Page 40 of Dallas

She rolls her eyes. “Oh. Believe me. I know. He would never miss an opportunity to brag about an achievement.”

“You don’t like him?”

There I am again, so great with context clues.

“He’s arrogant. And kind of an asshole.”

That hasn’t been my experience of Colt, and I think that it’s interesting she thinks so. But maybe there’s something I’m not seeing.

“He’s being nicer to you because he thinks you’re cute,” she says.

I feel that in my solar plexus, and I’m not really sure why.

“Oh,” I mumble. “Well….”

She huffs. “Colt is nice when he likes women. But he’s a user.”

“A user?”

She huffs an uncomfortable laugh. “I’m trying to be delicate, he’s a slut.”

“Oh,” I say, laughing. “Don’t worry. I’m immune.”

She laughs. “They all say that. I’m inoculated against him. I’ve known him my whole life, which has dimmed the charm somewhat.”

I don’t say anything, but part of me feels like that’s not strictly true. I file that information away, because one thing I’m not going to do is step on my new friend’s toes.

And I really think she might be my friend.

Chapter Ten

Dallas

It’s a beautiful day, and I’m so glad to be out riding in it, that for once I’m not thinking about everything that’s going on with Sarah. She’s at work, and while I was a little nervous dropping her off – becauseshewas nervous – now I’m just thinking about the moment I’m in.

The trail is glorious, this one winding up into the mountains, around the property, giving a beautiful view of the valley below.

Gold Valley.

The mountains in the distance look blue, the patchwork fields different shades of green. You can see Main Street from up here, cars driving up and down, looking like little toys.

“I’m glad you’re home,” my dad says.

I turn toward him, where he’s stopped his horse a foot or so from mine. He’s not looking at the view. He’s looking at me.

“Thanks. I’m glad… I’m glad to be here.”

“I’m also really glad you brought Sarah. I’m glad that you trusted us with her.”

I snort. “Who else would I go to? You’re the most important people in my life.”

My dad swallows hard, looks away. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been thinking… You know, I realize there are a lot of things I’ve never told you. Because when you came to live with me, I was so focused on being the best dad I could be. I was trying to tread that line between being a good father, a father that could get you through school, and give you guidance, and… Remember you had that one English teacher threatening to fail you junior year?”

I frown. “Yeah.”

“I don’t think I ever told you that Kaylee and I went down there and read him the riot act. Told him that he was being ridiculously hard on you, ignoring all the improvement that you made, and all your hard work. But I know that with you, we just told you that you had to be respectful and do the assignments.”

“I… I didn’t know you did that.”

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