"Yeah." I nod in agreement. "But I've always known the look was an unspoken pact, where London aligned with his enemy to lie for me and take the fall for what I had done."
She scans the backyard before crossing her arms and leaning in closer. "I'm not saying you're wrong, but what if there's more to it? Think about it. Noah's family had connections, with his father being the mayor, and we both know Noah was more than happy to remove London's chess piece from the board when it came to winning you."
"Which only supports why inviting him here is a bad idea," I point out.
"Or maybe Noah needs to come here to force both of their hands, and we find out the real truth instead of whatever narrative they've forced us to accept."
"Or…hear me out…" I lay my hands flat on the table. "I could just ask London."
She throws herself against the back of her chair with an exaggerated sigh. "Boring."
"Maybe, but I don't want any more drama. I've lost enough sleep, shed enough tears, and wasted enough time. I'll just ask him." He may not like that I'm here, and he may not want to be friends, but I think he'd agree I at least deserve a conversation. A familiar truck breaks the tree-lined drive, kicking up dust on its way in. "My ride is here."
"My heart started beating super fast, watchingyou walk down the hill to join us. Until I saw you, I was half convinced you might renege again," Madison says as I step up to the pine fence bordering the outdoor riding arena.
"I said I'd come," I say with a small smile before chucking my thumb over my shoulder and adding, "It doesn't hurt that you gave Trigg another reason to see me."
"So you like him, huh?" she says, shielding the sun from her eyes.
"He's nice," I say, climbing onto the top rail of the fence. "But I'm only here for the summer."
"Well, maybe he'll be a reason to stay," she says with a wink before calling to her lunger. "Abbey, come meet Laney."
As her teammate approaches, their relation is unmistakable—both barely clearing five feet, with hair like burnished copper and eyes so intensely blue they could pierce armor.
"Laney, this is my sister, Abbey. Abs, this is Laney—the woman who's managed to star in every single one of Trigg’s conversations lately."
I tuck that little nugget away for later as it swims around my head, accompanied by the ominous comment Trigg left me with at the wedding when I asked if he knew who I was, and his response was, "No more than you know me." I high-tailed it out of there after I caught Madison and London in the barn, and today, when he picked me up, I hoped we would start where we left off, but he ended up having to take a work call.
"Laney," I extend my hand out. "It's nice to meet you."
"You're very pretty for a horse whisperer." She gives my hand a gentle squeeze, and her gaze lingers a little longer, slowly drinking me in.
"Oh my god, Abs. She's with Trigg. Back off?—"
"Actually, I'm not with anyone, but let's talk about Gypsy," I say, wrenching the conversation back to its purpose. I didn't come here to dissect the Hale men or land a date. Though dating awoman has never seriously crossed my mind before this moment, perhaps it should have. Maybe only a woman can be trusted to keep my heart safe. "You mentioned something about his timing changing during your routine. Has anything changed, such as music, new moves, or partners?"
They look at each other and shake their heads. "No, nothing has changed. Abs and I have been partners from the beginning. Every year, we make changes to the routine, but this started three months ago, and the routine we are using is one we've been using for months with no issue, and thenbam." Madison claps her hands, and Abbey flinches. "He just starts slowing his speed three-fourths into my performance. We're almost to the finish line, and he stops."
"Well, let's do a run-through of the performance, and I'll see if anything stands out."
"Let's do it," Madison says, eager to perform, but it's Abbey's look of detachment that catches my eye. It could be her poker face. All athletes must get in a zone before the game, but it's something to watch. While Abbey isn't the one atop the horse performing, her ability to guide the horse is crucial. If her mind wanders, Gypsy will sense it immediately. Horses possess remarkable perception in that way.
It's one of the reasons why I chose this path: the nonverbal connection, the innate sense of being heard without judgment, and the bond formed purely through emotional resonance. It's grounding in a way few other experiences are.
Abby starts the performance, establishing a consistent, flowing canter using her line and whip to communicate with Gypsy. He does about four circles before she pulls the line closer, and he follows the command effortlessly. Then Madison runs up alongside him before springing into action, gracefully mounting his back in one fluid motion. It's impressive.
I'm just watching Madison stand on his back when I smell him seconds before I feel him at my back. His scent is earthy and warm, like soil after summer rain in Texas.
"If you're here to tell me to leave again, save it. I'm here for the summer."
My heart quickens. I hate how his scent engulfs me completely and how each inhale betrays me, his familiar fragrance still unlocking something inside of me that feels like home despite everything destroyed. But what I hate the most is the invisible, relentless magnetism between us, some kind of cosmic joke that's determined to drag us back into each other's orbit, even though the same cruel universe already tore us to shreds.
"The other day at the wedding, what you saw between me and Madison?—"
"Save it. Whatever it is, I don't care."
Not exactly true, but the last thing I want to discuss with him after six years is his intimacy with another woman.
