Page 25 of Never Left You

“Because it’s polite. You’re in the stables by yourself. Don’t you want company?” I pushed myself off the stall.

“I’m not by myself. There are horses.” She bent and picked up a bucket, avoiding my eyes.

“Horses can’t talk with you like a human can.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’d rather have any other human in this stable with me right now.”

“Alright Abi,” I said, louder than intended. “I get you don’t want me here, but let’s face it—I am, for a while so maybe…just maybe, we should be friendly?”

“Friendly?” she parroted. “I don’t—”

“Tolerant, then. I’m gonna be around. I’ll be in this stable every day while I’m in town. I’m helping Lachlan with things around the ranch, and three times a week I’ll be training Quinn. I’m going to be here whether you like it or not,” I bit, sounding harsher than I intended.

Abi chewed her bottom lip and gave me a quick nod. Her body relaxed just a fraction as she stepped towards me, that small quiver still in her chin as she chewed on her lip.

“I didn’t mean to sound rude,” I added, making sure to lower my tone, not liking the melancholy that showed on her face.

“No, you’re right. We can be…cordial.” She rolled her eyes again after the word slipped off her tongue.

“You’ll talk to me?” I raised a brow. She opened her lips to respond, but I quickly added, “Without rolling your eyes?”

She met my gaze, and I grinned, seeing how badly she wanted to roll those blue eyes again. She took a breath. “Well, I won’t throw any more brushes at you.”

I chuckled and lowered my chin. I got a joke out of her. It wasn’t all lost. That spark we used to have was still there. The knot in my stomach loosened. “Alright, that’s all I ask.”

She blinked a few times, her eyes rapidly moving from her shoes, to me, back to her shoes as if she was trying to form the words, thinking about exactly what to say that wouldn’t pull her back into our old rhythm. Finally, she gave me a curt nod before bending to drop the bucket on the ground.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said, placing both of her hands on her hips. “For throwing the brush at you, and calling you an asshole.”

“You called me an asshole?” I smiled, giving her a slight tease.

“Oh, come on, you’re not going to pretend you didn’t hear that earlier.” She pinched her brow as she spoke, her shoulders relaxing as she loosened up.

I smiled again, this time wider. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I felt as if I was getting her back. Maybe just a tiny bit.

“I did,” I admitted as I took a step towards her, “I’m sorry I called you a grumpy cowboy.”

She dropped her arms. “Kyla called me out on that, too.”

“I like Kyla.”

“She likes you too.” Her lips twitched, but she stopped the smile before it spread.

Changing the subject, I gestured towards Gemini behind her. “How many horses you got now?”

“Just the four. Your three and this guy. We had two showings that went well. One mare moves in on Friday.”

“And Rhett’s taking care of them?”

She nodded, but let out a long sigh. “He’s supposed to, yes. Lachlan keeps him busy most days, and he still trains because he’s planning on returning to the circuit next year. But mainly it’s been me.”

“What about Wyatt?”

She let out a laugh, anddamnit was just as perfect as I remember it being. “You know my brother. He’s gone right now at a rodeo.”

“That I do.” I stroked Gemini’s nose. Sweeping my gaze around the space, I took in the large stables, mainly spotless despite the few odds and ends that needed to be picked up before Abi called it a night. It was late. Stetson was most likely already asleep, and I knew she would be getting up early. Lachlan was busy on the field, Rhett had odd jobs and Kyla to keep him company, Wyatt was out of town. Who was helping Abi?

“I can help out when Rhett can’t,” I said softly, carefully looking up at her to see her reaction.

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