Page 21 of Saddle and Bound

Val: Good morning, princess! Slept well after your moonlit swim? ????

Lexy: I bet she dreamed about a certain cowboy all night! ?? A

Aurora: Or maybe she didn't need to dream about him... maybe they spent the night together ??

Me: Ha ha, very funny. You know there's nothing between Alex and me.

Val: Sure, sure. And I'm allergic to horses.

Lexy: Speaking of longing looks... Aurora, don't you think it's time to talk about a certain cowboy you couldn't stop staring at last night?

Aurora: I don't know what you're talking about... ??

Aurora: I wasn't... I wasn't staring!

Lexy: Of course... you were just admiring the scenery. A very muscular, jean-clad scenery, I imagine ??

Val: Our little prairie flower is blooming! ??

Aurora: I hate you all. ??

Val: You love us and you know it!

Me: Speaking of love... Val, you and Chris were so sickeningly sweet last night I nearly got diabetes just watching you.

Lexy: ?? ????

Val: What? We were perfectly normal!

Aurora: If by "normal" you mean looking at each other like you're the last glass of water in the desert, then yes, totally normal.

Val: Oh, stop it! We're just... happy.

Lexy: We know, honey. And it's beautiful to see you like that. Even if it's a bit nauseating.

I smile as I read the messages, feeling a warmth spread in my chest.

I also feel something else... which feels very much like a throbbing hangover.

Congratulations, Rosie... only you can get drunk on beer at a family barbecue... and have a hangover too.

I try to get up... there's no point in trying to sleep anymore.

I bump into the nightstand... obviously I can't see anything in the dark, but I already know the light will bother me.

I slowly raise the shutter, looking out the window where I can see the ranch slowly waking up. In the distance, I spot a familiar figure moving among the horses.

Alex.

My heart skips a little, firstly because it's... well, Alex.

Secondly, thinking back to yesterday.

I shake my head, trying to dispel these dangerous thoughts.

What am I doing? This isn't my world, it's not my life. I can't afford to get involved, especially not with Alex.

Alex.

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