Chapter 17 Addison #2
Spending less time tending to Mountain Laurel Farm and cultivating my business to spend more time with Dean was not an option. I was not going to mold my life and schedule around a man again.
All six of my boarders had moved their horses in, my lesson horses that I bought had arrived from Richard’s, and all the horses were settled and happy.
Lessons for my clients that didn’t own their own horses would be starting up next week on Waffles and Pancake, my two new lesson horses.
I had ten of my fifteen stalls filled, and I had only just opened.
Levi and I worked great together, and I trusted him immensely with the horses.
All my boarding clients loved him as well.
We worked out a schedule where I would cover for him on Mondays and Tuesdays so he could have some days off each week.
Today was Tuesday, and let’s just say I was feeling it after two solid days of manual labor.
The to-do list and the chores were endless, and my body felt it, but tonight I had long-overdue dinner plans with Farrah. I could use a drink and some girl talk.
We decided to meet up at the local pizza place that we both loved, Primrose Slice. By the time I got there, Farrah was already seated. I slid into the booth across from her. “Hey, girl, sorry I’m a little late.”
She smiled. “No worries, I know how busy you are at the farm. Do you want to order our usual?” We always shared a Greek salad, a pepperoni pizza, and a bottle of wine.
I nodded. “Of course.” The owner and server, Patty Leroy, walked over. “Hey, if it isn’t my two favorite gals! We ordering the usual?” Patty had known us since we were two, and she always wanted the latest gossip on our love lives.
Farrah smiled and nodded. “Yup, the usual.”
Patty looked at me. “I heard that you and that insanely sexy animal doctor are shacking up.”
I laughed because Patty had no filter or shame. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Good for you, Addi. I’m very happily married to Greg, but that man of yours is sexy as sin.”
Farrah’s head fell back in laughter, which only caused Patty to then turn her attention toward her.
“And what about you, Ms. Farrah? Walker’s home for a couple of months.
You going to take that man for a little trip down memory lane?
” She waggled her brows. I saw a pink tint creep up Farrah’s cheeks. I decided to save her.
“Farrah is entirely too busy with her business and Hadley to entertain any boys at the moment.”
“Well, if you find the time, Walker is looking good as always.”
I groaned. “Can we not talk about my brother?”
Patty nodded and chuckled. “All right, girls, let me get your order in and grab you that bottle of wine.”
Farrah just shook her head. “Jesus, that woman can be too much sometimes. Thanks for saving me.”
Over wine and good food, we caught up on everything. We discussed her thriving interior design business, as well as my farm and my new clients. After enough business talk, we shifted the conversation to her daughter.
“So how is Hadley doing? Is she with your parents tonight or with Jake?” Jake was Farrah’s ex-husband. They divorced when Hadley was only six months old but had remained friends and were the star example of co-parenting done right.
Farrah took a sip of her wine, and I saw what looked like sadness flash across her bright green eyes. “She’s with Jake tonight. When I dropped her off, he kind of dropped a bomb on me. He told me that he’s planning on proposing to Lily around Christmas.”
I studied her for a moment. “And you’re upset by this?”
She sighed heavily. “No? Yes? I don’t know.
I mean, Lily is great. She’s great with Hadley, and we get along really well.
I guess it just closes that chapter of my life with Jake, ya know?
It isn’t like I want to get back with him or anything.
I guess I just wasn’t prepared. They’ve only been together for seven or eight months.
Obviously, things will change, and I’m just tired of change.
” She took a long drink from her wineglass, and I knew in that last statement she wasn’t just talking about Jake.
I reached out and put my hand over hers. “It’s okay not to be happy or not know how to feel about this.”
“I just keep thinking about if or when they’ll have a baby together. Will Hadley be pushed to the side?”
I shook my head. “No way. Jake loves that little girl, and y'all parent her so well together. Lily loves Hadley too. That won’t change.”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling sorry for myself and just feel really alone.
” She put her hand on top of mine. “I’m sorry I’m so depressing.
Let’s talk about your hot new boyfriend instead.
” A part of me wanted to ask about what happened with her and Walker way back when.
We’d never talked about it, and I always figured if she wanted to tell me, she would.
I pushed the thought to the back of my mind for the time being.
I grabbed my wine and took a sip. “Things are going really well with Dean. I’ve honestly never felt this way about a guy before, but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, ya know?”
Farrah nodded in understanding. “Totally, but try to just focus on the here and now. Stay present and don’t worry about the future. Trust me on that.” Was there an underlying meaning in those words pertaining to Walker?
We spent the next hour on less heavy topics, and this dinner was just what I needed.
