I glanced at Lillybud, who was still snuffling around my hair. “If by experience you mean that technically I knew they existed in places nowhere near me, then yes, I’m an expert.”
Cheyenne stroked Lillybud’s neck thoughtfully, surveying me with a critical eye. “Well, Miss Lilly seems like she’s a fan. You like ’em?”
“They’re sweet,” I said, barely able to answer before another elderly horse moseyed my way and nuzzled my shoulder. “Oh. Hi. Who’s this?”
Cheyenne and Lucas exchanged a look. “That’s Major Bananas,” she said. “He’s actually one of our more skittish customers. Seems you have a vibe they really respect. Getting a horse to trust you isn’t always as easy as it seems.” She had another silent conversation with her son about my apparent horse-whisperer superpower, then said: “You’re welcome to come hang out after your classes; we could always use an extra hand. Especially when that hand’s connected to a young horse prodigy such as yourself.”
I didn’t realize I was staring in surprise until Major Bananas gently drenched my shoulder in drool. I’d just be sitting in my dorm room when not in class, which wouldn’t be conducive to avoiding a guilty, existential crisis. This would give me something to do, and people—and horses—to do it with. “Oh my god, yes, thank you? What would you need from me?”
Lucas jumped in, face alight with excitement. “Petting, which you already have down. But there’d be a bit of heavy lifting occasionally, keeping up with their feedings and you know. Scooping some poop. I can walk you through it—if I can do it, you can certainly do it.”
“I findthathard to believe, but sure.” I hurried to add. “I know Lucas finding me dissociating in a coffee shop doesn’t make me seem super stable, but I promise you can count on me. I’m a fast learner and I like trying new things.”
New things, like moving to a new state by myself for reasons that I’d never explain. I was a lying liar who lies.
“Heh.Stable.” Cheyenne grinned. “That’s all I’m ever hoping for. Welcome to the family.” She brushed a strand of blonde hair off her forehead with her pinkie. “Horse puns are currency in these parts, and laughing your way through a tough time is an important life skill. You know why we take in horses here, Skyler?”
My eyes fell back to the stable of old, discarded horses sadly withering away. “Because you feel sorry for them?”
“Because,” Lucas said, unleashing another warm smile that should’ve been unnerving but was actually incredibly comforting, “whether it’s people or horses, everyone goes through rough patches sometimes. And we want to help.”
I refused to cry in front of people (and horses) I’d only just met, but a wave of homesickness rolled over me so hard it hurt. I focused on continuing to cuddle Lillybud and Major Bananas, who had won me over. “Thank you. I promise I’ll work really hard here for as long as you let me.”
“That’s great to hear. Be sure to look after yourself and stay in school, though.” Cheyenne winked, and after Lucas declined an invitation to stay for dinner later at the gigantic estate up the hill that was apparently theirhouse, he offered to drive me back to campus.
“If it’s okay with you,” Lucas said as he effortlessly weaved through traffic, “I need to make a stop on the way. I’ll make sure you aren’t late to class.”
“Yeah, of course.”
He drove us to another gigantic estate, one that was flanked on either side with elaborate hedges. I blinked to make sure we hadn’t time-traveled back to the 1800s.
“Don’t tell me this is your weekend house,” I managed weakly, mid-gape.
“Oh, god, no, this is my boyfriend Darren’s house. I got back from out of town yesterday, and he was holding some things for me that I’m picking up.” Lucas twirled a set of keys and grinned. “He finally gave me the key to his place!” He wiggled excitedly in his seat for a moment before popping the doors so we could step outside. “ItoldMom he’d come around.”
“That’s cool,” I said, bobbing my head in a supportive nod and not sure how else I was meant to respond. “Congrats.”
I followed Lucas as we made our way up the front walk. I wanted to ask if Darren lived in this enormous mansion by himself, but I was afraid that Lucas would say yes. We stepped into an entirely monochrome foyer and then into an equally monochrome kitchen. Atop a gray counter was a fish tank.
“Hey, guys,” Lucas addressed the two fish circling the underwater castle. “Did you miss me? Did Darren take good care of you?”
I examined the little guys swimming leisurely. “Nowthisis the appropriate pet size—I don’t have to worry that these guys can kill me.”
Lucas sniffed. “Our horses are not pets. Also we’ve already established that you’re Horse Jesus, so don’t even pretend like you don’t have The Gift. Butalsoalso, if you were worried about being murdered by tiny fish, I think you’d have bigger problems.” He grinned. “This betta,” he pointed to the more colorful fish, “is Gaston. Very fitting, as he’s flashy and flamboyant. Which means that this little guppy”—indicating the other, duller-colored fish—“of course, is LeFou.”
“Nice.” It certainly looked like a LeFou. I waved a finger at the little guys, hoping Lucas wouldn’t need me to feed them.
After I’d been given advice on how to lift the tank in a way that wouldn’t murder the unsuspecting fish, Lucas and I carefully maneuvered Gaston and LeFou outside to the car. We successfully transported them in one (two) pieces to Lucas’s new apartment, and after making sure the fish were settled, Lucas drove me back to campus. It was an hour later, once I was heading to class and away from the safety of Lucas’s mother-hen energy, that Matt finally texted me back.
Matt:glad you’re not dead
Matt:but just know that I’m writing a think-piece as we speak about why Washington is better than California, expect it in your inbox
Matt:not that you’d read that EITHER while you’re out shopping for a new brother
My breath hitched the longer I stared at his texts, trying to figure out his tone. Dread crept under my skin. Deciding to play along, I changed the subject:
Skyler:I can’t speak much for California as a state, but I met a photographer who’s also kind of a cowboy who offered me a part-time job, so that was nice
