I didn’t, though.
When my friends left for far-flung places to further their educations, I spent even more time at the barn.I went to the College of Central Florida so I could ride more, and I was a general studies major, because everything other than horses felt boring and unnecessary.
Only, my freshman year, I suffered hurdle after obstacle after setback.My horse had a high suspensory injury followed by a surgery.One horse I was working for my trainer colicked, another pulled up lame with fetlock arthritis, and yet another got EPM.That year, instead of reaching new heights, I kind of crashed and burned.I competed in one show all twelve months.
It was depressing.
Really depressing.
My friends called, telling me about the jobs they got, the men they met, and the majors they were pursuing, and by comparison my life felt like an episode of that sitcom,Community.
Before long, I was still riding, whatever horse I could catch a ride on, and they were getting engaged.Graduating.Generally soaring, while I sank further still.I went to the engagement parties, one in Texas, one in Colorado.I cheered.I sent gifts, and I told them I was super, duper excited.
I was.Truly.
But I was also a little depressed for myself.On the night that Natalie called to tell me she was pregnant, I gave her my heartiest congratulations, and then I called some friends and went out drinking.
That was also the night I met Brent.
He was just a guy at the bar, but had a kind smile.
It’s the only thing I remember thinking about him...until I woke up next to him in bed.“Oh, no.”I yanked the sheets up to my neck.“I—who are you?”
His smile was kind even then, which is how I remembered.“Brent.”I cleared my throat.“That’s your name, right?”
His smile widened.
“But why are we...?”I blinked.“And how did we get here?”
“You really don’t remember?”His smile wavered then.“Because you seemed excited enough last night, I swear.”
I half-ran to the bathroom, taking the entire comforter with me, and puked up most of what I’d had to drink.He was kind through my entire panic-attack, especially when he found out he was my first.
A night I didn’t even remember.
He was very, very nice, but he was also a little boring, and we didn’t really have anything in common.He gave me his number, and he told me to call if I ever wanted to get together again, but I knew I didn’t.At least, not until three weeks later, when I took a very important test, and I got two clear pink lines.Dialing him up was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
I had no idea what to expect when I asked him to meet me for coffee.
“I—thanks for coming.”
Brent was wearing loafers.
I’m not sure why I fixated on that, except that mydadwore loafers.My grandpa, too.I’d never really known anyone my age who wore them, and to make it worse, he was wearing them with jeans.“Of course.”His smile, again, was very kind.“I thought you weren’t going to call, to be honest, and I thought it was a shame.You’re so beautiful, and I wanted a chance to give you a night you’d actually remember.In a good way.”
My whole face heated up.“I’m not—that’s not something I haveever?—”
His eyes flew wide, his mouth dropping open.He waved his hands.“No, not—that’s not what I meant.I was just saying I wanted to take you out, take you dancing, and show you a good time.I wanted us to have a chance to have a proper date.”He inhaled sharply, and then he smiled again.He held out his hand.“Brent North.Can we start over?”
“I’m not sure we can.”I stared at his hand.“Because...”I looked up at his face.“I’m pregnant, Brent North, and since you’re my first and only, it’s got to be yours.”
If I thought his eyes flew wide a minute before, I was wrong.He looked exactly like a horse at the barn, Magnificus, when he saw a plastic bag rolling in the wind.“You’re—” He coughed.
He kept right on coughing.
I finally stood up and patted his back.“Are you alright?”
He grabbed my water and downed the entire glass.Then he set it down.“Sorry I drank all of that.I wasnotexpecting you to say that, but if you’re pregnant, then I think we should get married.”
