Chapter 4 #2
I didn’t want to be in that house with my father and Chrissy coming back soon. I was still processing the impending divorce, and now there was a baby in the mix. I couldn’t wrap my mind around any of this.
When I was at the Honey Biscuit Café yesterday, Oscar had told me about a rental home owned by Emilia Taylor, who was one of the sweetest people in Rosewood River. I’d given her a call and left her a message and was hoping I’d hear back today. I needed a place of my own.
I stood in the stall after arriving early to work again as I brushed Honey.
“I could just live in here with you,” I said with a laugh. I’d always been more comfortable with horses than people anyway.
The smell of fresh hay comforted me in the strangest way, probably because I’d grown up riding and spending all my time in barns with horses.
“You could take her for a ride if you want.” Axel’s voice came from behind me, and I slowly turned to look at him.
His wavy hair fell over his forehead, just as he popped his hat on top of his head. He wore a white tee and some faded jeans with his worn brown cowboy boots.
“That’s all right. Just hanging with her is nice.” I set the brush down and started to move past him.
“Hey,” he said, his gaze finding mine. “Emilia told me she’d be stopping by today to talk to you about her rental house.”
Welcome to Rosewood River, where everyone knows everything.
“I didn’t know you were so close to Emilia Taylor,” I said.
“She lives with Bridger, actually.” He smirked, knowing I was going to be shocked by this bit of information.
But I couldn’t ask a ton of questions, because we weren’t exactly friends anymore. We tolerated one another, nothing more.
“I didn’t know that.”
“How would you? You’ve been gone for a while.” He blew out a breath.
“So is she still planning to stop by?”
“She is, but I wanted to offer you another option.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“I don’t need pity, Axel. I just need a place to rent for a couple months.”
His family had lived here forever, and they knew everyone in town.
He’d probably heard that my mother had left town, and that my father was moving his pregnant mistress into our family home.
Everyone in town probably knew that our lives were in disarray at the moment.
It was very out of character for the Waterstones to appear anything less than perfect.
But here we were.
I just had to keep my head down and let this play out and figure my life out.
“I don’t pity you, Wren. But I do have that apartment above the garage here, and it’s just sitting empty.”
“And now you want me to live here? You were mad about hiring me not that long ago,” I reminded him.
“Maybe I’m just a selfish prick. Isn’t that what you think about me anyway?
” he asked, making no attempt to hide his sarcasm.
He held his hands up when I started to interrupt.
“Butch is leaving on vacation for a couple weeks to go see his grandkids, and I’m drowning at work.
You love horses, and I could use the help. I’ll trade you labor for rent.”
I was definitely not in the best financial place at the moment, with my father holding my trust over my head, and my savings were what I was hoping to use to help buy Wrax back.
I swallowed my pride and nodded. “I appreciate the offer. Thank you.”
“It’s not fancy, but it’s got everything you’ll need up there.”
“I’d stay in this stall if it was up to me, so I’m sure it’s more than I need.”
He studied me for a long moment. “Are you not riding anymore?”
“Do you see my horse anywhere?” I shrugged. “I guess I feel bad riding another horse, knowing mine is probably wondering how the hell I could have just left him.”
His gaze softened and he nodded. “I get that. Do you know where he is?”
“No. I’ve asked my father, and he won’t discuss it.”
“I don’t understand why he did this. It’s not like this was your first fall with Wrax. Why would he do this now?” He looked like he couldn’t wrap his head around the idea.
“I think it’s because we weren’t winning.” I sighed. “When I’ve had accidents before, I was killing it. We were in a slump. He was worried that Wrax would keep me from making the Olympic team.”
“What an asshole.”
“We agree on something, at least.”
“What does your mom say?”
I blew out a breath. I wanted to keep some boundaries up with Axel, but talking to him felt natural. I must’ve needed someone to confide in more than I’d realized. “She left for North Carolina to visit Aunt Becky. My parents are officially getting divorced.”
“Fuck, Wren. I’m sorry.” His gaze softened, and I wanted so badly to walk into his arms and be comforted. “What about Collin? Where is he?”
I knew I couldn’t completely put my guard down with this man.
Not anymore.
“He and Farah are in Hawaii,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. He wasn’t a fan of Collin’s, so it didn’t surprise me. “The shit hits the fan with your family, and they all just bail on you?”
I bit my tongue, wanting to remind him that he’d done the same thing to me.
He’d betrayed me and turned his back on me.
On us.
“I guess people are full of surprises.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know that better than anyone.”
I moved past him, pausing briefly and glancing over my shoulder but avoiding eye contact. “Thanks for the apartment. I appreciate it. I’ll move in after work today, if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s yours whenever you want it.”
I nodded before heading to the warehouse.
As much as I wanted to put distance between me and Axel, I felt a weird sense of relief that I’d be moving into the apartment above his garage.
And it wasn’t because the rent was free, or that the apartment was furnished.
It was because for the first time in two weeks, I felt like I could relax.
Like I could finally breathe.
Like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Surrounded by horses in a place that felt safe.
Even if it meant shacking up with my ex–best friend.