Her mouth trembles before she hardens again. “I can’t be the only one showing up, Sebastian. I need more than sex and half-hearted affection behind closed doors. If you can’t be all in, then I’m all out.” She pauses, her voice catching, but not enough to stop her. “And I don’t want you turning up here because you feel bad, or lonely, or guilty. I want you to show up because youcare. Because you fucking mean it.”
Her words land like a gut punch. For the first time, I actually hear what she’s been trying to tell me all along. It’s not about fixing what broke. It’s about proving I’m worth letting back in. And standing here, surrounded by hay and sunlight and her goddamn strength, I finally get it.
Before I can speak, she moves. One smooth motion—her boot in the stirrup, her hands on the reins—and she’s on Blue’s back.
“I’m sure you can show yourself out,” she says, voice calm, final. “Goodbye, Sebastian.”
And then she rides off, leaving dust in her wake and a silence that roars in my chest. I stand there, watching her disappear down the paddock. My chest feels hollow, but underneath the hollow sits something else.
Something raw, burning.
“The Wattle Creek Idiots”
Harrison:Right, since the girls have their own group chat or some shit, I figured we needed one.
Michael: Why?
Harrison:Because you all need me in your lives. You’re welcome.
Xavier: How bored are you?
Michael: You’re such a loser.
Harrison: Loser? Please. I’m calling it brotherhood.
Bradley: Do I need to be in this conversation?
Harrison:Absolutely.
Me:I’m struggling to understand why I’ve been added.
Michael: Oh, HI Sebastian.
Harrison:Who pissed in your fucking Cheerios this morning,daddio? Jeez.
Xavier:Oh, leave him be. He’s just grovelling.
Michael:Grovelling? Why?
Harrison:I’m betting it’s got something to do with a certain Mitchell sibling.
Bradley left the chat.
Harrison:Uh, oh.
Michael: Oh… so no more late night “babysitting” shifts?
Xavier:Careful. That’s my sister you’re talking about.
Me:What the fuck is grovelling?
Xavier:It’s when you realise you’ve royally fucked up and start trying to earn forgiveness.
Harrison: Just looked it up. Usually involves flowers. Grand gestures.
Michael: Or a public apology in front of the Loose Lasso crowd. I’ll bring popcorn.
Me: You’re all idiots.
