Page 56 of Save A Horse
“You mention several times wanting to wear the cowboy hat.” My cheeks were surely pink. I took the journal and covered the bottom half of my face with it. “You know what they say about that, don’t you?”
“What’s that, cowboy?” There was no telling what Colt was about to say. I was both nervous and scared.
“If you wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.” I’m sure my cheeks turned a darker shade of pink. I knew exactly what he was referring to.
“I’ve heard that before.”
“So?” I raised an eyebrow at his question, not going to give in.
“I’ve not worn your cowboy hat yet.”
“Well, we can fix that.” He rose from the table, taking a hand to lift his cowboy hat off his head. I pushed my hand out, stopping him. “There’s plenty of spots here on the ranch that I think could be christened.” He winked. I was going to stand my ground. Not yet. I wasn’t ready just yet.
“Maybe we could do that at one point.”
“Check the page that’s bookmarked.” I looked down and then back up at Colt. At first glance, I remembered what I had written about. He nodded. I felt weird reading through my journal after all these years, but I opened the page anyway.
——————
I saw Colt again today. We went swimming. And I am here to admit that I am seeing Colt in a different light.
His laugh.
His smile.
The way his eyes sparkle in the sun.
The way he listens to me and clings to every word that leaves my lips.
We made the most of today and had a lot of fun. I enjoy every moment being with him. Every interaction throughout the day made my feelings grow stronger, but I wasn’t ready to tell him.
Our connection is still growing, and all I want is to know if he feels the way I do.
He asked me if we would always come here, and I told him I hope so. That spot is special. Being with Colt is special. I want to keep doing things with Colt that we have always done. I always want to be in his life.
The last thing I told him was that I couldn’t imagine summer without him, and that is true.
——————
I glanced up at Colt, who took the last bite of his food. He smiled at me, and I smiled back.
“Looks we ended up spending summers without each other.” I nodded, my eyes swelling with tears.
It was my fault we had lost touch.
It was my fault we had lost our friendship.
It was my fault we had stopped making memories with each other.
It was my fault for leaving.
It was my fault for never visiting.
I had no one to blame but myself.
Colt stood up from his seat and walked to me. He knelt beside me, placing a hand on my leg. He took his other hand and lifted my head with my chin.
“Daisy, it’s alright. I don’t want you to cry. It was never myintention to make you upset by giving your journal back.”
