“I’m totally telling Addison about you punching the shit out of Noah.” Harper started fanning her face. “I know that violence is bad and all that, but I’m sorry, that’s hot as hell. I had to stop myself from actively climbing your brother like a tree when you told me that he broke Noah’s nose.”
I barked out a laugh. Archer cocked a brow at her. “Yeah, baby? You like that?”
She walked over and sat in his lap. “I do,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair before planting a searing kiss on his mouth.
At that, I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “Jesus Christ, you two, I’m literally sitting next to you.”
They broke their kiss, both laughing.
I pushed off the couch to stand. “All right, on that note, I’m out. I texted Frank before we got to Harper’s to have the plane ready in an hour. Thank you both for the help today.”
We said our goodbyes, and I hopped in the waiting SUV to take me to the tarmac. A couple of weeks could not come soon enough. I missed my girl something fierce.
Chapter 25
Addison
Thiswasit—MountainLaurelFarm’s first horse show. I could hardly believe I was here and that all this was happening. I had Levi stay at the farm to tend to the other horses, since Ava stepped up to help me out at this show. We spent the first few hours setting up our show curtains on the front-facing stall that showcased our barn colors of navy blue, hunter green, and a deep plum purple. All competing barns put up fabric to cover the outside of the stall walls that faced the aisle, trimmed with a fabric border in their chosen barn colors, with their name stamped across the front as well as the name of the trainer and location of the barn.
After getting the curtains up, we got all the stalls set up. We used the first stall as a makeshift tack room and the next two stalls as crossties, where we could prepare the horses for their classes. Ava got to work spreading a generous amount of shavings in all the stalls we were using for the six horses that we brought to Evergreen River, while I set up the final stall that we were using as a feed room to house all the hay and grain.
I sat down in one of the chairs that we’d positioned at the front of our row of stalls to take a break. Ava came out of thetack room with two plastic champagne flutes and an open bottle of Veuve. I tipped my head back and laughed. “Does anyone celebrate as much as we do with champagne?”
Ava smiled and shrugged while pouring the champagne. “If they don’t, they’re doing it wrong.” She handed me a flute before she sat down in the other chair and lifted her flute toward me. “Cheers, Adds. You did it. You’re living your dream right now.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I toasted her and took a long sip.
“So, have you seen or spoken to Dean at all?” Ava asked.
I hadn’t seen or spoken to Dean in over a month. I spent my days focused solely on my clients, their horses, and my horses. Thankfully, we hadn’t needed him medically at the farm for anything this last month, allowing me to continue to hide. Having this horse show coming up could not have been a better distraction for me, but I still ached for the man every single night when I lay awake unable to sleep. If I didn’t keep myself busy, he was all I thought of, he was all I saw. If I actually found sleep, I dreamed of him. He was everywhere.
There were so many times I almost broke down and reached out, but I reminded myself that I needed this time to sort through my feelings and not to rush things. I was still so mad at him for all the lies, no matter how well-intentioned they were. He had been lied to before and betrayed as well. He knew my past, and he knew better.
“No, I haven’t.” I didn’t elaborate any further.
Ava nodded. She could read me well, so she smartly changed the subject. “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”
“Everyone should be arriving throughout the day to school their horses over the show jumps. The following day, the show actually starts, and I have a smaller class that I’m going to use as a warm-up for Cash. Dahlia’s classes start too, and I’m going to take a couple of my clients’ horses into a warm-up class to prep them.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll play groom, so I can help tack up horses and take them when they’re done.” Ava took a sip of her champagne.
“Thanks for all your help today and this week, Avs. I just haven’t had the time to hire anyone for shows yet. I need to find someone soon, though, because I’m taking Cash and Dahlia to Wellington in two weeks. I think I’m going to ask around some of the barns at this show to see if they know anyone.”
“Oh wow, I didn’t realize that you were going to WEF. Any big names going that week?” WEF was the Winter Equestrian Festival that took place in Wellington, Florida, every year and showcased some of the world’s top riders and horses.
“Lyle Ward, Betsy Frasier, and Kent Miller, to name a few. I’m kind of nervous about it. It’ll be my first big stage with Cash.” I took a long pull from my champagne flute.
Ava’s eyes widened. “That is quite the lineup, but don’t be nervous. You and Cash will rock it. Any clients going?”
“Not to this one. I think a couple may fly out to watch me compete, but I’m not taking any client horses to that show. I’m not even showing Dahlia. I’m just taking her so she gets the experience and exposure.”
“That’s so cool. I remember you always talking about oneday competing in a Grand Prix at WEF. You should be proud of yourself that you’ve made it this far, no matter the outcome.”
“Yeah, it’s all pretty surreal. I just hope Mom, Dad, and all the James siblings can make it. I know I’ll need the emotional support.” I chuckled. “But I also know it’s during a hectic time at the vineyard and winery, Walk is in spring training, and who knows if Weston will be called out on a mission. Not to mention, it’s expensive between the airfare and hotels.” I sighed, the realization sinking in that it might just be me by myself competing in the largest Prix of my entire life and career.
Ava could see the worry etched on my face. She reached over and squeezed my thigh. “Hey, let’s just focus on this show right now. We’ll figure the rest out later.”
“You’re right. One day at a time.” We both realized the double meaning of that statement.
