Page 51 of Every Single Vow
“Why the hell didn’t anyone invite me?”
Chapter thirty-two
Cooper
My arms are hanging over the fence, my eyes tracking my smilingwifeas she leads a boy about six years old across the arena. My chest tightens watching the progress she’s made. She was once the little girl in that saddle, searching for peace. Now she dedicates her training and time to make sure these kids get to experience it even if it’s only a few hours a month.
“Bruh.” I hear from beside me.
I peer down to see Arizona next to me. “What’s theBruhfor?”
“Are we going to keep acting like you aren’t totally tripping over her?” She snickers.
“Tripping?”
“You look like one of those cartoon dudes with the heart eyes.” She makes a heart shape with her fingers that resembles a gang sign. “I seriously can’t believe she doesn’t know.”
I simply look back at my girl, not denying Arizona’s observation.
“What are you going to do about it?” She nudges my arm.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what’s the plan. You got rizz. This should be a piece of cake.” She climbs up on the fence to be eye level with me.
I chuckle because in the few weeks that she’s been here, I’ve made progress in learning the lingo of a preteen girl.
“How about this. We make a deal.”
She eyes me. “I’m listening.”
“You get on that horse. I’ll tell Dakota how I feel.”
She frowns. “That’s not fair.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s huge. And I’m…”
“Scared?” I answer.
“Yeah,” she admits. “I don’t like that feeling.”
“Neither do I,” I say, sliding my toothpick to the other side of my mouth.
“You’re scared to tell her.”
“I’m scared to screw it up.” I blow out a breath.
“I know I’ve only been around a hot minute. But coming from a place of zero love, it’s easy to spot it when I see it. She may be too stubborn to admit it. But she loves you. A whole lot.”
“How do you know that?” I feel giddy, like a kid about to blow out his birthday candles.
It’s ridiculous.
“I’ve walked by y’all’s room, and sometimes I see her pick up your pillow. She must like how it smells because she puts it to her nose before she hugs it tight.” She shrugs before jumping offthe rails. “I mean, it’s a little creepy in my opinion. But who am I to judge?”
“Ari!” The little voice behind me reveals one of the coolest cowboys I know.
