Page 54 of Wasted

"You really shouldn't be riding when there's no one that will come looking for you."

She shrugged. "You came."

"You know what I mean, Taylor. What would you have done if I had already left for Nashville?"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "I would have called Bailey." She smiled.

"And if you were unconscious?"

"Bailey would have come eventually." I shook my head as I pulled her jeans up to look at her ankle. "Cole, I've been doing this every day since I was old enough to ride alone. I'm not going to give it up because I'm alone."

Sucking in a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. "Just do me a favor and text me and tell me you're out riding and when you get back, so I know you're safe. Otherwise, I'm going to worry every morning I'm away from you."

She nodded.

"Come on," I said. "Let's get you back to the house so I can take care of your ankle before I have to leave." And what I meant was so I could hold her and feel her skin against mine before I left.

I scooped her up, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Can you ride, or do I need to carry you all the way back?"

"I can ride. I can get up on the opposite side."

She put her uninjured foot in the stirrup, pulled herself up, and slid back, allowing me to slide in front of her. I couldn't even fight the smile pulling at my mouth. I threw my leg over, and Taylor shifted behind me, her grip on my waist tentative. Teenage Taylor would have never ridden behind me. She was a do-it-myself girl, but I couldn't lie; I liked to feel her arms around me.

"You ready?"

"Mmhmm," she said, and I groaned when her hands slipped under my shirt. Her fingers traced patterns on my skin, each touch making thoughts of schedules and flights grow hazier. The idea of staying, of missing that plane, became more tempting with every passing second.

There would be another flight.

Her cool palms flattened against my warm skin as she pressed her front to my back and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Why do you have to go back to Nashville, anyway?"

I nudged the horse forward at a slower pace, careful not to injure her more. "I have a court date." I inwardly groaned, remembering I couldn't reschedule or miss this flight because if I did, it would only look bad on me, and I was trying to prove that I'd changed.

"Right," she sighed. "For the DUI and public intoxication charges."

"Yeah."

"Hopefully, the judge considers how hard you've worked to be a better person, and you haven't gotten in any trouble since."

Taylor's words hung in the air as we rode back towards the stable. The weight of my upcoming court date pressed down on me, but having Taylor's arms around me provided a measure of comfort.

"I hope so, too," I finally replied. "My lawyers seem optimistic, but you never know for sure."

Taylor squeezed me gently. "Well, no matter what happens, I'm here for you. We'll get through it together."

Her simple declaration warmed me more than the morning sun. After years apart, hearing Taylor say "we" felt like coming home.

As we approached the stable, I slowed the horse to a walk. "How's your ankle feeling?"

"Sore, but I'll live," Taylor said with a soft chuckle. "Nothing some ice and rest won't fix it."

I dismounted first, then carefully helped Taylor down. She winced as her injured foot touched the ground, so I scooped her up in my arms again.

"Cole!" she protested, though I could hear the smile in her voice. "I can walk."

"Humor me," I said, carrying her towards the house. "Let me take care of you for once."

---