Page 24 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
Dash
Yesterday went well. Mac and Sarah are good people and it's great to see Sarah so happy and Mac treats her well. Jenna is a great addition to Sky's friends. The three of them get along so well. It's great to see Sky smile and be as happy as she is around them.
Seeing Mac and Sarah together made me realize that could have been us if I hadn't walked away. If I had let her wait for me like she wanted, I know that would be us right now.
I wouldn't have woken up in that hospital alone. I would have had her by my side the whole time. I could kick my ass for what I did to us.
But now I have what feels like a second chance and I'm not going to waste it.
I'm up again before Sky and I get the coffee going. Like every morning lately, we cook breakfast and eat together. But before I head to the barn, I want to ask her a question.
"So, I was thinking. Would you like to have dinner with me at the diner later this week?" I ask before I lose my courage.
She smiles. "Yeah, I'd like that. But maybe later today you can make time to go for a ride with me? The weather has been so nice, and I'd love to take advantage of it."
We used to go riding together every weekend, and it was a great way to spend time together.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Let's take lunch out, yeah?" I already have a few ideas running through my head.
"Yeah, I'd like that. See you then," she says as I head out the door.
My mind is on Sky all morning, so much so, the ranch hands are having to go behind me and fix my mistakes.
"Hey, man. Hell, if I can tell you what to do, but I think maybe you should give up on working today. We can get more done without you here," Drake says.
"Fuck. I'm sorry, man. My head is somewhere else today."
"It's okay. You head off. We got this, boss."
I head to my room to clean up. Sky and I used to go riding all the time, so I don't know why I’m so nervous. Once ready, I go downstairs and find Sky setting lunch out for the guys.
"I figure we could take ours to go." She holds up a picnic basket.
"Perfect. I know just the spot."
We saddle up the horses and head out on a trail I haven't ridden in a while. Mostly because I don't get to ride for fun anymore, but also because it's full of memories of Sky.
"I love this part of the ranch," she says, taking off at a gallop.
I let her lead because she looks so carefree and full of life. Before I know it, we’re at the field where we had picnics, and she’s setting up a blanket under our tree.
"This tree has grown even bigger. I didn't think that was possible," she says, walking around it and staring up at the branches.
I get my horse settled and join her. "I haven't been back here since I've been home."
Sky looks at me. "Why not?"
I shrug, not wanting to talk about the truth yet. "I haven't had time."
" I'm glad because I like that our first time back here is together."
All our firsts happened under this tree. The first time we kissed when I asked her to be my girlfriend. Our first dance, our first make-out session, and when I asked her to prom. We even lost our virginity to each other under this tree.
"Yeah, I think you’re right." I hold my hand out to her and she takes it. Those same sparks are still there, and I wonder if they will ever go away. Will I ever not feel like a teenager around her?
I lead Sky to the blanket and the basket of food. She pulls out some sandwiches, chips, cookies, and water. Nothing fancy, but then again, the last time we had a picnic here, we’d just turned eighteen, so neither of us was drinking.
We chat about Sarah and Mac and Jenna visiting yesterday and share our favorite memories under this tree. The conversation is lighthearted until we finish lunch. We haven't talked about the best memories here, the kisses, touches, and the sex.
