Page 124 of Captivated

Away from Salvation.

Zeeb watched the dust rise behind the car as it disappeared up the driveway.

And that’s that.

Except he wouldn’t let it be over.

Behind him, the ranch was alive with its usual Saturday routines, the day moving on as though nothing monumental had happened.

But it has.

Zeeb had just lost something he hadn’t even let himself want until it was already standing in front of him.

He trudged back to the stable, his boots heavy, his hands cold despite the sun’s warmth. Sorrel stuck his head out of his stall, and Zeeb ambled over to him. Sorrel nudged Zeeb’s shoulder, and he stroked his nose.

“Did Nate whisper any secrets in your ear?” he mused. “Did he ever mention me?”

Sorrel was a secret-keeper, like every horse Zeeb had ever known.

He hadn’t meant to open up at the end. He wasn’t the type. But Nate, with his cautious laughter and too-wide eyes, had looked at him as if he saw something Zeeb had forgotten was there.

Two weeks. Goddammit, he was only here fortwo weeks.

Apparently all the time needed to change a man.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, opened up a blank note, then tapped the keyboard.

Nate… Don’t let this place fade like a dream. Let it be real.

He paused, his heart lurching. He knew the words he wanted to type, but didn’t dare.

Letusbe real.

He took a deep breath and resumed typing.

I’ll wait for your call. Until then, I’m still here. Still me. Still thinking about you. Zeeb.

He wouldn’t send it. Not yet. He stared at the words, conscious of all the emotions contained in those few lines. Then he pocketed his phone and walked out of the stable.

It was time to get back to work.

Life goes on, right?

Sure it did, but now he had something new to focus on—the hope of hearing from someone who’d reminded him stillness didn’t have to mean emptiness.

That maybe sometimes, healing happened in pairs.

Chapter Thirty-Four

July28

Nate: Made it back. Boise feels different.

Zeeb: How different?

Nate: Too many sidewalks. Not enough horses.

Zeeb: Try shoveling manure at 6am and then tell me you miss horses [laughing emoji]

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