Ant: Sure. I’ll be right over.
A few minutes later, he comes walking up with Javier, wearing a shit-eating grin.
Sidling up next to me, Ant lowers his voice. “My tío wanted to join us. I assume that’s okay with you?”
I scrunch my nose at him. “Yep. That’s great. Hey, Javier.”
“Hey, Levy,” Javier says, lifting his chin with a fucking underwear-melting smile.
Ant snorts, and I smack his shoulder before letting him in the gate. “I’m putting you in this paddock with a dangerous horse to see if he’ll respond to your short ass better than the rest of us normal-sized folks. This could go really badly for you.”
He cracks up. “Whatever. You love me. You’d step in front of a moving train for me.”
“True.”
In the meantime, Javier walks up next to Charlie, resting his forearms on the gate to watch us work. Shaking off the nerves that always seem to crop up in his vicinity, I grab an apple and split it in two. Domino comes up right away, so I tuck half in the front pocket of my overalls and give Ant the other half, which he sets out on an open palm.
Domino quickly takes the apple, crunching on it while side-eyeing me. Ant slowly runs his hand up and down Domino’s long nose. Domino steps toward him with a rasping, inquiring snort.
Ant stiffens, but then Domino nudges his head, snuffling around, likely looking for the other half of the apple. Laughing, Ant steps in closer, completely unconcerned by the fact he’s dwarfed by the large horse. I probably should have given Ant more specific directions, but his instincts are spot on.
With flat palms, he strokes Domino’s neck on both sides. Domino stands quietly, letting himself be touched, and I sneak a glance over to Charlie, who looks as impressed as I feel. Domino makes a happy little snorting sound, then tucks his head down against Ant’s back, the equine equivalent of a hug.
“I bet he’ll let you walk him around the paddock,” I whisper, loving the joy and pride in his eyes.
Ant steps back to grab the reins, and Domino turns his attention to me, sniffing at my overalls, no doubt smelling the other half of the apple. I laugh as he nudges my chest.
“Uh-uh, buddy. You get that after you let Ant walk you around.”
Domino, ignoring my very reasonable counteroffer, nudges me again, this time a little harder.
“Hey, man.” I rub his nose and try to put some command in my voice. “Don’t be so aggressive.”
When I still don’t produce the apple, he blows in frustration and roughly nudges my head, snapping it to the side, setting off an old neck injury. I grimace and step back, my hand automatically going to the spasming muscles.
Shit, shit, shit.When my neck flares up, everything else flares up right alongside it, a rapid-fire stream of snapshots.
The screeching of the eighteen-wheeler’s tires, shuddering and bouncing with the sudden stop.
My father practically standing on the brake while my mother throws her hands up over her face.
The sharp, nauseating sound of metal being sheared off the car.
The wide-eyed look of abject fear on Bram’s face.
The impact that snaps my head back so violently I thought I’d broken my neck.
Bram unconscious, his body seemingly lifeless as blood spills down his face, soaking his shirt.
The growing pool of blood at my feet, seeping from Mom’s seat.
The lonely, ragged sound of my own breathing, so loud in my ears.
The flashback is over in seconds, but for some reason, I’m in the dirt. Blinking away the fog, I’m aware of Ant’s soft voice saying my name, accompanied by the sound of boots thundering toward me.
Ah, fuck.
“I’m fine,” I say before even trying to right myself. Before verifying the three sets of worried eyes looking down on me. “I’m fine. Just a reaction. I’m not injured.”
