“NowthatI’m not sure I agree with.”
“Why? Pretty sure this was just a onetime thing. Ryder and I haven’t hung out since?—”
“But you should.” Tate tugs on his reins, and his horse slows. “You should hang out with Ryder. Which means you should tell Colt. You’re afraid of betraying him, I get it. But that’s exactly what you’re doing by sneaking around behind his back like this.”
My stomach knots with guilt. “It wasn’t intentional. It just…happened. I think I needed a minute to process it.”
“Well, take your minute, but don’t let it go on much longer than that.”
“But what if Ryder decides he is open to dating me, but then it doesn’t work out? I don’t want to put Colt in a weird position?—”
“You’re putting us all in a weird position by not coming clean. Just tell him. You hooked up with his friend. So what?”
I give Tate the most withering stare I can muster. “It’s not that simple. I don’t want to be the reason they stop being friends. And yeah, maybe I don’t want Colt interfering when things are so…new. Fragile. You know how domineering he can be.”
“I do. I also know he’d be happy for two of his favorite people finding happiness with each other.”
“That’s jumping, like, thirty steps ahead.”
“Don’t you like to race? If you could, I think you’d literally move fast for a living.”
I smile. “Awful wise for one so young.”
Tate shrugs. “I’m a textbook Capricorn. I came into the world knowing shit. And I know Ryder likes you just as much as you like him. He’s afraid. Lucky for y’all, though,you’reawful good at the long game. Persistence is your superpower, which you’ll use to keep breaking down those walls of his.”
“I don’t know. Seems like a lame superpower to have.”
“Are you kidding? It’s the best superpower ever. Grit is everything in this world. Because you’re persistent, I know you’ll eventually find a job you love. You’ll be the next Lainey whatever-her-name-is, mark my words. You’ll have work that you love and a man you love too, and y’all will live happily ever after.”
I laugh at that because it’s so absurd.
Because the idea of any of that being possible is so beautiful I can’t stand it. I feel like I’m being tickled from the inside out, giddy and breathless andhopeful.
“If Colt doesn’t kill us first.” I guide my horse around a sinkhole. “Feels like a long shot, Tate, that this doesn’t blow up in my face.”
Tate holds up a hand. “I won’t say a word to Colt. But you need to tell him if you and Ryder keep doing what y’all are doing. That’s the only way things work out in your favor, yeah?”
He’s right, of course. Thinking about telling Colt fills me with dread. But I also feel this weird little shiver of excitement. Maybe because telling Colt about Ryder and me would mean we’re a realthing—that there’s actually a chance we could work out.
Thunder rumbles overhead. I glance up at the sky, surprised to see clouds rolling in.
“Is it supposed to rain?”
Tate chuckles. “We really need to get you back out in the field, Billie. Since when do you not check the weather?”
“Why’d you tack up our horses if you knew it was gonna rain?”
“’Cause I knew you needed some time in the saddle. C’mon, let’s head back.” Tate pulls his horse in a half circle, turning around.
More thunder. I can smell the rain now, taste the minerality of water meeting dry earth in the air.
I need more time to think.
I need more time in the saddle. Who cares if I get a little wet? It’s toasty out here. My phone is tucked safely inside the saddle bag. And maybe the rain will finally help cool off my raging hormones.
Maybe it will help clear my mind so I can make some good decisions. I’m playing with fire here, and I need to be smart about what my next moves are.
“You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
