See you in a heartbeat.
I smiled down at my phone.
Everything was going to be fine.
thirty-two
. . .
Axel
“I mean, this is some bullshit,”Archer said as he tossed his phone down on the table at Booze and Brews.
“It’s ‘The Taylor fucking Tea,’” Bridger hissed.
“Are you going to read it to me, or just keep telling me how pissed off you are?” I asked. “I don’t give a shit what a gossip column has to say about me.”
“I’ll read it,” Rafe said. “‘Hey there, Roses…’ Why the hell does it always start that way, anyway? Are we all supposed to be flowers?”
Clark laughed. “We live in Rosewood River.”
“Give me the damn phone,” Easton said, grabbing it from Rafe before continuing. “‘The tea is coming in hot this week. Our favorite horse girl has left town, and her father is preparing for a new baby bird in the nest. Word on Main Street is that their home is for sale, and he and his new baby mama will be buying a place of their own.”
“Why do they say ‘word on Main Street’?” Archer asked. “Their house is for sale. Everyone knows it. There’s no scoop there; it’s public knowledge.”
“Because everything is a big fucking deal in this column. It pisses me the hell off.” Bridger took a long pull from his beer bottle.
“Continue,” I said, trying to hide my irritation that they were writing about Wren and her family.
“‘Our favorite cowboy seems to be quieter these days…’” Easton paused as everyone laughed.
“Let me guess, I’m the cowboy? Why? Because I wear a fucking hat when I ride or when I work?” I rolled my eyes.
“This is their big attempt not to name you specifically,” Archer said, not hiding his irritation.
I motioned for Easton to continue.
“‘His horse girl has ridden out of town, leaving her lover behind. She’s won her first competition since returning home, and we’re all so proud of our hometown girl. Well, aside from the brokenhearted cowboy who looks like a sad puppy most of the time. But from what I’ve heard, the ladies of Rosewood River are waiting in the wings, hoping he’ll call it quits with his lady love. You know what they say: The best thing about a long-distance relationship is… nothing. Hence the low success rate. Xoxo.’”
“A sad, brokenhearted puppy? For fuck’s sake, where do they get this shit?” I shook my head and reached for my beer.
“You are a bit of a sad sack without her.” Rafe shrugged.
I gave him the finger. “I’m fine. Stop being dramatic.”
“When will she be back home?” Easton asked.
“It’s going to be a while. She’s training hard, and we’re taking it one day at a time. She’s committed to one more competition for now. She’s been really exhausted these last few days. I think she might be getting sick,” I added, trying to push the worry away.
Wren had been off the last few days.
Quieter on the phone, and she didn’t sound good.
She’d told me that Coach Sharky was pushing her hard, but she’d never shied away from work. Hell, she could outwork anyone.
I had a feeling she was getting sick, which wasn’t a good thing with a competition coming up next week.
“When can you get back out to see her?” Bridger asked.
