Page 8 of Without a Doubt

Here I was thinking we were going on some generic first date, and he's taken one thing I mentioned and run with it. I can't stop smiling as Emerson hands me the reins for one of the horses.

THE MOMENT EVA realized what we are going to do, something about her changed. Maybe she is transported back to her hometown and all the times she rode horses. Or maybe it's simply because she's around the horse. I don't know what it is exactly, but her glee is contagious. I take the lead and we ride the trail Uncle Terry has, race in the pastures, and then make our way back a couple of hours later. We go straight to the barn behind the house to unsaddle the horses.

Eva coos over her horse, petting her, and talking softly long after she's unsaddled. I lean against the threshold of the stall, watching. The animal enchants her and she's in her own little world around them. I noticed a few times when we were riding, she wouldn't be paying attention to me because she was petting and talking to the horse.

“I can see why you love them so much.”

She startles as if she's forgotten I am here. “They're just so...” her voice trails off as she searches for the perfect word. “Majestic,” she finishes. “I wish I could care for them. Especially when they can be as sweet as she is.” Eva presses her face against the horse's neck, a goodbye of sorts, before turning to face me. “Okay, I'm prepared to leave now.”

Her words bring a smile to my face. “We'll stop by the house and then head out to eat. I'm sure you're hungry.”

Eva takes my outstretched hand and we walk over to the house, entering through the back door, which places us in the kitchen, where my uncle and aunt are cooking dinner.

“How was it?” Uncle Terry asks.

“Great. Thanks again.”

“Yes, thanks so much,” Eva adds.

“Are y'all staying for dinner?” Aunt Shelby questions.

“Afraid not. Maybe another time.” I don't want to bombard Eva with my family already. Besides, no other girl in the past year has met any of my family members. When I was thinking about what I wanted to do for our date, this seemed like such a perfect idea. I knew Uncle Terry could help make this happen. Eva meeting some of my family early on is a small price to pay to go horseback riding. I push that twinge of weirdness away; the fact that my family thinks Kelly and I simply broke up helps me do so.

“Your cousins will want to see you before you go,” Aunt Shelby points out.

Thinking of Kelly while on a date with Eva and while standing in my uncle's home does something to me. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. “We should really get going,” I rush out.

“Emerson, I'm sure we have time for you to say hi at least,” Eva tells me, squeezing my hand.

Shit. “You're right; I'll be right back.” I'm sure they are in the living room or their bedrooms. As I'm walking away, I hear my aunt ask Eva how long we've been dating and her surprised, shy-like response that this is our first date.

Why would they think we've been dating long? Is it because I brought her here? I try to be present in the brief reunion with my cousins, but my mind is far away. The fact remains that Eva worries me because of what I'm supposed to have with Kelly. The possibility of something amazing happening between Eva and I is there. I can feel it skimming across the surface, barely there and out of reach for now. What am I supposed to do with that?

I'm in a daze as I say goodbye to everyone, lead Eva to my truck, and start driving. We stop at a chain restaurant a few exits down the interstate away from my uncle's. My mind is occupied as we order drinks and then our food. I hate being worried. I hate that Kelly has put me in such a position.

“Emerson.” The soft, slightly worried tone in Eva's voice causes me to lift my eyes from the table and focus on her. “Is everything okay? You seem like you've been somewhere else ever since we left the house.”

“Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm all here now.” She might as well have sucker punched me. What kind of date am I?

“Are we close to your home? Did you want to see your parents or someone while we're here?”

I shake my head. “No. My hometown is about an hour away still. What about you? Where are you from?” This date needs to get back on track. I should be the one to make it happen since I led it astray to start with.

“One county north in a town so small, we have to travel two towns over for the grocery store.” Eva rolls her eyes. “I was happy to get away and thankful for scholarships to help me pay for college since my parents couldn't. Not that I don't love my hometown, I do, but I was,” she pauses to think it over, “ready for something more.”

“I can understand that. Do you go home often since it's nearby?”

“You would think so, but no. Still only for the holidays. Having a job makes it harder. Do you?”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, feeling like there's more weight to her question than there really is. “Only for the holidays like you. Sometimes, I can get a weekend off, and I'll go see my parents. Any idea on where you want to be after graduation?”

“There's still so much time before then, so I don't like to plan that far ahead. The moment I do, something will happen to alter it. For better or worse, I don't want to risk feeling even a bit of disappointment that things didn't go as planned. I like to just see how things happen and go from there.”

/> My head nods in agreement. “You're smart.”

She laughs. “Well, I am older, Emerson.” The waitress drops off our plates and she asks, “Do you have any siblings?”

“Two older brothers. I get along with one better than the other, but we aren't really close like some siblings are. We were just never those kind of people. What about you?”

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