“Did I wake you?” I asked, apang of guilt hitting me in the stomach.
“When you got up, yeah,”Ashley said. “I was going back to sleep, but…”
“You heard,” I said.
I’d made things worse forhim. I should have come clean about the car then and there and left.
“I heard,” he agreed. “Thatwas kinda hot.”
Oh.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ashley bit his lip. “I’mtelling Gray everything you said.”
Heat crept up the back of myneck. “Imeant it. I woulda said the same about you, but…”
“Better if you don’t,”Ashley agreed. “That was brave of you, though. Especially… when you’re…”
“Still kinda coming to termswith thinking you’re cute?”
Ashley nodded, the faintestblush dusting his cheeks.
“Thought you might wannacome meet the horses. Well. Horse,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance yet.”
“Sure,” I agreed.
My phone buzzed.
Gray: whatever yousay. We’llmanage without you somehow. Have fun.
He didn’t believe me,but he clearly wasn’t mad.
I’ll be home soon
As soon as I figured outwhat to do about Ashley.
TWENTY-THREE
ASHLEY
Grandma was already at thestables by the time I’d dragged Logan out to them, checking feed andwater like she’d always done.
It was nice to be outside.Maybe I could just… drag a blanket out here and sleep beside Biscuit. Would anyonenotice?
“Mrs. Cooper,” Logan greetedwarmly as he approached, waving at her. They liked each other already. I’dknown they would. In a lot of ways—the ways that mattered—they were similarpeople.
Grandma looked between thetwo of us—we weren’t quite touching, but Logan stuck close to me, his posturedefensive, hovering like a protective shadow.
“You can call me Grandma,”she said to Logan.
“I’d be honored,” he repliedsoftly, and my stomach clenched. Dammit, why couldn’t I justhavethis? Didn’t I deserve tobe happy?
“Good boy,” Grandma said. “Youlook capable. Come help me hold this door up while I hammer the pin back intothe hinge.”
“I can—”
“I’d love to,” Loganinterrupted, squeezing my shoulder on the way past to follow my grandma intothe stables.
