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She was young, but listened when my tone got serious. We’d been through a lot together in the past few years. She was my only reason for getting out of bed some days.

eight and nine were the most interior stalls. I wanted them by Doobs. Two years ago, we’d bought the place and thrown up a fabulous barn—one with concrete walls that would be safer than flying debris from a three-sided-shelter out in the paddock. It was the showpiece, something I called my “grown-up barn”. It may have been a mid-life crisis, but was most definitely a divorce present.

Reaching the last pasture, I opened the gate and threw a halter on the top two mares—ones who wouldn’t kill one another but would lead the others back. Opal and Cash—Piper’s two show horses—gladly took to leaving the green field as rain began. I chuckled, looking at the height differential as I put on halters. Cash had been bought as a transfer mare, but had movement and mind for dressage coming off the track. Since Piper longed to be a dressage queen, I couldn’t tell her no. She put in so much work. I prayed they’d all survive this. My stomach told me this was a bad one, and they were better off in a safe, sturdy barn. Both mares meant a lot to Piper.

Like the Pied Piper of Mares, I arrived inside, thoroughly soaked. Each horse chose a stall. Unfortunately, multiple horses chose the same stall. After playing around with the layout, we were safe and sound—or so I thought.

“Let’s hang here for now,” I said. “But we’ll have to hit the basement if this gets bad, kiddo.”

Piper kissed Cash’s nose. “But why? I don’t want to leave them.”

“I’ve survived a bad one before, Piper,” I said. “I know we don’t want to leave them. It kills me. However, I’d die if I lost you. It’s safer down there. We can only do our best.”

2. A BETRAYAL

CHLOE

With 90 minutes to spare, I arrived in my room to prep for my party. I heard the shower and assumed my boyfriend, Jasper Hardgrove, was already one step ahead. Jasper was in town momentarily before jetting back to LA. Now that he was A budding leading man, I took what time I got with him these days.

“Oh, I’ll join you!” I laughed.

I tossed my clothes in a hurry, hoping for a quickie before our evening plans which included a reading of my debut novel, A Horse Girl’s Guide to Secrets. After all, what better way was there to calm your nerves before reading a scene before your entire team and your entire family than shower sex?

I stood before the shower, ready to shake a day’s worth of horse slobber and arena dust. Steam greeted me before the sounds of voices. I thought Jasper was talking to himself and jerking off. That seemed unusual, if not a little hot. I wasn’t here to shame him, but I’d rather have him finish with me.

“Oh, yeah, baby. That’s so good.”

I stood there, wondering if I should announce myself or join. I decided on the latter, but regretted my decision immediately. Upon opening the frosted glass shower door, I saw through the steam. On her knees, a woman stood with her back to me, Jasper’s dick in her mouth. Jasper’s eyes closed, he didn’t even acknowledge me. He was too focused on his soon-to-be climax. He held onto her head and moaned loud. My eyes fell to the tattoo above her ass cheek, a “P” for the name of her favorite horse. I had a matching “R” for my heart horse. We’d gotten matching tattoos while drunk once. I suddenly wanted to burn mine off.

“What the fuck, Meg? What the actual fuck, Jasper?” I demanded.

Meg—my steady eddie rock—turned. Jasper freaked out, covering his cock with his hands.

“Oh, shit. We lost track of time,” Meg said.

“I’m sorry, what?” I demanded, betrayed, before shaking my head. “How long? Never mind, I don’t even care. Meg, get the fuck out of here!”

“Sorry, sorry. It didn’t mean anything. I promise. He said you were fine with it.”

“Oh, yeah? Really?” I shouted as she left the shower.

I turned to Jasper, nostrils flaring.

Even though I stood awkwardly nude in this moment; I had a party to make, and it was too late to cancel. I elbowed Jasper aside and beelined to my purple toning shampoo and ultralight conditioning routine. My haircare brand for horses and people was my bestseller. For every human version, I had an equine equivalent.

“God fucking damn it, Jasper! Tonight? Tonight of all nights! And with Meg!?”

“I didn’t… I didn’t think you’d be home soon. We lost track of time, okay?”

“Meg? You could have chosen anyone to break the rules with—anyone but Meg. What are the rules, Jasper?”

“No fucking anyone in your house. No fucking anyone when I’m not working. No fucking people you know.”

“You broke every rule, Jasper. This won’t work. I cannot… Jesus! I am so fucking angry with you. I agreed to this because it doesn’t bother me when I’m not aware of it.”

“Why does it matter, baby?”

“Because when we’re together, Jasper, I want to feel like the only woman in the world.”