nevada has always been the prettiest girl in town, only it's a title she hates. She much prefers to go unnoticed, but it's hard not to notice someone like her. She easily steers Doobie around some rocks with just the slightest movement of her hands. She's a good rider considering the only experience she's had is riding around on our ranch horses for fun. She's that girl, the one who excels at everything, but she never brags or bullshits about it. She just goes through life being excellent at everything without fanfare or bragging or bullshit.
"I think it was Ronan. He's a much bigger idiot than Colin. I mean they're both idiots, but Ronan's got an edge on the crown. He got stuck up there as I recall."
Nev nods. "Kinsley and I left while he was still stuck halfway up but a good twenty feet from the ground. Is it true your dad made him stay up there all night?"
"Yeah, that story got blown up to legendary proportions. The last time I heard someone bring it up, he was up there for three days, and it snowed and a black bear climbed up behind him. Not sure if Ronan started that long, twisted tale or if it was just the natural story order in our gossipy town. Dad came out and helped him down around one in the morning." I'm about to add the shitty part at the end where Dad gave him the belt so hard Ronan couldn't sit down for a week, but I didn't need to add that. Nev knew, too well, about my Dad's darker days. There was a time when Dad could walk into the hardware store or the coffee shop and everyone would hurry with their purchases and leave just to avoid being in the same place as Finnegan Wilde. Age softened his edges and his reputation. It's hard to fear a man who breathes hard and coughs just ordering a cup of coffee.
"We do have a gossipy town," Nev says. She looks over. "Seems like the horse is calmer out here than in the arena."
"Yeah, that's cuz I'm giving him plenty of rein and freedom. I think he just doesn't like to work, so he makes a nuisance of himself in the riding arena." We reach the pond. Like so many places on the ranch, the pond is filled with memories. "Remember the start of summer party where I canonballed into the water and pretended to drown?"
Nev looks over at me with an arched brow. "Funny you bring that up. I was just thinking about that day."
I chuckle. "You were so pissed at me."
"I waded in in my clothes, you asshole."
"God, you were such a hot lifeguard, even in wet clothes. Although I preferred that red one-piece suit and the cute little whistle you used to wear."
"Yes, that's lifeguarding in a nutshell. Cute one-piece bathing suits and whistles. The rest of it is just fluff."
I laugh again. "Hey, I saw you save a couple of kids, and I was damn impressed. But then I was used to it."
"Used to what?" she asks.
"Used to being impressed by you, Nevvie."
She rolls her eyes.
I laugh. "I forgot the number one Nevada rule—no compliments. Most people eat them like they're candy, but for you, they're like sour grapes with seeds."
"Not true. We should turn back. I've got some paperwork waiting for me."
I turn Doc's head, and Doobie and Nev follow.
"Seems to me, that day at the pond didn't end all bad." I look at her pointedly. "I mean?—"
"I know what you mean, and I have no idea what that was. I guess heat of the moment or whatever." She speaks about it casually as if it was a silly, meaningless kiss, and I'm stunned at how fucking hurt I am by that. For me, it was a kiss that I never, ever forgot. For a few amazing seconds, I had my mouth pressed against Nevada Mason's plump lips.
"I thought it was a good kiss," I say, offhandedly.
"It was fine," she says plainly, but I see a tiny smile on her lips. "Can we lope once we get to the dirt path? I haven't ridden fast in a long time."
"Sure thing."
fourteen
Nev
Jameson's daughter Rio is having lunch at the sandwich shop. It's a pupil-free day for the school district, and all my tables are filled with chatty teens. Rio is one of those beautiful, bubbly kids who is inherently surrounded by adoring friends. Today she's sitting with two girls named Olivia and Dani, and they're giggling up a storm as Rio shows them pictures on her phone. I bring them out some cookies, warm from the oven.
"My treat," I say.
