Page 57 of The Mirror and the Curse

“I admit nothing of the sort. Horses have emotions too. You may choose not to believe me, but that doesn’t make it right to mock me in public. Chayton Thunderbull communicates with Jackrabbit the same way I do with White. He doesn’t think I’m a nutcase.”

“Babe. Eduardi.” His voice went serious, sincere. “I don’t think you’re a nutcase. Far from it! I think you’re a girl who views horses through a romantic lens, that’s all. And that trainer of yours encouraged you to think that way. I’m sorry we disagree on these things, but they’re not ultimately that important. I mean, we can work this out.”

Eddi sighed. “Maybe so, but I’m beginning to wonder.”

“Wonder about what? Eddi, we’ve got to communicate, not build up anxiety and resentment.” He reached for her hand again, but she folded her arms instead. He visibly stiffened. “All right, here’s a good example of our need to communicate better. Why won’t you hold my hand tonight?”

Eddi turned to face him, then shook her head and beckoned for him to follow, leading the way to one of the lakeside tables away from the crowds. Once they sat side by side on the table, facing the lake with their feet on the bench, she drew a deep breath of fresh mountain air and addressed the real issue.

“Okay. Here’s the deal: Chayton and Emenike were surprised tonight to hear you call me your girl even though I have several times referred to you as my boyfriend in their presence. Why do you think they wouldn’t believe me before?”

He shrugged. “Maybe they weren’t paying attention.”

“Or maybe they paid close attention and saw you spending more time with Raquel than with me, at least while anyone else is around.”

He straightened and slid his arm around her, pulling her close. “Eddi.” His voice went even deeper than usual. “You’re jealous for no reason. Sure, I talk with Raquel during practices since she and I are sort of in charge of things. And tonight? You’re the one who moved to the other side of the fire after Raquel joined us, not me.”

“I wasn’t sure you even noticed.”

“Right,” he scoffed. “I noticed, and it was kinda hurtful. Raquel and I were talking about racing. You’d know that if you paid any attention. But no, you left to chat with Emenike and Chay, who looked so interested, I left Raquel alone to see what was going on. Obviously, I was paying attention to you.”

“And you found out that nothing was going on. I’m your girlfriend, Fidelio. I don’t flirt with other guys.”

Even by starlight she could see his jaw jut forward and his expression harden. But when he spoke, his voice held fragile insecurity. “What do you call sneaking out to dance with a staff member at the Summer Ball?”

Eddi’s fists clenched. Why did he have to cheapen that special memory? “For one thing, I wasn’t your girlfriend then. I wasn’t even your date. I had every right to dance with anyone I wished to. Now that I am your girlfriend, I never two-time you the way you do to me.”

“Two-time?” He sounded shocked. “Eddi, this jealousy of yours has gotten way out of hand! There’s no romance between me and Raquel.”

“She is a beautiful woman, Fidelio. And you spend time with her when I’m not around.”

“She’s my good friend, that’s all.” Worry laced his voice. “You’re the girl I want to marry, not her.”

“How long did it take you to tell her that we’re together?”

He shrugged. “She figured it out on her own.”

“You never told her. Nice. How many days after you got here did she catch on?”

His shoulders hunched. “I don’t know. I just . . . I never found a natural time to tell her. And Eddi, you sound like you think she’s in love with me or something.”

“Fidelio, for such a brilliant man, you’re downright dull when it comes to girls.” Softening slightly at his hangdog look, she patted his forearm.

“She never cares when I talk about you and our future plans.”

“What future plans?”

“Our plans to get married after I finish med school. She even agrees that would be the wisest choice.”

“Sure. Gives her several years to work on stealing you.”

He was silent for a long moment. “Eddi, I really think you’re imagining all this. No girl like Raquel would see me as a great catch. I mean, the girls all go for my little brother, not me.”

“I prefer you to Carlo, and so does Raquel.”

“I’m . . . I’m still blown away that you like me.” His voice sounded hushed. “Eddi, I’ve been in love with you since I was maybe fourteen. You were the tiny princess with the gorgeous eyes and smile, and I was a goner.”

Eddi patted his arm and briefly rested her head on his shoulder. “Okay, I guess I ought to let up on you. I’ve known all along that you were oblivious. But now that I’ve told you about Raquel, could you try a little harder to not spend so much time with her or look at her like she’s more fascinating than . . . well . . . brain dissection?”

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