How are the plans coming along?
It may seem like I’m trying to change the subject, but Winnie has a lot going on in her life and all of it is more important than what is happening with me and Nathan. My cryptic message is due to the fact that her mom tends to look over her shoulder while she texts, and Winnie’s plans to escape her parents need to be kept secret at all costs.
Just fine.
Keep me in the loop.
“Are you texting all your girlfriends to let them know that you finally had your round with America’s favorite cowboy?” Nathan asks.
“I’m surprised my hat even fit on that huge head of yours, Nathan,” I tease. “But if you must know, I was talking to my best friend, Winnie. Though I will not disclose how much I did or did not say about America’s favorite cowboy.”
“Just make sure you give her all the details accurately. I won’t have anyone thinking that Nathan Booth can’t please a woman.”
“It’s not like I’m going to tell her about each and every orgasm.”
“As long as she knows that there were multiple.”
I sink lower into my seat and close my eyes to fake annoyance. “If I’d known sleeping with you would inflate your ego like this, I never would have done it.”
“My ego has always been this big, Viper.”
“You’re right. If it got any bigger it would defy the laws of physics.”
We’re just joking around, but it reminds me that Nathan is good at putting on a show. He’s good at flirting and deflecting, but deep down I know he’s still upset about what happened with Brad, and what he saw.
“Nathan?” I ask.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sure you already know this, but you didn’t lose against Brad because you’re less of a rider than him. You lost because you have a conscience. And it sounds like he might have cheated. I just don’t want...” I fumble for the right words. “After we went to the Neon Horseshoe, you told me that you were a loser. And I just don’t want you to think that because it’s not true.”
“Thanks, Candice. But it is true. I lost. And I’m not used to that feeling, not anymore anyways.”
“But you only lost because you were upset.”
Nathan sighs. “I lost because I couldn’t put aside my emotions and focus on riding. I was upset and I let that bleed into the ring.”
“Well, so what? People feel things, Nathan. You’re not a loser for failing to suppress that completely.”
“Maybe.”
I sigh. “Have you thought about reporting what you saw?”
“I drafted an email with a report in it the day after the competition.”
“And you sent it?”
“No,” he says, sighing heavily again. “It’s been in my drafts folder for weeks.”
“But why not? Why won’t?—”
“Because I have no evidence. No one will believe me, and they’re even less likely to given that Brad beat me and then I punched him in the jaw.”
“So? Who cares what anyone thinks. You have to report this!” I feel myself getting frustrated with him because this feels like a clear-cut situation. Brad is mistreating his horse and possibly cheating, and Nathan can do something about it.
“Of courseyouthink that,” he bites out.
“What the hell does that mean?”
