Nash chuckled. “If you want to learn how to be the best rider, I need to teach you because I’m the best.”
“Pssh, bronc riding and barrel racing are two different things, cowboy,” I dismissed him.
“Maybe we should see who the better rider is.” He challenged.
“Oh, you’re on, Nash, you’ll eat my dust,” I said confidently.
“A race?!” Sol squealed.
I flinched, remembering we had an audience.
“Yeah, we can set a course,” I said leaning down. “But you have to go to bed and be a good girl till Saturday, ok?”
“I will, I promise,” she said, hugging me before going down the hall to what I suspected was the bathroom.
“God, I wish it was always that easy,” Nova chuckled, getting up to hug me.
“It’s that auntie touch,” I chuckled, as Nova hugged me.
“Do you need me to walk you out?” Nova whispered quickly.
I shook my head. “Nah, but we do need a girl’s night.”
“Definitely,” she said, releasing me.
Theo gave me a hug goodbye that felt like he was studying me a little more than usual.
“Call me if you need me, ok?” he said, glancing at Nash. “Love you.”
“Of course. Love you too.” I kissed his cheek, hugging him tighter, making up for all those years I didn’t get to hug him or give him affection like I should have.
“Bye, Iz,” Atlas said, getting up to hug me and I said goodbye to Colt who was half asleep on the sofa.
Nash and I walked out of the house, the cold instantly chilling me and the silence enveloping us. We walked to our cars as I waited for him to say something.
“Can we sit down and talk?” he asked, as I shivered.
“Can’t you just tell me why you are here?” I wrapped my arms around myself.
Nash sighed, throwing an arm around me, pulling me close. His warmth infused my side and my protest died on my lips.
“It’s cold and I’d prefer not to have you freeze to death on me,” he said.
“Well, if you started talking when we left then?—”
“Why are you so stubborn?” he interrupted. “I just want to have a conversation.”
“I’m stubborn?” I clipped. “Says the man who left me after our wedding to never answer my calls or texts and then when I get to see you, you act like I was a stalking Buckle Bunny!” I pulled away. “You embarrassed me, made me feel like I was just a nag when all I wanted was to figure out was going on with my family’s farm because your entire family was icing me out.”
I pushed him away, all my anger ready to come out.
“So, now that you want to have a conversation you act all high and mighty?—”
“That’s not what?—”
“No, you shut up and listen.” I pushed him again.
“Let me explain,” he said, not listening to me.
