Page 60 of The Making of Mila and Blake
“He’s coming by soon,” I say with the quick check of my phone. My final goodbye has to be with him, but as the moment looms ever closer, my anxiety heightens. I have never had a real goodbye with Blake.
“And what about Belmont?”
“I wrote to them last night,” I say with a shrug, but my stomach is in knots. “I’ll let you guys know as soon as I get a reply, and hopefullyI’ll be back here next month. For good.”
Savannah holds up her crossed fingers and Tori scoffs at her. My gaze flickers dubiously between them.
“You guys aren’t going to kill each other while I’m gone, right?”
“You say that every time,” Tori says.
“Because every time I worry you might.”
The three of us share a laugh and Savannah reluctantly gets up, stretching out her legs.
“I should get back to work,” she says. “I’m confident you’ll be back next month for the first day of your Belmont classes, so I’m not going to give you a dramatic goodbye, okay? See you later!” With a little wave, she runs off through the grass toward the stables.
Tori watches her leave, her sharp features arranged into a wistful expression. I snap my fingers in front of her face to break her focus.
“I’m always on the other end of the phone if you ever want to talk about anything,” I say gently, and she knows what I mean.
“Hey, don’t worry about me. Out of the eight thousand students at Tennessee State, there has to be at least oneperson I like, right?” She grins, but then her gaze drifts back to Savannah as she treks inside the stables, and she breathes a sigh.
“I’m going to see Fredo. Are you coming?”
“No. I should get going,” Tori replies. She pushes herself up from the ground and rubs her hands together. “You aren’t getting a real goodbye from me either. Wewillsee you next month. And I’d say enjoy your flight, but of course you will. You fly first class.”
I roll my eyes and she sticks her tongue out at me, then heads for her old clunker of a Honda parked back at the house while I make for the stables. Inside, Savannah scrapes her strawberry-blond hair back into a high ponytail and brings Princess out of her stall, hooves clacking against the concrete. As Savannah guides the horse to the pasture, she says, “I knew you’d come for him!”
Himbeing Fredo. He grazes contently on hay in his stall and his ears prick up when he hears my footsteps approach. He whinnies and pops his head over the stall door.
“Hi, baby!” I say in a high-pitched tone. It’s the same voice I use to talk to Bailey; I can’t help it. Cute animals bring out my inner child. “Ohhh, you look good today! Check out this mane!” I run my fingers through his silky mane, freshly brushed and clear of knots. I press my face against his and stroke his nose. “I’ll be back soon, I promise,” I whisper.
Teddy clears his throat. He steps out from the bathing stall, clothes splashed with water, and grabs that old cowboy hat of his from the desk at the end of the aisle. He joins me, regarding me carefully over Fredo’s long face.
“You’re going home tonight, huh?”
“Flight is at ten,” I say, not quite meeting his blue eyes. He strokes Fredo on his side; I stroke him on mine. Our hands accidentally overlap.
Teddy retracts his hand first. “I still feel bad, you know,” he says. “For kissing you. I overstepped, but. . .” His mouth twitches with a smile and he stops himself short, shaking away the thought.
“But what?” I prompt.
“But you know I’m always here if things don’t work out with Blake,” he finishes, then pats Fredo’s strong, muscular back. “I’ll take extra good care of Fredo while you’re gone.”
“Teddy,” I say, defensively stepping away. “Don’t flirt with me. I mean it.”
“Mila,” he says, then lets the silence beat between us before adding, “I was kidding.” He grins that gorgeous, perfect smile of his and laughs when I tut at him.
“Okay, but, for real. Can you promise me something?” I ask.
“Sure.”
“Promise me you’ll keep an eye on Sheri?” My frown deepens as I stare into Fredo’s shining, round eyes. “Without my grandfather here. . . I guess I’m just worried about her. She has to manage this ranch all on her own now.”
“Don’t worry about Sheri,” Teddy reassures. “I’m always here, and even once Savannah starts school she’ll still be here on the weekends. Sheriandthe ranch are going to be just fine.”
“And the foxes?”