Girl talk was good for the soul, and I missed my friend.
Farrah said she would come out to the farm this weekend so we could ride together.
She didn’t ride much anymore, but she was a talented rider when we were younger.
After getting home from dinner, I washed my face, changed into my pj’s, and slipped underneath my covers while I turned on The Great British Baking Show on my TV. I grabbed my phone to catch up on all the missed texts I’d gotten while I was with Farrah.
Walker:
Seriously, Adds? You’re with Farrah and you didn’t feel the need to tell me?
Why would I tell you? You always get weird when I’m with her or talk about her.
Walker:
I don’t get weird. Just thought you would tell me when you’re hanging out with my ex-girlfriend.
Ava:
Shots fired.
First, she’s one of my oldest friends. And second, I don’t have to tell you everything.
Weston:
Walk, quit being a little bitch.
^ this.
Walker:
Fuck off, West. Sorry if I just thought Addison would do me the courtesy of telling me when she’s with my ex-girlfriend so I don’t hear from people in town.
I literally just had dinner with her, like, an hour ago. Calm down.
Ava:
Walker, why don’t you just talk to the girl? We are tired of the saga, it has been years.
Walker:
I don’t want to talk about it.
Weston:
Yeah, little brother, you never do. So until you do, lay off Addison.
Thanks, West. And seriously, Walk, either talk to Farrah or tell us what the fuck happened. Neither of you will talk about it.
Walker:
Nah, I’m good.
Ava:
That’s mature.
I rolled my eyes, frustrated. I loved Walker, but he could be such a stubborn asshole. I closed out of the sibling group chat and opened the message I’d received from Dean.
Dean:
Hey, baby, I hope you had fun with Farrah tonight, but I have to warn you, Walker texted me asking if you were with me because your car was missing, and I told him that you went to dinner with Farrah.
He low-key freaked the fuck out. I don’t know what the story is there, but I just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Yeah, I already got the message. He can be such an ass sometimes. Anyway, I’ll catch you up on that another time. How was your night?
Dean:
I had an emergency farm call, a horse got stuck in a fence, but all is good now. The horse is fine, just scratched up. I’m home now, but I wish you were in my bed.
I know, me too, but I just got home and am lying in bed already. :(
Dean didn’t respond. About twenty minutes passed, and still nothing.
I figured he probably just fell asleep and went back to watching my show when I heard a knock at my door.
I glanced at the clock to see that it was ten thirty p.m. and figured maybe it was Walker deciding to apologize and stop being a dick.
I opened the door, and standing in front of me in a fitted white T-shirt, gray joggers, and a backwards hat was my sexy-as-fuck boyfriend with his dog sitting obediently by his side.
I smiled up at him. “Can you not sleep without me now, Adler?” I smirked.
He took my face in his hands and crashed his mouth into mine, backing me up against the door after he kicked it closed with his foot.
He angled my head and dipped his tongue inside.
I slid my hands up his defined stomach underneath his T-shirt, feeling every inch of him as we took the kiss deeper.
Then he pulled away and looked at me. “Not a chance.”
Christmas and New Year’s came and went in a flash. Dean spent both holidays with my family at their property along with Ava, Walker, and Weston. Weston was able to come out for a few days for Christmas but was unfortunately called out on a mission for New Year’s.
Dean just fit so well into my family. It was like he was already one of us. My brothers loved him, and they all gave each other shit like they’d been friends forever. Noah never got along with my brothers and never really made an effort to.
We FaceTimed Archer and Harper, who spent the holidays together.
They had gotten pretty serious, and I loved how happy my best friend was.
We also chatted with Dean’s parents, which resulted in Dean being shocked to learn that his mother and I texted weekly.
They were planning their next visit for the spring and would come out to see my family’s winery and vineyard.
Everything was just easy with Dean. Everything felt right.
I didn’t remember a time in my life when I was this content, and it honestly scared the shit out of me.
I had this little voice in the back of my head that reminded me to be careful, not to wrap my life around a guy.
It could all fall apart again, and then I would be left with nothing if I made him my world.
Luckily, Mountain Laurel Farm kept me busy between my clients’ horses, my lesson program, my young horse training program, and my own horses.
The first big horse show in Texas that I wanted to take my horses and some clients to for our debut as a new competitive barn was right around the corner.
I had a great set of clients with talented horses, and I was really excited about what the future held for us.
I just needed to get out of my head and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I had had enough heartbreak and disappointment in my life. This was my time now.
Noah:
I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year’s. But seriously, Addison, why won’t you just text me back?? I don’t think I’m asking for much here.