Page 42 of Chasing After You
I lean across Matti and Knox to extend my hand. “I’m Nessa, Matti’s ex.”
She smiles. “I figured.” Her hand meets mine. “Kenley. Knox’s last meet and greet.”
“Wow.” He shakes his head at her, displaying intense disappointment. “Do we need to have that boyfriend-girlfriend chat again?”
Her nose crinkles. “No.” She looks over at me. “I just freaking hate that word.Boyfriend. I’m in my forties. I don’t wanna have a stupid boyfriend.”
“You could always call him your lover,” I offer, keeping my amusement to a quiet snicker so I don’t add to the commotion their mere presence has already caused.
“Oh, God.” She pulls back, grimacing with disgust. “That’s even worse.”
“Life partner?” Matti chimes in.
“Y’all need to stop encouraging this craziness,” Knox practically growls at us. He places his hand on Kenley’s lower back. “Come on. Outside. Let’s go.”
She gives him one last glance of disapproval before the scowl practically melts from her face and turns into some sort of gushy smile only a woman head over heels for a guy is capable of.
I know. That used to be my face twenty-four-seven. I have countless photos to prove it.
“They’re not coming back, are they?” I whisper when just Matti remains to my right.
“Highly unlikely.” He smirks. “He forgot his guitar on the bus the night he met her. Went twenty-four hours and didn’t even notice until I told him.”
I glance back toward the door they disappeared through. “Good.” I take his hand and squeeze it. “Knox deserves that.” I lean in a little closer. “I know you worried about him all those years Emmery was screwing around with his head.”
“It’s crazy,” he says, eyes dropping to meet mine, “but I think Kenley had a part of his heart all along, way before he even mether. Like he couldn’t ever give it to Emmery because he only had half to begin with. And then whatever broken pieces Emmery left in her wake just fluttered off and found Kenley, waiting for him to heal and be ready to feel something again.”
“I don’t think it’s so crazy.”
He smiles. It’s sweet and sad all at the same time. And a million thoughts pool in his eyes, each of them overlapping before I can make them out. I’m not sure I have to. No need to read the man’s mind when it’s suddenly undeniably clear I can still feel his heart.
Almost like the broken pieces fluttered off and found me all over again. Same as my shattered heart went home to him.
And I can’t help but wonder if this moment proves that we’ve healed what we broke, can’t help wondering if he can feel me again too.
The way that I can feel him.
I can still feel him.
“Would you two zip it?” Roni snaps impatiently. “Some of us are trying to listen to the two men in the cowboy hats who actually look like they have something of value to impart upon us.”
“Also,” Tori adds quietly, “you’re being totally rude to Oliver.”
Oliver, who has been standing silently to my left, and who admittedly, I briefly forgot about, just shrugs. “I’m sorry, but I’m too hung up on the fact Knox Marley just stood two people over from me to be bothered by much of anything.”
“Good grief, Oliver. Who knew you were such a fan girl.”
Apparently, my joke was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Or the patience threshold on Roni. In any event, we’re suddenly all being glared into silence.
Having five kids has given her skills beyond all our capabilities.
The orientation lesson only lasts another twenty minutes or so, but it includes a Q & A portion at the end, and Matti is able to address his concerns about being kicked more thoroughly.
When the cowboys (Will and Frank, I finally caught their names somewhere in the middle) finish their spiel, they direct everyone’s attention toward the coffee and pastry bar along the side of the building where the adjoining tack room is located. I’m pretty sure they lose most of the crowd by pointing out food, but I listen long enough to learn the rest of the layout.
To the other side of us are two offices, and behind Will and Frank’s makeshift stage of straw, a feed room. The stalls, we’re told, are located beyond this part of the structure.
When they’re done giving the lay of the land, they close by encouraging everyone to fuel up before we take a tour of the whole barn and meet the horses.
