34. Matty
Chapter 34
Matty
MATTY
I NEED help.
Reid
Have you come to your senses yet?
Ox
I don’t help idiots so if you haven’t then remove me from this chat
Matty
Not a lot of room for you to talk there, buddy. But yes, I have.
Reid
…
Ox
…
Matty
Are you two sitting next to each other giving me crap?
Reid
Maybe
Ox
We’ll never tell
Matty
How do I make it up to her?
Ox
To whom?
Reid
That’s some fancy language for an Alabama boy
Ox
Shut up Florida Man
Reid
That’s a low blow
Ox
If the shoe fits
Matty
Can we focus?
Ox
Still waiting on you to tell us who you’re talking about
Matty
GOLDIE you fools
Reid
I don’t think you’re in a position to call us names
Ox
Actually if anyone is the fool it’s Matty
Matty
Ox, you need to look in the mirror.
Ox
Oh I did. I look amazing. I look like I didn’t mess up.
Matty
Fine. *I’m* a fool. I’m a fool for Goldie. I’m a fool in love with Goldie. And I need to figure out a way to tell her. Like, making it front page news worthy.
Reid
You mean you never told her you loved her?
Ox
Good Lord
Matty
You have no room to talk Reid. Took you nearly getting killed by Ted Thompson before you came to your senses.
Ox
Wow, coming in hot!
Reid
Old news.
Matty
You know what? Forget it, I’ll figure this out on my own and leave you clowns out of it.
Ox
Reid
I have an idea.
Ox
You do?
Reid
Of course I do.
Matty
I can’t decide if I’m relieved or terrified.
Ox
Both is probably the way to go.
Reid
Do you trust me?
Matty
Do I look like someone who has a leg to stand on?
Ox
Look at you, figuring it all out. I’m so proud.
Matty
I’m still waiting on an apology from you, Ox.
Ox
You did it to yourself
Reid
I need a horse and a river.
Matty
Welp. Now I know the answer: Terrified
Ox
The answer is EXCITED, Matty. Excited.
Matty
You already know what it is, don’t you?
Ox
I mean, we *are* sitting next to each other. Did you know that Reid uses Talk to Text?
Matty
Learning something new every day.
Reid
Focus, you two. I have a plan.
Ox
And it is so good. If he weren’t straight…
Reid
Aw, I love you, too.
Matty
Reid
Call me when you have a spot.
Matty
Me? Or Ox?
Reid
Why would Ox need to call me?
Matty
I don’t know. I’m confused.
Ox
Call him. The idea is good.
Matty
Give me an hour.
I click the screen off and take a deep breath, then blow it out. Killer’s head pokes out from the blanket he’s cuddled in on the couch, his out of proportion ears on high alert. “Just me, buddy.” He looks around, huffs, and drops his head onto the blanket. I swear, he might miss Goldie more than I do.
It’s taken me longer than I’d like to come to my senses, but I’m here now.
The app dings.
TELL US HOW IT’S GOING WITH YOUR MATCH!!!
I glare at it. How’s it going? The temptation to rate the app zero stars is high, let me tell you. But I’m better than that. And it’s not like this is the app’s fault. The app did exactly what it was supposed to do.
And speaking of doing what is supposed to get done, I pick up my phone and dial. When I finish that call, I make a second one.
The next day, Reid and I are in my truck on the way to Farmer John’s. “You ever ridden a horse?”
Reid shakes his head. “Do I look like the kind of guy who’s spent time on one?”
I snort. “No, but that doesn’t mean much. You could have done it when you were a kid at a camp or something.”
“Nope. You ready for this?”
“I just need to know that you’re good with a camera.”
Reid holds up the bag. “It’s pretty self-explanatory. Point, shoot. Also,” he holds up his phone, “this is pretty foolproof. Especially once I get the thirst-trap videos of you I’m planning on.”
I shift in my seat. “Yeah, about that.”
“Oh, don’t even think you’re getting out of it. I promise you, it’s going to work.”
“But JJ and I have written a whole article.”
Reid blows a raspberry. “Article, shmarticle. She’s not going to care about the words once the video plays.”
We pull up to the farm half an hour later, and I grab my vet bag out of habit.
Reid eyes it. “Yes—I like the way you think. We’ll get some videos of you shirtless and checking on animals.”
I stop. “Exactly how much of this idea was yours versus Ox’s?”
Reid laughs. “Exactly none of this was Ox’s. And remember—you’re the one who said you needed to make it front page newsworthy. I’m just working with what I’ve got.”
“You mean what I’ve got.” I smile.
Reid snaps and points at me. “Now you’re catching on.”
Farmer John meets us at his barn, and I make the introductions.
John shakes Reid’s hand. “Aren’t you the guy who was in that bunny ring?”
Reid chuckles. “Not exactly a bunny ring, but yes. That was me.”
John nods. “Well, let’s get you on a horse, Doc.” He turns and we follow him into the barn and to the second stall on the right.
There’s a gorgeous brown horse in there, and I smile broadly. “I get Peppermint?”
Peppermint’s ears tip forward as she extends her neck and leans down to sniff me. I produce the mints the horse is named after, and she takes one, then two, out of my palm with velvety lips. I laugh and rub her nose with my free hand. She was the first horse I helped bring into this world, and I’ve been in love with her from the beginning.
“Good girl. You’ve gotta help me look like I know what I’m doing, okay?”
She eyes me, then leans to sniff my pockets once more. John helps to get her tacked up, then points out the shortest route to the creek.
Reid looks around. “Got any way for me to get there?”
John nods. “Had a feeling a city boy like you wouldn’t be riding a horse. I’ve got the four-wheeler gassed up. But you need to keep a healthy distance between you and Peppermint. She’s a great horse, but she’s not much of a fan of the things.”
“Fair enough.”
Half an hour later, Reid’s got me splashing Peppermint through the creek, shirtless, while he snaps picture after picture.
“Do it again! Only this time, look sultry.”
I laugh. “Fuck you, sultry. How do I do that?”
“Like this.” Reid lowers his camera and levels me with a look that is nothing short of scorching.
“Damn, dude.” I whistle. “You sure you’ve not been an underwear model or something? Calvin Klein calling?”
He winks, then holds the camera up. “Come on. I won’t make fun of you, and I promise not to show Ox the bad ones.”
“That’s…not very comforting.” But I do what he says.