Page 76 of Don't Take the Girl
"Yeah?" I say, eyes forward, where Fisher is riding alongside her sister, Abbey, and Gypsy.
"It's hard to control the environment when you don't have your own space," she says, looking behind us where I know Trigg, Asha, and London are trailing. "I should have known the guys would want to tag along the second they saw us tacking up the horses."
"Don't worry about it. The main focus is Abbey and Gypsy. As long as they aren't bothered, that's all that matters. Focusing on their bond and strengthening it is important."
I was surprised when Madison called me earlier in the week to schedule a trail ride. After my initial assessment, I took a few days to research what I thought might be the root of the issue they were experiencing in the arena, and I knew it wouldn't be an easy conversation. The problem isn't with Gypsy. It's not something that can be corrected through training. The issue is Abbey, and only Abbey can fix it.
"I owe you an apology," she says as she leans forward to rub Titan's neck. "I reacted poorly after you told me your suspicions about Abbey, but I just want you to know it's not because I don't respect your opinion. It's because I didn't want to lose my best friend. Vaulting has been our thing since we were kids…" she draws off, and I can hear the pain in her voice as she battles the reality that if Abbey can't trust Gypsy, all their hard work might come to an end. It's easy to overlook the lunger in a vaulting duet when all eyes are focused on the horse and the person performing acrobatic routines on its back as it canters. Still, Abbey's anxiety can be felt every bit as much as Madison's. "I'm just not ready to let this go. I love what I do, and I know Abbey does too, but if she can't get over her fear, then?—"
"Listen, the fact that Abbey showed up today, that she's here and willing to try, is a good thing, and while my assessment may have been a hard pill to swallow, that could have been exactly the push the two of you needed. Now that there aren't any secrets between the two of you, you can focus on what's next and healing your bond."
"How did you learn about my fall?"
"Well, after watching your routine in the field, I didn't observe anything that stuck out, so I thought I'd try to find some clips online from around the time you said the issue started, and the first thing that came up when I Googled you was your fall. I didn't think it was a coincidence that, shortly after that, Gypsy's performance in the arena started changing too. That was a nasty fall, Madison. You got lucky. That could have been more than career-ending. I understand why Abbey is nervous. She doesn't want you to get hurt."
She's quiet as she adjusts herself in the saddle, something I said not settling with her, though I'm not sure what. Discussing her fall could be the culprit, but I get a feeling it's not. The air between us thickens with each passing second of silence.
"I see. I just didn't know if someone told you, is all," she says with a shrug.
Someone like London, I think to myself as anxiety coils in my stomach. I know there's something between them, and I hate feeling like the other woman, but what's more, I hate not knowing what something is.
"I should probably catch up with Abbey and see how she's doing." My words hang between us, an obvious deflection.
"Hey, can I ask you something? It's not about horses," she asks.
"Sure." I adjust my hold on the reins and relax my hips to keep pace, bracing myself for whatever's coming.
"How are things going between you and Trigg?" Her question slices through the facade of casual conversation.
I tense a little at her question. "Trigg and I aren't dating."
"Because of Dallas?" I risk glancing in her direction. Whenmy eyes meet her cold blues, I get a sense of knowing, but to my understanding, she's not aware that London and I have any history. Hell, she still believes his name is Dallas. I let that last thought calm my anxiousness.
"No, it's something else." I open my mouth to offer more and think better of it, the unspoken truth burning my tongue.
"Oh," she says plainly, her face a careful mask, making it hard to interpret how my answer was received. Is she fishing because she suspects something between London and me, or is she genuinely curious? Her eyes flick to mine too quickly, too deliberately. She nods up ahead. "So what's Fisher's story?"
"What do you mean?"
"The two of you seem close. Is there something going on there?" Each question feels like she's circling closer to a truth I'm desperate to hide. Not because I want to, but rather because I don't know how revealing anything unravels the lie London has crafted to protect himself. I never made it to the coffee shop this morning.
"Wow, you are super interested in my love life," I laugh and try to play it cool when, inside, I'm anything but. My laugh is so fake, even I can hear its nervousness.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just trying to piece together how everyone fits." But it's her eyes that contradict her casual tone. "He's never talked about home, and suddenly, the whole town seems to be showing up."
"Hey," a voice I've been cautiously avoiding all morning rides up on my left, and my pulse skyrockets. "We're going to stop at the lake up ahead. Give the horses a break," London says, his eyes studying mine with alarming intensity before sliding over to Madison. "Everything okay?" he says to no one specifically, but I can hear the nervousness in his voice, the kind that comes from interrupted secrets.
Does he think we were talking about him? If so, why does that make him nervous?
"Madison," Trigg rides up on her left. "Race you to the lake," he challenges.
"Oh, I don't know…" she answers, seemingly uninterested, before a smirk pulls at the corner of her lips, and she's yelling, "Ya," squeezing her legs tight and nudging Titan forward. She gets a three-second lead before Trigg takes off.
I turn back to Asha, who simply rolls her eyes. Trigg didn't have to come back to Fairfield with us last night. In fact, if Mr. Fairfield had caught him, I'm sure there would have been hell to pay this morning, especially if he had seen them passed out on the same oversized lounge chair.
Asha was grilling me for information this morning as I was walking out to meet London when Madison pulled up. Seeing how frazzled she gets around him and knowing what's going on behind the scenes between the two families had me seconds away from spilling things I had promised others I wouldn't. But when I asked her to tell me what had happened between them in the past, she deflected. I know she's keeping secrets, which is why I'm holding onto mine. Plus, she volunteered to come today, knowing exactly where I'd be going and who she might run into, and that says something.
"You didn't show up for coffee this morning," London says smoothly, his gravelly tone making tiny hairs prickle with awareness.
