Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“All right, Chocolate Chip and Canyon are great with the saddle. I’ll go grab them.”
“Wait, I wanted to ride Electra.”
We both looked at the towering gray speckled mare, her hair glistening like a Pantene commercial targeting the equine audience. Rex walked over and put a hand on the horse’s nose. If it were pretty much anyone else, Electra would have tried to bite a finger and then proceed to buck away in a cloud of dust.
“You sure? Mia’s the only one who’s ridden her so far. She does really like you, though.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m no beginner rider either. I know my way around some reins.”
“Really? I didn’t think they had many horses in the city.”
“I would drive out every month or so and ride. It was something I used to do with my mom as a kid, and I’ve kept it up since. I toyed with even buying my own horse at one point.”
That surprised me. For some reason, I partly assumed I already knew all there was to know about Rex Madison. He was my brother’s best friend, the son of a famous (and to most, infamous) Georgia senator, and he was my biggest crush ever, even with me thinking—for six entire years—that he had actually hated me.
“Have you thought any more about who sent that text message?” I asked, walking over to the other pen where Canyon munched on some hay. She was a dark red thoroughbred rescued from a fire that had unfortunately killed her previous owners, and unlike Electra, she was a huge sweetheart.
“I’ve got no clue.”
“Do you remember ever losing your phone during the trip? Maybe someone picked it up and read our texts.”
“No, I remember having it with me all the time. Especially because of the texts.”
There were three days left on the trip when the dam between us broke. We kissed after an evening spent alone on the beach, and then we couldn’t stop after that. Except Maverick didn’t even know Rex was bi back then, so we kept things under heavy lock and key.
Except for the texts.
“My dad bought me the phone before the trip. Said it was prepaid, so I wouldn’t need to do anything else with it.”
Rex said it as a throwaway line.
“Your dad?” That throwaway line may have had the key. “So this wasn’t a phone you’d been using before?”
“Nope,” Rex said, slowly but successfully saddling Electra. There were no kicks or bucks or angry neighs. In fact, Electra seemed excited, her tail swaying back and forth in an even manner, her nostrils and lips appearing relaxed, a sign of a very happy horse.
“What kind of phone was it?”
“I can’t remember. It was this mint-green flip phone. Why?”
“I’m wondering if maybe, and this could be a completely wild theory, but what if your dad had the phone bugged before you left?”
Rex looked to me, and I could see the gears spinning. His thick brows inched closer together, and a few rows of wrinkles appeared on his forehead. “You know, that isn’t as wild as it sounds…”
“I could be totally wrong. But if he had access and was reading what we were sending each other, then he might be extra invested in making sure we stayed apart.”
“Fuck, Benji. If it was my own father who did it— I was fine with him cutting me off. I get it. I’m an adult, I should be carving my own path. But if he—if the reason you and I—” He balled his fist and shook his head, a red flush creeping up his neck. His anger was palpable.
“Talk to him. See what he says. And just remember that whatever happened is in the past, regardless of what he says.”
“Still,” he said, taking in a deep inhale. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. You’re right.”
“Come on. Let’s forget about the bullshit for now. I shouldn’t have even brought it up,” I said, patting Canyon’s neck, before opening the gate and guiding her out. Rex followed suit, and Electra seemed as relaxed as I’d ever seen her.
“I want you bringing it up. Whatever’s on your mind, I want to hear it.”
That was refreshing.
“Why did the government declassify evidence of alien spaceships and yet no one seemed to have cared for more than two days?”
Rex gave me a very confused look, his eyebrows practically touching.
“You said you wanted to hear whatever’s on my mind.”
He laughed, which jumped over to me. Soon, the two of us were laughing about nothing as we finished getting the horses ready. Tammy, who always seemed to be attracted by the sound of laughter, hopped out from around the corner, chirping her happiness to be around us.
“Looks like we’ve got a plus one,” I said, getting onto Canyon’s saddle.
“Should we saddle up a horse for her?” Rex asked. He got Electra moving in a slow and measured trot. Canyon fell into place beside her, with Tammy bouncing along on the side.