Page 50 of Best Friends, Tennessee

“Shit,” I muttered. I was late for the horses. It was already seven in the morning, way past when I usually left for Mason’s ranch.

I grabbed my keys and headed out to my truck. The horses would be fine, although they knew their schedules pretty well and they’d certainly be a little agitated. But my whole day was going to be thrown off. I usually helped with the horses at six so that I could come home, shower, and have plenty of time to get to my massage clients afterward.

I was going to need to be speedier than ever. My truck roared down the road as the sun rose behind a cluster of clouds.

Thunderclouds.

Not good.

Spring rain was great for the pastures, but I knew Maisie and Chomp absolutely hated when it rained. I usually liked to spend extra time with the horses who hated storms, but I wasn’t going to be able to do it today.

I pulled my truck into the dirt patch and cut the engine, hauling ass out toward the stalls.

“I’m here Maisie, I’m here,” I hollered out, already hearing her making a huff down the way.

“There you are,” Mason said as I walked in, waving over at me.

“Shit, you scared me,” I told him. He was never usually here in the mornings.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said, and I could see in his eyes how tired he was. “Knew they weren’t going to like the thunder.”

“I had the same thought,” I told him, guilt pooling in my chest. “I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll head down to feed Chomp right away.”

“Don’t sweat it, Finn,” Mason said. “I’m up, for once, so I’ll help out. We can get right to it.”

I was grateful for the second pair of hands as we went about checking on each horse, feeding, and cleaning. The thunderclouds seemed to move past Bestens instead of through it, so luckily the worst of the storm was going to be avoided. We made our rounds in record time.

“There you go, Hopper,” I said, running my hand along his mane. Hopper was the older, steadier man of the ranch, and the calmest horse I’d ever known. During lessons, Mason and I agreed that Hopper was everyone’s favorite.

He never had a problem with anything. He’d gotten an injury a couple of months ago, a little sprain in one leg, but he was back to business now.

“He’s looking good, isn’t he?” Mason said, walking by.

“Thunder ain’t a damn thing to him,” I said. “Good sport, Hopper.”

I gave him a nuzzle before I knew I had to go.

“We rocked it,” Mason told me, giving me a nod. “Go clean up and get to your clients. I’ll see you in the afternoon.”

“Right. Shit.You’reone of the clients today,” I said. “God, I’m spacey.”

“Something on your mind?” Mason asked.

Oh, nothing.

Just can’t stop getting turned on thinking about my best friend.

Normal stuff.

“Been busy since Ori got back in town,” I said, heading back out toward my truck as Mason followed. “Things are different with him in Bestens.”

“I bet,” Mason said. He was looking at me with a glint in his eye, like he was wondering something but didn’t have time to ask. “I won’t keep you. See you later, Finn.”

I nodded at him, hopping back into my truck.

I raced home, showered off, and put on a clean set of clothes before beelining back out onto the road.

I would be able to make it to my first client, but it was going to be tight.

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