When the farm came back into view, my heart felt heavy. The rodeo had felt like a retreat that I didn’t want to return from. Now I understood why Riley insisted on going, even though his father didn’t approve of them.
I pulled Athena off the trailer and reunited her with Tigger. I placed her first-place ribbon next to her stall. Riley and I went our own ways. He went to the main house, and I went to my trailer. This weekend was a lot more than I was used to, and I needed my sleep.
When another thunderstorm woke me up during the middle of the night, I grabbed the sweater and the ring and headed to the stable. I was only alone for a moment before Riley opened the door. He walked in, sat down, and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I breathed him in, now getting to savor the smell, knowing that we were real. I knew my feelings were real.
Thunder and lightning crashed around us, and the sound of the rain was steady, like a heartbeat. Athena was antsy due to the storm, and Tigger nuzzled her through the bars. I wondered if them becoming a bonded pair was an omen for Riley and me.
I didn’t voice that out loud, because I didn’t want Riley to know the true depth of my feelings. I didn’t want him to know that if he walked away from me now how much it might destroy me. I would have to leave the farm. I would have to take William up on his offer to move my trailer and go somewhere else.
Riley interrupted my thoughts.
“Have you thought any more about vet school?” he asked me.
“No, I’m not sure where I would go yet.”
“Can I make a request?” he asked.
“I’m listening.”
“Don’t go far. I want you close to me.”
Riley was the king of intense romantic words, and I felt lost, tossed among them.
He wanted me here, long term. He was thinking long term. That made the giant hole in my heart shutter and then close, slowly. It scared me how quickly this developed and how badly I needed it. Riley was an addict, recovering from alcohol and the party boy lifestyle. Now, he had converted me, and I was an addict for him. His words, his gentle touch, his sexy grin, I needed them all, all the time.
I kissed him, forgetting where we were for a moment, why we were here. I let myself feel this moment. I’d always remember this as the evening I knew that he was as invested in us as I was. He followed me out here in a thunderstorm, to sit with me while I moped. Then he distracted me, with the best thoughts. None of that mattered now; what mattered were his lips on mine, his hands that were traveling down my arms. They moved to my waist, and then he pulled me onto his lap, so that I was straddling him. He kissed my neck, working his way down.
“Do you know you are intoxicating?” he asked me.
“You would know, wouldn’t you?” I asked.
“Oh yes, you are my favorite drug,” he said and then put his lips on my skin again.
Then the barn door opened, and William was standing there. He saw our positioning and quickly looked away.
He cleared his throat and then said, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there is a tornado watch in effect. There were two that touched down ten miles from here. I thought I’d offer to let you stay in the main house tonight. There’s no basement in the trailer.”
I pulled myself off Riley’s lap, and he adjusted himself.
“Thank you, William,” I said.
“No problem. I’m going to go now. Like I said, there’s room in the main house tonight.”
William turned around and walked out.
Riley chuckled.
“Stop, it’s not funny!” I said, smacking him in the chest.
“It’s very funny. Hey, do you think he knows about us?” he asked.
“I’m glad you have jokes, because I am mortified!” I screeched.
“Why? It’s just my father,” he said.
“He’s my boss, and you are his son. It just feels wrong for him to know, now that we are for real and it’s not pretend,” I said.
“He’s a man. He will get over it,” Riley said.
