“Guess I was too caught up in my thoughts.”
“Hmm.” He walks Minnie up next to Huck, and we sit in silence for a bit. “You never said what you’re doing out here.”
“Oh, I just needed to get out of town for a bit. Clear my thoughts.”
Reese nods. I’m grateful he doesn’t ask questions. If it were Camden, I’d be getting the third degree. “We could use some help with the chores this afternoon. Mom’s arthritis is acting up today.”
“How bad is it getting?”
Reese shrugs. “It’s okay for the most part. But sometimes she pushes it too hard and then gets annoyed when she has to bear the consequences.”
“Sounds about right. Want to head back?”
Reese turns Minnie around instead of responding. We ride in silence until we’re back at the barn. He gives me a list of shit that needs doing and then leaves me to it.
I keep an eye on the time to make sure I’m not late picking up the girls from their after-school program. It’s only two days a week, but they have a wide-ranging curriculum that the girls love. This week, they’re learning about testing hypotheses. I’m hoping they have the lines around their eyes from the safety goggles again today. It’s the cutest fucking thing.
I manage to get everything done by the time I have to leave. I wave at Reese and Camden, who are mucking out the horse stalls, and then jump in my truck. I make a mental note to bring Beverly some of Gage’s pastries in the morning. This is exactly what I needed to get my head back on straight.
I won’t lie and say I’ve suddenly stopped thinking about Gia. It would take a whole lot longer than an afternoon to do that, but the fresh air brought me some much-needed perspective. I messed up by not talking to her before she left. I should’ve told her how I felt and then let her decide, regardless of the consequences.
I’m still debating whether or not to text her tonight. Is it too late to say something? Will I regret letting time pass without reaching out at all?
Yeah. I’ll regret it, which means I need to plan out what I want to tell her.
I pull up to the school before I have time to give it much more thought. The warm air seeps into my bones, allowing my muscles to relax as I walk to the girls’ classroom.
Although the temperature when I step through the door could rival Antarctica.
I glance back and forth between Farrah and Knox.
Farrah has her arms crossed, and her shoulders are hunched. Anger is burning in her eyes as she stares daggers at my best friend. Her kind face ruins the intensity a bit, but what she’s communicating is clear. She’s pissed.
Knox is grinding his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw are visibly flexing. “Let’s go, Finn. We need to get home before dark.”
Farrah scoffs. “That’s physically impossible at this time of year.”
Knox rolls his shoulders but doesn’t respond. Seeing this woman covered head to toe in pink, shooting laser beams at the back of Knox’s head, has me rolling my lips between my teeth to hold back my laughter.
Once Finn gets to his dad, Knox turns, startling when he notices me standing here. “Holt. Doing good?”
“Fine.”
He nods before hightailing it out of Farrah’s classroom.
“At least he’s not just monosyllabic with me,” Farrah grumbles.
“No, that’s pretty on par for Knox. What was that?”
Farrah blows out a breath, throwing her hands up. “Heck if I know. He’s been that way with me since we met at parent-teacher night at the beginning of the year.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
“I mean, the man is grumpy pretty much always, butthat was different.”
“Oh, goody. So it is me. I was hoping he acted like he had a bee in his pants for everyone.”
