I turned around before the embarrassment could take me and quickly pulled my iPod out of my pocket, slipping my earbuds in and putting up my hair. There were still stalls to finish, a tack room to organize, and feed levels to check. The moment the music started, I let the beat carry me through the rest of my chores.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I paused my iPod, trying not to get tangled in the cord as I pulled the ear buds free. Grady was standing in front of me, shifting on his feet. He’d taken his hat off, holding it with both hands in front of his body. “Hey, we’re finishing up,” he said, throwing a thumb over his shoulder where the adults were talking.
“Really? That was fast,” I said, pulling out my phone to check the time. It hadn’t taken me long to finish the stalls, but then I’d started reorganizing the tack room. I swore no one knew how to put things up where they were supposed to be.
“Yeah, Mr. Riley said it was record time. Helps that there weren’t too many to get through. And that you were so organized.”
I shrugged. “It’s the least I could do.” Grady nodded, and we lingered in an awkward silence for a beat longer. “I guess I’ll see you in the fall at school, then?”
Grady chuckled nervously. “Well, to be honest, I was kinda hoping for sooner.”
“Really?” I blurted, and Grady laughed.
Christ, Cleo, pull yourself together.If I could tell how desperate I sounded, I knew he could.
His fingers danced nervously across the bill of his hat. “I’m kinda starving after working all day.” He gestured around the barn. “So, I wanted to see if you were hungry, too.”
I blinked in surprise, wanting to look behind me to see if I was suddenly standing in the middle of his conversation with someone else. “You wanted to know if I’m hungry…” I echoed slowly, and he nodded. “Right now?”
He huffed, running his hand through his sweaty blond hair. “Yeah, I mean… If you don’t already have plans or anything. I know it’s last-minute and all, but I asked your dad?—”
“You asked my dad?” I squeaked.
“Of course. Would’ve been rude to ask his daughter on a date without asking his permission,” Grady said, smiling.
Date. Grady Wilde was asking me on a date. Maybe I needed to pinch myself again because there was no way this was happening.
“Unless you don’t want to?” he added nervously. “I’m sorry, I just assumed we were giving the same vibes?—”
“I’d love to,” I said in a rush before he took it back. “It’s just that, um, I’ve never really been on one before.”
“You’ve never been on a date before?” Grady asked. “Really?”
I shook my head, looking down at my hands. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Now I felt dumb. He probably was looking for a girl who had more experience, one who wasn’t going to be so awkward. “It’s okay if you don’t want to go now. It’s totally cool.”
Grady reached out, taking my hand lightly. I looked up, meeting his gaze. “I dunno what’s wrong with the guys around here, but I’d be honored to take you on your first date.”
I laughed, but there was little humor to be found. “You don’thave to do that, you know. You don’t have to follow through because you feel obligated.”
“What’s your favorite flower?”
“What?”
He squeezed my hand. “Your favorite flower. What is it?”
I chewed on the bottom of my lip. “Um, I don’t know. I like daisies, I guess.”
“And your favorite color?”
“Blue,” I said without hesitation. “I love blue.”
“Mine too,” he said, smiling. “Okay, so how about this… I’m going to head out with Mr. Riley so I can go home and shower, then I’ll come back and get you in like an hour and a half? Does that work?”
“Sure,” I said, ducking to hide my blush. “That’d be great.”
His smile was blinding, nearly knocking the wind from my lungs as the farrier called his name. He walked backward, pointing at me. “I’ll see you soon.”
cleo
