We walked in silence again for a few beats, and then he spoke. “How was your call with your brother?”
“I know you hate him, so why even ask?”
“Because I know that your family is going through a lot right now, and I want to make sure someone’s there for you.” His words were genuine, and they hit me right in the center of my chest. I didn’t respond at first.
“Collin is coming next week to visit. He’s trying to help me find out where Wrax is.” My brother might not understand why I wanted to get Wrax back, but I knew he was doing everything he could to help me find him.
Axel didn’t respond, and we walked up his long driveway toward his house, pausing at the steps leading to the apartment above his garage.
“You hate him so much that you can’t just say how nice it is that he’s helping me?” I asked, my gaze locking with his.
“I guess not, Wren.”
I rolled my eyes and stormed up the stairs, then stepped inside my apartment and slammed the door.
And I hated the fact that it took everything I had in me to walk away from Axel, when all I wanted was to ask him to wrap his arms around me.
Because I missed my best friend.
And keeping that to myself was getting more difficult with each passing day.
seven
. . .
Axel
I’d askedthe guys to keep Wren distracted during lunch, as I’d received a call that Wrax would be arriving soon. I’d been excited all day about it, knowing he was coming home.
I loved this horse. He was amazing even when he was young.
He was the horse that my best friend had chased her dreams on.
Not only chased them, achieved them.
Wren was one of the most decorated eventing athletes in the world.
And Wrax had played a big role in that.
I saw the red truck pull all the way up, and I pointed toward the barn as the man made his way over there.
“Axel Chadwick?” the older man asked as he stepped out to meet me on the back side, where Wrax was in the trailer.
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Al. Thanks for bringing him here.”
“He’s a beauty, no doubt about it. I’ve heard he’s fairly famous in the horse world.”
I nodded as he opened the door, and I smiled when I saw him. He looked good. Al walked him out of the trailer, and he came right over to me.
We were old friends, after all.
He remembered. I wrapped an arm around his neck and pressed my cheek to his.
“He’s famous, all right,” I said, holding up a hand in thanks as Al climbed back in his truck. “Welcome home, buddy.”
I ran my hand over his shiny coat as I walked him into the barn, remembering how much he liked that. “Let me go get our girl, all right? I know she’s going to be real happy to see you.”
Our girl.
