Page 37 of Wasted

"Don't start something you can't finish."

"Oh, I can..." I cut him a look, and his smirk faded. "That wasn't a challenge."

I shook my head. "Nope."

"So, will you come with me today?"

"Do you promise to keep your hands to yourself?" He nodded, and I smiled. "Yeah, let me go change."

It wasn't until I was inside the privacy and behind the safety of my bedroom door that I let the tears fall. It felt as if I was mourning the loss of my childhood and my first love all over again. I swiped away the tears stinging my cheeks and cleared my throat. I didn't know who Cole and I were anymore or if there would ever be a Cole and me again, but I was thankful I was getting a second chance. A second chance at friendship and maybe even at love, but my heart was terrified of being ripped to shreds.

Chapter Twenty-One

Taylor

My mother put me on my first horse before I could walk. Riding was second nature, like breathing or walking. It had become my first love back when boys still had cooties, and Cole had been my second.

I ran my hand down the side of the brown mare's neck. She was one of the Montgomerys’ breeding horses, and she was absolutely beautiful with her shiny dark brown coat and even darker brown, almost black mane.

Cole stepped closer, eyeing my movements. "You need a hand?" His voice carried a hint of amusement as I gathered the reins in one hand and the saddle horn with the other, shoving my foot into the stirrup.

I rolled my eyes, pulled myself up, and threw my leg over before he made it around the horse. I'd never needed help before, so why would I need help now? "I guess not."

"What about you?" I laughed. "Do you need a hand up, City Boy?"

"Cute." The corner of Cole's mouth quirked up, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"You sure you don't want to take one horse?" I bit my lip, feigning innocence. "You can ride behind me." My eyes danced with mischief as I patted the space behind me on the saddle.

"I'll ride behind you, all right." Cole's low voice sent a shiver down my spine as he effortlessly pulled himself up, swinging his leg over the horse.

I shook my finger at him. "Eh, eh, eh... No starting anything you can't finish..."

He pressed his lips into a tight line, cutting his eyes at me as he situated himself comfortably on the horse. "Oh, you're killing me." I threw my head back with a loud laugh. "How about a bet?" Cole's eyes lit up with that competitive spark I knew all too well, his body leaning slightly forward in anticipation.

"What kind of bet?" My fingers absently stroked the horse's mane as I waited for his response.

"I'll bet I can beat you to the south end near Boggy Creek at the swimming hole. Loser has to go off the old rope swing."

"Deal." I smirked as I leaned forward and tapped the horse with my heels, signaling the horse to go and again to go faster.

"Cheater!" Cole's shout faded behind me as I leaned forward, laughing and urging my horse faster. The wind whipped my hair wildly, drowning out any further protests. Flicking a glance over my shoulder, I smiled as the galloping horse's feet hitting the ground filling the silence. The scent of fresh air surrounded me. I loved being outdoors in the open fields with nothing in front of us but miles and miles of open pasture, and even more than that, I loved being with Cole.

This is my happy place.

Cole caught up quickly, and it turned out the new city boy hadn't forgotten his country boy lifestyle after all, not that Ireally thought he had. We'd spent too much time doing this exact thing for me to really believe he'd ever forget.

I jerked back on the reins as we neared the creek. The horse slowed to a walk as I guided her around to watch Cole's horse gallop in.

"You cheated." He gave me a pointed glare.

I laughed. "I didn't hear any stipulations on the bet. Did I miss them?"

"You are exactly the same pain in the ass you were back then." Cole's laughter rumbled through the air, a sound that stirred memories of countless summer days spent just like this.

I shrugged. "You still have to jump."

"Okay." He smirked, sliding off his horse. Stepping forward, he reached back, pulling off his shirt and dropping it to the ground before moving to the fly of his jeans.

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