“No.”
“Then what are you doing in here? Go look for him and fix whatever it is that Emma broke.”
“It wasn’t Emma. It’s Carter.”
“Oh lord, what did he do this time?”
“All this time, he was pushing us together. He had no intention of marrying Ozzie at all.”
“I see. And what’s the problem?”
“He manipulated the whole thing.”
“So? What Carter did was disgusting, but does it change the fact that you’re crazier about that boy than a June bug on a porch light? It doesn’t matter how it all started, Gray. All that matters is how you two write the rest of your story. Carter no longer has the pen. Will you close the book or start a new chapter? It’d be ashame if you end things now. I see so many good things in your future with Ozzie.”
She was right. Carter no longer had the pen. Carter’s manipulation, while cruel, had unearthed a love I’d never expected. And the thought of losing Ozzie broke me more than any betrayal could.
“I gotta find Ozzie.” I darted toward the door.
“Start a new chapter, Gray!” Gertie called after me.
I walked toward the stables where I usually found him with Indy. The horses whinnied gently, their eyes gleaming.
Ozzie was crouched down next to Indy, brushing his mane tenderly. The colt’s nostrils flared under Ozzie’s soothing touch. He didn’t look up but continued with his ministrations.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped farther into the barn and closed the door behind me.
“I love the way you take care of him,” I said softly.
Ozzie looked up then, and his red-rimmed eyes tugged at my heart. He’d been crying. Oh shit, this new chapter wasn’t starting like I wanted it to.
“He’s a horse. They have feelings too. Of course I’ll take care of him.” He patted Indy’s head. “Plus, you gave him to me. I’ll always cherish him.”
“Ozzie.” I bridged the gap between us. “I know what Carter did to you was vile, but please don’t let it ruin what we have. We genuinely love each other. That’s something he couldn’t manufacture.”
“I hate him, Gray. I hate your son. How is this relationship between us going to work?”
“I’m none too fond of him myself right now, but Carter is a grown man. He needs to make right his mistakes and learn from them. But I will not let him come between us. We won’t let him. These weeks with you have been the happiest in decades. I won’t let that go because my son’s an ass.”
Ozzie brushed his hand off the horse’s mane, his fingers trembling ever so slightly.
“What do we do now?”
“We love each other,” I said firmly. “We move forward. We start a new chapter. We start our own story, Ozzie. One that isn’t influenced by Carter or Emma or anyone else. Let’s write our story our way.”
He turned to me, his gaze searching my face as if looking for signs of doubt, of hesitation. But he would find none. I was certain about this. Certain about us.
“And how do we do that?”
I took his hand in mine, our fingers slotting together perfectly. Hopefully, he could see the sincerity in my eyes.
“We live,” I said simply. “We enjoy every moment together, and we make each other happy. Isn’t that what love is all about?”
“I left my job because of Carter. If I stay here…what am I going to do?”
“You don’t have to work a day in your life if you don’t want to, Ozzie, and if you do—when you find out what you want to do—I’ll be behind you all the way.”
“You make it all sound so simple.”
