Page 36 of Every Single Wildflower
I let her take a few deep breaths before I gather the reins in my hand and step back.
“Ok.” She relaxes her shoulders. “I’m ready.”
I nod, and wade toward the pasture. “Wait,” she calls. “Where’s your horse? I thought we were riding.”
I can see the slight panic in her eyes at the thought of me leaving.
“We are.” I motion. “I’ll be right here.”
She frowns. “You’re going to lead me? on foot?”
“Yes, Goldie. Today is about building trust remember?”
Her pink tongue slides out to wet her lips as she blinks. “Ok.”
I smooch Sugarfoot along, following the path to the pasture that is free of ashes. The one that holds her flowers.
“Tell me about Georgia,” I say, opening the gate.
“It’s good,” she says as the horse glides through the opening.
“Just good?” I shut the gate behind me, then continue my quest. “Come on. You liked it enough to stay for four years.”
I glance back at her, and she clears her throat. “College was alright. I didn’t do much but study and work. I waitressed at a local grill for the first couple of years.”
“No partying?” I ask.
“You know I’m not the party girl type, Maddox,” she deadpans.
I knew she wasn’t, but I felt the need to confirm. To know she didn’t leave here and completely leave behind the girl she was.The girl I knew.
“Boyfriends?” I ask the question cooly, but my insides are anything but.
“Some dates,” she answers. “Nothing too serious.”
Dates. Multiple.Why does that thought make me want to smash something?
We’ve made it across the pasture, just far enough to see the place I’m headed to in the distance.
“I work at a flower shop,” she offers quietly.
“Yeah?” I glance over my shoulder.
“Yeah.” A faint smile hits her lips. “I do the admin side. My friend Merit owns the shop. She handles the flowers, but I get to help and it…” she trails off.
“It what?” I ask, as I let go of the reins.
“It made me feel like I had a little bit of home with me.”
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I continue walking as Sugarfoot follows. Ivy doesn’t even realize I’ve let go. Her gaze is fixated across the miles of open acreage surrounding us.
“Did you ever miss…” I pause.Me? Did you ever miss me?I want to ask, but I don’t. “Miss this,” I finish.
I stop just at the edge of the field that leads to her favorite place.The ridge.When I look up to meet her eyes, they’re glistening with moisture.
“I’m riding,” she says quietly.
“You are.” I keep my hands in my pockets and my feet planted.
