Her comment was like a knife to my heart, killing the idea that I could have a normal experience even in this completely magical place.
I could always join the Christmas Cherry Auction next year, but I didn’t want to ruin their statistics too.
Me:I’m coming home alone. Don’t want to talk about it right now. I’m fine.
I silenced my notifications and rested.
Next thing I knew, I was waking up, my eyes heavy from crying. Carefully returning my bookgami project to my bag, I started the packing process.
When I finished and my bags were neatly staged by the door, I went back through my cabin, double checking in and under everything. The best thing I could do for Rawhide Ranch was to leave no trace of my existence.
Peeking out the window, I was satisfied that no one was nearby to question why I wasn’t going to the unicorn party.
Rushing to my car, I put my bags in the backseat then took my place in the driver’s seat. My hands trembled as sadness washed over me for thinking I could?—
Crud. I fumbled my keys, dropping them instead of putting them in the ignition. I had to calm down before driving.
Fishing the keys out from under my feet, I held them in my lap and did another calming cycle because I didn’t want the gate guard to question me.
With freedom in my grasp, I was able to calm down. Last step… prepare a smile to flash at the guard.
As I drove toward the exit, the bright shiny decorations of the unicorn party and the mass of people enjoying it came into view. Definitely not my thing. Focusing on the road in front of me, I loosened one hand on the steering wheel so I could add a convincing wave as I passed the guard shack.
Wait. Why was the guard running out of the guard shack? Did I have to check out? He might be able to tell that my eyes were bloodshot if he got close.
For a split second, I considered hitting the gas, but the only thing that could make this situation worse would be running him over.
Chapter Seventeen
Phoenix
Strapping the unicorn horn onto China’s halter, the excitement brewing outside of the stables was lost on me.
Deep down, I accepted that I was unlucky at love. Grumpiness wasn’t my facade as Atlas thought, it was my existence for having a heart that was destined for loneliness.
Honestly, I’d gotten over getting dumped. In retrospect, there had been a lot of disconnects. True love was too elusive. But Penny… she was different. I was different because of her. I was better and more hopeful.
Or maybe I was just a dreamer. “Guess we lost her.”
“Not yet. It was too real to let this stupid-ass blip ruin the whole thing.” Atlas stood still while Everest helped him into the knight’s armor the theater department provided for the party. “We just have to give her time.”
Everest and Atlas switched places. Everest said, “How ironic for us to dress up as knights. Where is our honor?”
Not wanting to think about that, I said, “All that effort not to ruin Penny’s time at Rawhide Ranch… I hope she doesn’t miss the unicorn party because of us.”
“Let’s just do our jobs.” Atlas took China’s reins and waited for Everest to help me get suited up.
Everest lamented, “I hate that we fucked it up.”
I said, “I wanted to make her happy, not make her cry and hide in her cabin. Should we see if they can find someone else to stand in as the knights? Have Catherine let Penny know we’ll banish ourselves to our rooms so she can enjoy the party? We’re the ones who deserve to be punished right now.”
Atlas put his helmet on. “If they can’t replace us, we can put the visors down so she won’t have to see us.”
The three of us led the horses to the party, creaking and clanking stiffly in our metal costumes. And aside from being noisy, it was damned heavy. How the hell did anyone fight in these? It was hard enough to walk. I had to give the theater department kudos for being authentic.
“Do you think she’ll ever trust us again? And does she really think she’s unlovable? How can she think that when all three of us fell for her?” I had too many questions.
Everest asked, “Do you think we should tell Dad to let her mom know that Penny knows who we are? That’s so complicated. We really need to meet her mom.”
