Page 15 of Forever After All

“Well, I won’t tell anyone you don’t like horses if you don’t tell anyone I don’t like frogs.”

Hanson mouthed, “Frogs?”

Jess nodded. “I know they won’t hurt me. I just think they’re creepy.” She snapped her fingers when the reason occurred to her. “They have big eyes.”

Hanson slapped a hand on the table. “Big eyes are scary!”

“Shh,” Jess whispered. “Keep it down or the whole town will know we’re weirdos.”

“I just got in town a few days ago. Please don’t ruin my chances here,” Hanson pretended to whine. “I want to fit in.”

“You will.”

The waiter placed a basket of bread on the table, and Jess felt her tension disappear as he left.

Hanson was a nice guy, but things would never work with him. Unfortunately, not liking horseswasa fireable offense in her world. Horses were her life. They were the only things she was passionate about.

She woke up before the sun, spent her days at the ranch until after sundown, slept, then did it all again on repeat. There wasn’t any room in there for a relationship.

Especially not with a man who didn’t understand the one thing she loved most.

A smile grew on her lips. “I think–”

“Don’t say it,” Hanson interrupted with his hand in the air. “Let’s just have this one nice date, and then you can kiss me goodbye.”

Jess’s eyes widened. “I don’t think–”

“You’re going to tell me we’re not right for each other, or that you think I’d make a good friend, or something about it’s not you, it’s me.”

She paused to give each of those reasons a thought. “No, I was going to say I don’t think I could see myself in a serious relationship with someone who doesn’t like horses.”

Hanson grinned. “Well, I was taking the cliche route. Of course, you settled on the straight truth.”

“So, you’re not mad?”

Hanson picked up his glass. “Why would I be mad?”

“Something tells me you should be at least a little upset.”

Hanson took a drink, put his glass down, and rested his arms on the table. “I like your honesty. So many people prefer to dance around on their tiptoes, and it’s exhausting. Hanging out with you tonight has been a breeze.”

Jess’s shoulders sank as she relaxed. “Really?”

No one had ever told her she was easy to hang out with. In fact, most people avoided being around her.

“Really. I won’t ask you out on another date, but I hope we can still be friends.”

Jess reached a hand across the table. “It’s a deal.”

Hanson took her hand and gave it a strong shake. “Why are we shaking?”

“It’s like a new start. New expectations and all.”

“Got it. Does this mean you’ll help me make more friends?”

“Of course.” She looked around. “I think I’m going to go to the restroom before our food gets here.”

She could count the times she’d been to Marshall’s on one hand, and she was second-guessing whether the restroom was at the front or the back. Starting with the front, she made her way through the lobby area and found what she was looking for on the other side of the restaurant.

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