Sadie’s entire demeanor brightens, and I feel it in my heart. I love that something so simple—and something I love to do—has made her this happy. I imagine it’s hard for her. Losing her mom and then Mary Lou also being gone. She’s on the ranch, all day, with the horses that she can’t work with—rightfully so—but is desperate to do so.
I was like her once—too young to do anything, but old enough not to do what your parents wanted you to do.
It’s a hard age.
It sucks.
“Okay, well, when you’re back from camp, just let me know and we’ll figure out a time.”
“You bet! Now I can’t wait to get back home.”
I laugh softly. “Hey, since you’re here, have you seen any holes in the fence?”
She shakes her head. “Nope.”
“All right. I can report that all is well.” I walk back over to Dolores and climb up. She handles it beautifully. “Thanks, Sadie. Have fun at camp.”
“I’ll try.”
I wink at her and then head toward the house.
“So how have you been?” Suzanne asks, looping her arm through mine as we walk through the rodeo.
“I’m good. You?”
She shrugs. “Fine. You know, same shit, different day. Ready for today’s race, and then I want to take some time off.”
Suzanne is an amazing barrel racer. She’s won more races than I can count, but she doesn’t love it anymore. It’s a job that pays her bills—mostly—but she’s tired of the circuit. The issue is that her family relies on her winnings to keep their farm going. She’s a top earner who has signed quite a few endorsement deals.
So she does it and hopes that one day she can find something else.
“How much time?”
“A week or two. My manager says that’s about as much as I can do without screwing up things in the pipeline.”
I smile at her. “Maybe you should, like, disappear. Go camping or something.”
“Do I look like I enjoy camping?” she asks, head pulled back.
“No, but it’s an idea.”
“A bad one.”
Most of mine are lately.
You know, like meeting Tristan, sleeping with him, lying to everyone I know. Although is it really a lie when no one has actually asked?
I think that’s a loophole that I can use to feel better.
It’s been five days, and we’ve texted a little, but nothing much. I asked how Sadie did at drop-off, and he said fine, then said he’d see me when he got back.
I took the hint. No talking when we’re not fucking, which is fine since I don’t want to talk.
At least, that’s what I’m really leaning into.
We don’t need to be friends.
In fact, we don’t even like each other. I just happen to like the sex, and that’s why we’re doing this.
