Page 13 of Lucky Baller
“No need. I’m here. Just tell me what to do.”
“Landon—” I hear the argument forming in that one word, so I place my finger to her lips to shut her up.Have her lips always been that full and… kissable?
“I’m helping you. Now tell me what I need to do.”
“He’s a big baby,” she relents. “But if you get some feed in a bucket and give him some time, he’ll come to you.”
“Okay. Where’s the food?”
“Out in the barn. I can show you.” She moves to get up.
“No.” My voice is firm. “You’re staying put. Here.” I hand her my phone. “Call your number on my phone.”
“What?”
“I said call yourself from my phone. That way, you can talk me through it, and you won’t be tempted to get up to see what I’m doing. When we’re done, you can delete the call so I don’t have your number.”
“That’s crazy. Why would you want me to delete my number?”
I shrug. “I want to earn it, Tess. Now call yourself.” I don’t know what I’m doing. This is the perfect opportunity to get her number, but I meant what I said. I want to earn it. There’s something to be said for having to work for her affection. It’s not something I knew I wanted or even needed in my life until I saw her fall to the ground. I can’t explain it. I was worried about her. Not just “oh no, I hope she’s okay,” but worried. I don’t understand what’s happening here. I barely know this girl, but she consumes me. One small interaction of banter and her not throwing herself at me is apparently all it takes to have me hooked. Who knew?
I see a slight tremble in her hand as she takes my phone. Her fingers slowly press against the screen as she dials her phone. It’s sitting on her desk, so I grab it, lifting it to my ear. “Tessa’s phone.” I grin. To my surprise, she grins back. “I’m going to get Buckwheat. Keep your ass in that chair.” I point to the chair as Ispeak into her phone, talking to her. I’m staring her down when she shakes her head, and a slow smile crosses her face. It hits me in the gut and has me puffing out my chest at the same time. I did that. I put that smile there, and I can’t wait to do it again.
“Go.” She points toward the door, and I salute her. Her chuckle follows me all the way down the hall.
Outside, I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to be up against. I spot Buckwheat over by the barn. “He’s by the barn,” I tell Tessa.
“Good. Horses are smart. He knows where he’s fed, and it’s feeding time.”
“I can do that. How much?”
“He gets one scoop, a chunk of hay, and his water needs to be filled.”
“Got it.” I reach the horse. “Hey, buddy.” I hold my hand out to let him smell me. “Can horses smell fear?” I ask Tessa.
“Yeah, all animals can. Are you scared, Landon?” Her voice is teasing, and I love it.
“No, but he looks scared.”
“He probably is. Poor baby.”
Buckwheat turns his head, bringing himself closer to me. “Hey, bud. Let’s get you back in the field, okay?” He snorts, and I take that as a yes. Stepping away, I open the gate, hoping he’ll just walk right in. He doesn’t. “Gotta be stubborn, huh? You get that from Tessa?” I ask.
“Hey.” She laughs.
“You know it’s true,” I tease. “Okay, so the feed’s in the barn?” I ask, even though she already told me.
“Yes. We keep it in a barrel to keep rodents and other animals out of it. There’s a scoop inside.”
I make my way into the barn, and sure enough, there’s a large blue plastic barrel with aHorse Feedlabel written on the side. Twisting off the top, the scoop is there just as she said.
“Did you find it?” she asks.
“Yeah, he gets one scoop, right? Heaped or even?”
“What?”
“A heaped scoop or an even scoop? These things make a difference, Tessa.”
