Wren had the place decorated like a model home. A large white couch with more throw pillows than anyone would everneed and a reclaimed wood coffee table sitting atop a creamy area rug. The cabin even had a chandelier over the couch, which made me laugh.
“You’ve always loved a chandelier,” I said as we stepped into the kitchen, which had white cabinets. She pulled open the refrigerator, took out two bottles of water, and handed me one.
“Remember my bedroom back home had the big crystal chandelier over my bed? And the closet had a smaller version. I loved those so much.”
“Oh, I remember. You’d make me lie on your bed and look at the ceiling because it formed those little shadowed patterns when the light would hit it.” I took a sip of water before setting my bottle on the counter.
“You loved lying there looking up at the ceiling.”
“I just liked being with you.” I shrugged because it was the damn truth. “I always did.”
She hopped up on the counter, and I moved to stand between her legs as her fingers tangled in my hair. “I always did, too.”
“I was surprised you told your friends about me.”
“Well, they don’t know all the details. They just know the history.”
“And what’s the history?” I asked with a smirk.
“I told them about this boy I grew up riding horses with.” She shrugged. “I told them he thought he would outrun me forever, and one day I caught him.”
I laughed. “You sure did. And you never looked back. Left me in your dust, didn’t you?”
Her lips parted the slightest bit as she ran her fingers through my hair. “You were never behind me. Always beside me.”
“It’s where I like to be.”
She pulled me closer and buried her face in my neck. “I love you, Axel.”
“Love you,” I said against her hair.
We sat like that for a few minutes before a knock on the door interrupted us.
She hopped off the counter. “Welcome to Valley International—it’s like a freaking dorm here. People are always coming by.”
I chuckled. “Sounds like my family.”
She laughed as she pulled the door open. “Hey, Coach.”
“Glad to see you back where you belong, Wren.” He gave her a hug, and his eyes moved to me. “You must be Axel. She’s told me a lot about you.”
We walked toward one another and shook hands. “I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”
“Listen, I know there are some hard feelings about what happened with Wrax, and I just want to put this to rest.” He turned his attention to Wren. “I do not agree with how your father handled that situation, but I do agree with the fact that I don’t think Wrax has a long career ahead of him. He’s done his job. You will outride him, Wren. And your safety is my priority.”
“So, if that accident had happened on a younger horse, would you be blaming the horse?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Circumstances matter, Wren. An accident with an aging horse is going to be concerning. I’m asking what everyone is asking.”
“Which is?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.
“Will it happen again?” he pressed. Coach Sharky appeared to be in his mid-forties, a few inches shorter than me, and he oozed confidence, at least when speaking about his profession.
“Why don’t you include the real question? The one that my father is most concerned about. Is that your concern now as well?”
“And what’s that?” he asked.
“Is he capable of taking me to the Olympics? Isn’t that what everyone is really worried about?” She moved to stand beside me, and I wrapped an arm around her.
