Page 96 of Saddle and Bound

The phone rings once, twice, three times. No answer. I leave a hurried voice message: "Alex, it's me. I'm fine, but there's a horse outside the fence. I'm trying to catch it. If you hear this, come help me. I'm heading toward the woods east of the ranch."

I end the call and focus on the chase. The wind whips my face as I gallop, my heart racing with adrenaline and worry.

Chapter 62

Alex

Sweat drips down my back as I hit the punching bag with all my strength. But it's not enough. No matter how hard I train, I can't shake off the anxiety gripping my stomach.

I've sent Rosie countless messages. At first, I tried to keep a light tone, hoping not to pressure her. But as the hours passed and her silence lingered, I couldn't hide my growing concern.

"You're a fucking idiot, Alex," I mutter to myself, hitting the bag even harder.

Chris, who's holding the bag steady, gives me a questioning look. "You good, man?”

I ignore the question, focusing on my punches. Left, right, left, right. The familiar rhythm should calm me, but today it's not working.

Fran and Diego, training nearby, exchange a meaningful look. They're realizing something's wrong, but for now, they have the sensitivity not to ask questions.

Max, as usual, hasn't joined us. "I prefer solitary training," he said in that detached tone of his before disappearing. Right now, I almost envy him.

"Come on, let's take a break," Chris suggests, stepping away from the bag.

I stop, panting. Not from physical fatigue, but from the weight I feel on my heart.

"Alex," Fran intervenes, approaching. "It's obvious something's wrong. Want to talk about it?"

I hesitate. Part of me wants to scream, confess everything. Another part just wants to run away, find Rosie, and beg for her forgiveness.

"I screwed up," I finally admit, my voice hoarse. "With Rosie. And if I've ruined everything... if I've lost the best thing that's ever happened to me..." My voice breaks.

The guys exchange worried glances, but no one ventures easy reassurances. They don't know how serious the situation is, and I appreciate their caution.

Diego breaks the silence: "Hey, man. I don't know what happened, but if you want to talk about it, we're here."

I nod, grateful for their support, but the knot in my stomach doesn't loosen.

"Thanks, guys," I mumble. "I think... I think I'll go take a shower. I need to clear my head."

I head toward the locker room, feeling their concerned gazes on my back. The silence that follows me is heavy, loaded with unasked questions and palpable worry.

I step into the shower and turn the hot water on full blast, hoping the steam might somehow blur my tormented thoughts. The drops run down my body, sliding along my tense, aching muscles from the intense workout.

I rest my forehead against the cold tiles, seeking some kind of relief. The water flows, flows, flows, but the weight on my chest doesn't diminish. If anything, it seems to increase with each breath.

I close my eyes, and Rosie's image appears vivid in my mind. Her smile, her eyes full of trust... and then the hurt and disappointed expression when she discovered the truth. A shiver runs through me, despite the scalding water.

I punch the shower wall in frustration. The physical pain is almost a relief compared to the emotional torment I'm experiencing.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I mutter, rhythmically banging my head against the tiles.

The water keeps flowing, but it can't wash away the guilt that grips me. It can't turn back time and make me make the right choices. I had no idea it would bother her... I just wanted to resolve the situation and see her happy. How serious is what I did?

Fear coils in my stomach like a living thing. Fear of losing her. Fear of shattering our carefully built trust. Fear of returning to the emptiness of life without her.

I stay under the water stream longer than necessary, hoping for some epiphany, some magical solution that could fix everything. But when I finally turn off the tap, I feel exactly the same as before: lost, guilty, and terrified.

When I leave the shower, wrapped in a towel, I notice my phone flashing. My heart leaps into my throat as I grab it.

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