Chapter 32
thirty-two
. . .
Axel
“I mean, this is some bullshit,” Archer said as he tossed his phone down on the table at Booze and Brews.
“It’s ‘The Taylor fucking Tea,’” Bridger hissed.
“Are you going to read it to me, or just keep telling me how pissed off you are?” I asked. “I don’t give a shit what a gossip column has to say about me.”
“I’ll read it,” Rafe said. “‘Hey there, Roses…’ Why the hell does it always start that way, anyway? Are we all supposed to be flowers?”
Clark laughed. “We live in Rosewood River.”
“Give me the damn phone,” Easton said, grabbing it from Rafe before continuing.
“‘The tea is coming in hot this week. Our favorite horse girl has left town, and her father is preparing for a new baby bird in the nest. Word on Main Street is that their home is for sale, and he and his new baby mama will be buying a place of their own.”
“Why do they say ‘word on Main Street’?” Archer asked. “Their house is for sale. Everyone knows it. There’s no scoop there; it’s public knowledge.”
“Because everything is a big fucking deal in this column. It pisses me the hell off.” Bridger took a long pull from his beer bottle.
“Continue,” I said, trying to hide my irritation that they were writing about Wren and her family.
“‘Our favorite cowboy seems to be quieter these days…’” Easton paused as everyone laughed.
“Let me guess, I’m the cowboy? Why? Because I wear a fucking hat when I ride or when I work?” I rolled my eyes.
“This is their big attempt not to name you specifically,” Archer said, not hiding his irritation.
I motioned for Easton to continue.
“‘His horse girl has ridden out of town, leaving her lover behind. She’s won her first competition since returning home, and we’re all so proud of our hometown girl.
Well, aside from the brokenhearted cowboy who looks like a sad puppy most of the time.
But from what I’ve heard, the ladies of Rosewood River are waiting in the wings, hoping he’ll call it quits with his lady love.
You know what they say: The best thing about a long-distance relationship is…
nothing. Hence the low success rate. Xoxo. ’”
“A sad, brokenhearted puppy? For fuck’s sake, where do they get this shit?” I shook my head and reached for my beer.
“You are a bit of a sad sack without her.” Rafe shrugged.
I gave him the finger. “I’m fine. Stop being dramatic.”
“When will she be back home?” Easton asked.
“It’s going to be a while. She’s training hard, and we’re taking it one day at a time. She’s committed to one more competition for now. She’s been really exhausted these last few days. I think she might be getting sick,” I added, trying to push the worry away.
Wren had been off the last few days.
Quieter on the phone, and she didn’t sound good.
She’d told me that Coach Sharky was pushing her hard, but she’d never shied away from work. Hell, she could outwork anyone.
I had a feeling she was getting sick, which wasn’t a good thing with a competition coming up next week.
“When can you get back out to see her?” Bridger asked.
I paused. “A couple weeks.”
“You guys going to be okay being apart this much?” Archer asked.
“Absolutely. I’m working on things on my end, getting these new guys trained so I can have more time away.
” I took a sip of my beer. “The truth is, I was miserable without Wren for two years. So just getting to talk to her every day is enough for now. I feel bad I can’t be there to support her when she sounds exhausted, but we can get through this. ”
“That’s some big love, brother,” Archer said. “She’s always been your girl, hasn’t she?”
“She has. It just took us a while to figure it out.” I blew out a breath. “So now we’ll deal with the distance until we don’t have to.”
“It could be a couple years, right?” Easton said, his gaze locking with mine.
“Yep.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Clark asked.
“I am.”
“Realistically, how long can you guys manage this?” Archer pressed.
“As long as it fucking takes,” I said, my words coming out harsher than I meant them to. But this shit was hard, and we’d just started. I knew the beginning would be the most challenging, until we found our rhythm.
“Good answer.” Bridger held his beer up, and I clinked my bottle against his.
“You’ve got this,” Clark said. “You two were meant to be together.”
“Thanks,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s definitely going to be tough. I miss her already, and we’re only a few weeks in.”
“Get the new guys trained, and it’ll be easier to get away,” Easton said.
I nodded. “Working on it. I’ve thought about trying to relocate the business, but I’ve got my whole warehouse here, and my team in place.”
“And she’s not certain how long she’ll be there.” Archer clapped me on the shoulder.
“Right. So we’ll give it a few months and figure something out.”
That was the plan, and I was sticking to it.
When I got home that night my phone rang, and I dropped to sit on the couch when I saw a FaceTime call from Wren.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked, noting how pale she looked.
“I’m okay. I think I’m just worn out. We’ve been pushing hard. But I’m just missing you,” she said. “I didn’t realize how late it was when I finally got home.”
“Why is he pushing you so hard?”
“The Hampton Classic is considered the most important competition aside from the actual Olympics, so the athletes attending this one are all going to be the best of the best.”
“You’re the best of the best,” I said.
“Tell me about your night. I feel like we’ve barely gotten to talk this week.” I heard the sadness there, and I fucking hated it.
“We’re finishing up a few of the orders that we’d gotten behind on. I just went and had a few beers with the guys, and I’m missing my girl.”
“Missing you, too, Cowboy.” She had her back against her headboard, and her eyes looked sleepy. “I talked to my dad today.”
“How did that go?”
“It was fine. He wanted to tell me that he was coming to New York for the Hampton Classic.” She sighed. “And he’s bringing a very pregnant Chrissy with him.”
“I wish I could be there for you.”
“Are you kidding? I’d much rather be attending the wedding with you. You’ll have to FaceTime me from the wedding. I should be done by late afternoon with day one.”
“I’m worried about you, Wren. You look tired.”
“It comes with the territory. It’ll slow down in a few months.”
“And I’ll be there the weekend after the wedding, all right?” I confirmed.
“You worry too much. I’m the toughest girl you know, right?” she chuckled. “How are Carl and Donny doing? Are they taking some pressure off of you?”
“They’re getting there. Coby loves bossing them around, because he’s not the new guy anymore.”
“He sends me videos of he and Benji and Jonah singing in the lunchroom.”
“Tell me about it,” I said. “They’re always fucking around in there.”
Her eyes looked heavy, and she blinked a couple of times.
“Hey, you need to get some sleep. I love you,” I said, feeling a heaviness in my chest because I was worried about her.
“Will you sing me the song?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.
“Of course. Lie down, baby.”
She moved to lie down and turned off the light on her nightstand, so only the light from the moon was illuminating her room.
“‘That’s my Horse Girl, sitting up high. She shines brighter than all the stars in the sky. Soaring through the air, with strength and grace. Try to catch her, and she’ll put you in your place. She’s got big dreams, just watch her fly. In a heartbeat, she’ll pass you by.’”
“Love you and miss you,” she whispered.
“I’ll see you soon, Horse Girl.”
“In a heartbeat,” she said, her voice sleepy.
In a heartbeat.