CHAPTER 15
ERIC
Teri, Jackie’s friend, was a little nervous aboard Bubba, but she was relaxing more and more as the ride went on. She kept a hand on the saddle horn, which a lot of novice riders did, but she didn’t have a death grip on the reins. Bubba definitely wasn’t a horse who was going to scare her. According to Carole, he was in his mid-twenties, a long-retired show horse who was living out his twilight years carrying young and inexperienced riders safely down the trails. He had his head low, the reins hanging loose beside his neck, and he happily walked along beside Lucky. Lucky had a faster walk when left to his own devices, but he paced himself with Hank, letting some of the other horses get well ahead of us.
Her husband, Mark, twisted around in his saddle. “You okay back there, Teri?”
“I’m fine!” She waved. “Don’t wait for us!”
He shrugged, turned around, and kept pace with the others, who were on horses that preferred to power walk. Well, when Kirby wasn’t trying to wander into the bushes, bite one of the other horses, or just stop for no reason besides fucking with Jackie.
Case in point?—
“Oh myGod!”Jackie’s grumble carried all the way back to us. “Dave, can we trade?”
Dave, her boyfriend, laughed. “You can handle her.”
“I know, but…” She followed that with a frustrated groan. Kirby was definitely going to humble the lady. At least Jackie’s experience kept her from yanking on the mare’s mouth or kicking her; I was pretty sure Carole would’ve had her switch horses by now if she’d been too physical. And Kirby wasn’t dangerous, just stubborn and contrary.
As we all continued down the trail, Hank and Lucky in absolutely no hurry at all, Teri asked me, “Is this your first time at Moosehead Lake?”
“No, I’ve been up here a few times. My—a friend of mine has a cabin on the lake, so we’re staying there.” I gestured over my shoulder to indicate Jesse.
“Ooh, so the two of youaretogether.” She smiled. “I had a feeling.”
“We’re—oh, no, not like that!” I chuckled as my face turned into an inferno. “We’re friends.”
“Oh!” Her face was instantly as red as mine felt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to presume. You boys are just—” She waved her free hand. “I’m sorry.” From her horrified expression, she wasn’t just embarrassed that she’d read us wrong; she was probably mortified at assuming we weren’t straight.
“Eh, it’s okay.” I laughed softly as I glanced back. Carole and Jesse were about twenty feet behind us, carrying on their own conversation. Dropping my voice, I admitted, “Not gonna lie—I wouldn’t mind if we weren’t just friends.”
That seemed to ease her embarrassment, so I must’ve read her right. Relaxing, she gave me a sheepish smile. “Well, you’d certainly make a cute couple.”
I had to be glowing red by now. “Thanks. Don’t know if it’s in the cards, but stranger things have happened.”
Her smile turned to a knowing one. “If the way you two look at each other is anything to go by…”
My brain shorted out at that. I hadn’t realized I’d been so damn obvious, but also?—
“Does he…” I fought the urge to glance back at him, and I dropped my voice a little further. “Helooks at me that way?”
Her expression may as well have screamed,“Oh, you oblivious dumbass.”Still smiling, she just shrugged and didn’t say another word.
I didn’t press the issue either, mostly because I didn’t want Jesse to overhear. But it also wasn’t something I wanted to discuss with a stranger. I was pretty sure she was seeing things anyway, and maybe she was just the too-friendly type who let things slip.
As the ride continued, though, and Teri caught up to her friend and boyfriend while I fell back toward Jesse and Carole, her words stuck in my head. Every time I looked Jesse’s way, I was sure everyone—including him—would see this stupid crush I had on him. And every time he looked my way, especially when he smiled, I caught myself searching those eyes for whatever it was Teri had seen.
He wasn’t really looking at me that way.
Was he?
There wasn’t really something crackling between us that everyone noticed but us. Was there?
That little lip bite when he laughed at something I said was meaningless. Wasn’t it?
As we followed the winding trails, shooting the shit and enjoying the crisp afternoon, I tried to remind myself we were in Maine for a reason. We’d come here to decompress, lick ourwounds, and commiserate over the woman who’d cheated on us both.
Except we’d spent more time talking about life and moose and everything thatwasn’tSelena. I was still sifting through the ashes of my emotions from our breakup, but I didn’t feel any of those right now. I never did when I was hanging out with Jesse. When he was there, I lived in the present. Enjoying the moment. Enjoying his company. With him along for the metaphorical and literal rides, this trip felt less like emotional convalescence and more like a vacation.
