I smile at him as he explains the new installments to the ranch, showing me where he works and what horses have “tried to kill him,” and introducing me to some of the wranglers, Maverick, Jude, and a guy named Stoney, who I’m pretty sure made up his name.
“This guy,” Jax says, walking up to one of the round pens at the back of the arena and shaking his head at the horse inside. “This guy wants to kill me.”
I scoff and look at the sweet-looking brown-colored horse. I know in the back of my mind the color has a name, but I never really listened when that was explained to me as a teen girl, only wanting one thing.
Jax’s attention.
“Why is he trying to kill you?” I ask, kissing at the horse and watching in amusement as he strides toward me, his earsforward—which I remember means good things—as he lets me pet him on the head.
“He’s out for me. I ride him, and he bucks like he’s got a damn horse fly under the saddle,” he says, watching with an odd expression on his face as he watches me pet him. “All right, that’s enough.” He grabs at my arm, pulling it to safety, and I look at him, highly amused by his actions.
“He seems sweet to me.”
Jax scowls. “To you and everyone but me. He’s got it out for me, City.”
“I highly doubt this horse has a personal vendetta against you, Jax,” I say with a sigh and then look at the watch on my wrist. Sadly, I look to Jax and say, “I’ve gotta get home.”
“You could stay,” he says quickly. “Watch me work for a while.”
“I wish I could, but I have a meeting with my manager that I can’t miss. I’ve already pissed her off enough,” I tell him, wishing like anything I could stay because I don’t want to deal with reality.
He frowns in concern. “Do you want me to come with you?”
I smile and shake my head, gingerly running a finger over his bruised cheek. “No, it’s all right. I’ve gotta get some work handled, and so do you.”
He sighs and grabs for my hand. “Come on then. I’ll walk you back to your car.”
I take his hand, interlacing our fingers, and wishing like everything I didn’t have to go. That feeling of dread surfacing in my stomach at the prospect of leaving him is a sensation I haven’t felt in years.
And while it’s a scary feeling, I can’t help but feel a little comforted at the fact that I am back in this space with Jax again.
I really didn’t want to screw this up.
24
jax
It’s beena long time since I woke up with a smile on my face, but the next few mornings after Felicity stayed at my place, that’s exactly what happened.
Reaching for the phone on the nightstand, I open our text threads and grin at the back and forth. We’ve been texting consistently for four days now, and it’s like we picked up where we left off, only this time, we both have jobs keeping us from seeing each other.
When do you get home?
City Girl
As soon as this pilot lets me. I’ve been sitting on the runway for over an hour.
First world problems, City Girl?
City Girl
Yes, yes, I know. I’m spoiled. I’m just ready to be home.
You and me both.
She landed late last night, and her security, Ezra something, insisted on coming to Colorado with her after he’d been stuck in California after she snuck off. I was partly grateful. She needs to be more careful with herself, even here where everyone is mostly chill.
Felicity is still a big-time celebrity. She is on covers of magazines, on billboards. She is a household name, an icon.
