“Hey…Cat.” He eyes me up and down, face scrunched, and it doesn’t make me feel too confident.
“I was wondering if you could give a girl someridinglessons.” I twirl a piece of hair around my corner surprisingly, because my fingers are growing numb from the cold.
“Uh, what are you doing?”
“I’m looking for a cowboy to help me ride and I hear you’re the perfect man for the job.” I reach out and rub my hand up and down his arm. He flinches and takes a step back, and there goes a knife in my confidence balloon.
“I think you’re mistaken. I used to give private lessons but after my injury of the heart, I’ve given up.”
My smile fades and now it’s my heart that feels cold. Stumbling back, my arms fly out to the side to steady, and Hayes reaches for me. I dodge away from his grasp because I don’t think I could handle him touching me right now. I’d want to find peace in shelter in his arms, but he can’t offer that to me.
“I-I’m sorry. I guess I’ve misunderstood. I’ll…sorry.” I turn around and let my feet take me as fast as they can to my car where I text Cami and let her know I’ve suddenly fallen ill and won’t be able to help this evening.
It’s not a lie because I am sick. I’m sick over the mess I’ve made, and sick of what may become of our relationship.
Will I be able to repair the damage I’ve done?
20
HAYES
Cat never returned the other night to help with our ranch Christmas party and though I wanted to chase after her as she walked away in that sexy getup, I stayed steadfast and kept my feet rooted to the ground.
It would’ve been so easy to pull her into my arms, forgive her, then haul her into the barn and make her believe in us. Until she’s ready to acknowledge what we have as real and lay it all out for our friends and family, I won’t be rolling over so easily. She wants me, she’s going to have to work for it.
Now with only three days until Christmas, I’m wondering if this gift I bought her was a bad idea. I purchased it thinking it would be a great way to announce ourselves to everyone. The idea came to me after something she said months ago. But with the current state of our relationship, it just looks like a boy with a crush on a girl who doesn’t even know he exists.
I put the lid back on the large box and shove it under my bed. Looking at it, thinking of what it signifies, is making me angry and heartbroken all over again. And today I’m determined tomake it good, one where I don’t just sit around thinking of how pathetic I’ve been.
My doorbell rings and I pause for a moment before taking my phone out to check the camera. Very few people come to my place. Vaughan, Cami, Dagen and my parents. And up until a few days ago, Cat. But no one definitely comes by at four o’clock in the afternoon.
I open up the app and click on the front door camera view and see a young woman with the same color eyes as mine staring directly into the lens. Pocketing my phone, I make my way through my house to the front door. Before I can reach it, the doorbell rings again followed by knocking.
“Uncle H. I know you’re home.” Her little twangy voice sounds through the thick wood door which means she’s yelling as loud as she can.
I flip the locks and pull it open to find her standing there with her hands rubbing together.
“What are you doing here, nutcase? It’s cold. Do mom and dad know you’re over here?” I tug her inside and close the door behind her.
“I needed to talk to ya. And yes, they know I’m here. Dad let me ride my quad over.” She peels off her jacket and beanie and plops them on the couch.
Walking to the living room, I flip the gas on my fireplace and strike a match to light the already stacked logs. “Your quad? Mom let you ride that alone? You know you’re always supposed to be with an adult.”
Day sits down in front of the fireplace and crosses her legs. I sit next to her and let my arms rest on my bent knees. “Uncle H. I’m thirteen. I can ride my quad by myself. Plus, I told mom and dad I’d go very slow and take a direct path. No windin’ through the trees.”
“I’ll text your dad to let him know you made it here safely. I’m sure he’d want to know.” I reach back and grab my phone, shooting off a quick text to Vaughan. “So what’s up, buttercup? Did you need something, or did you just miss your favorite uncle?”
With a roll of her eyes, she holds her hands out to feel the warmth of the growing fire. “I have a question for you.”
“And you couldn’t have called or texted me?”
With a shake of her head she says, “No, ‘cause then Mom and Dad would know and I didn’t think you’d want them to know ‘cause if you did, you woulda already told ‘em.”
“Woah woah. What are you talking about? Tell them what, Day?” She wipes her cold runny nose with the back of her hand and shivers.
“I’ll tell ya, but first…can I have hot chocolate? Please please pleeaaassse?” She bats her eyelashes, something she’s learned from her Aunt Viv no doubt, and I tug on one of her braids before climbing to my feet.
“Fine, but I want the full details of whatever it is you’re talking about. No skipping or leaving out things you think may get you in trouble. I’ll cover you if it’s something you think mom and dad may get upset about, but no secrets.”
