Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
THEN
T he Mustangs make it into the playoffs to no one’s surprise—they’ve been undefeated all season long and Jason is playing at his best. When Thanksgiving rolls around, he pulls away from our relationship completely to focus on football. His dad hires a private trainer to work with him after an already ramped-up schedule of practices at school. Sundays are his only days off, and he’s usually so tired he sleeps it away, dead to the world. I’m lucky if I get a text back from him before dinnertime.
I distract myself by spending more and more time at the ranch. The Bennetts’ farrier, Hank, has taught me how to pick out the horses’ hooves during their morning grooming, and when Wells isn’t around (also because of practice) Kasey graciously takes me under his wing and lets me shadow him. I keep my visits mostly under wraps from my mother, but at the very least she always believes I’m here with Jason.
She doesn’t approve of me hanging around the Bennetts, but every time she expresses her concern over the rumors surrounding the family, I remind her that I can’t control who Jason chooses to be friends with, which seems to tamp down her judgment. I feel wrong for letting her believe I’m only friends with Wells because Jason is, even though I suppose it might be true. I’m not sure someone like him would want to be friends with someone like me in any other world. Still, regardless of how it happened, we are friends—at least, I think we still are.
When a wild colt is delivered to the ranch, Kasey teaches me how to bottle-feed him. He was born out of season, which is pretty rare for mustangs, and when he couldn’t keep up with his herd, a local rancher from a few counties over stepped in to bring him here.
I go out to the ranch every morning before school to feed him knowing it’ll help the Bennetts, but also because I learn that I love the rush of caring for something so young and vulnerable. By the next weekend, Kasey shows me how to transition him to bucket-feeding by letting him nurse on my finger and guiding him to the milk in the bucket. When he starts to do it on his own, I’m filled with so much pride I could burst.
Kasey lets me name him, and I don’t hesitate to call him Lucky for ending up here with the Bennetts. I still don’t understand the town’s aversion to this family—aside from some occasional moodiness (it seems to run in the family), they’ve all been so kind in having me around. Mrs. Bennett is always quick to bring out a cool glass of lemonade, and while Brooks and Sawyer don’t really talk much, they still acknowledge me with a hello when they see me.
Rhett’s the only one who looks at me like I might be a toy to play with, but of all the Bennetts there’s no doubt he’s the wildest. More often than not he’s got a beer in his hand, and Brooks and Kasey are constantly on him about his lack of respect toward . . . well, anyone .
The only Bennett I’ve yet to meet is Wells’s father. I tried to ask about him once, but all he’d tell me was that his dad is sick and doesn’t leave the house very often. I could tell by the way his ears tinged pink that it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss further, so I dropped it. Sometimes I’m tempted to ask Jason what he knows, but then I worry that I’d be no better than anyone else in this town.
On the first Saturday of December, I eagerly watch Kasey and Wells turn Lucky out in the large corral with Lady. The hope is that by introducing Lucky to the older mare, her maternal instincts will take over and she’ll eventually help him learn to socialize with the other horses. It’s nerve-wracking, at first, to watch them cautiously approach each other. But when Lady gives Lucky an affectionate rub, I’m so happy it brings me to tears. It’s the first time I think it, that this might be what I want to do with my life.
“You okay?” Wells asks from inside the corral, noticing me wipe my eyes.
“Yeah,” I say, and I beam, clicking the shutter of the camera around my neck as I do my best to capture the moment.
The returning smile he throws is real, one of his rare natural ones, and I can’t help it when my eyes burn with more tears. Despite calling a truce for Jason’s sake a few months ago, Wells has kept his distance. I’m not sure of the reason and I’ve stopped trying to figure it out, but the smile he wears now is reassuring.
“What are you all up to today?”
I turn to find Melody walking up behind us. She’s wearing short black boots embroidered with what looks like bluebonnets that match her cobalt dress. She’s gorgeous, her curly blonde hair bouncing with each step she takes, but her face is pale and distant, and I’m reminded of having the same thought the first time I met her.
“Oh, hey,” Kasey says in greeting. “Just trying to help our new little orphan friend here.” He’s watching both horses carefully, looking for any signs of an issue, but Lucky follows behind Lady as she meanders around the confines of the corral.
Melody clicks her tongue. “Gosh, he’s cute.”
I smile, focusing back on her boots. “Did you make those, too?”
“Sure did! I stitched these ones last spring.”
“I love them,” I say.
She laughs, a small twinkling sound. “Thank you. I honestly don’t get to do it as much these days, especially since James was born, but it’s one of my favorite things to do. I used to sell them at the Foxborough fair.”
“Melody, you ready?” Brooks calls from where he stands near the stalls, a frown on his face.
“Coming!” she hollers back. “Well, I better go—I have a doctor’s appointment in town,” she says to no one in particular. “Great job with the colt—you guys always know just what these horses need.”
Kasey gives her a polite smile and tips his hat. Wells watches her with a curious expression, like he notices something might be off, too. But he doesn’t say anything, and soon Brooks and Melody disappear around the building toward the main drive.
My birthday comes five days into the new year, almost two weeks after Christmas and three weeks after the Saddlebrook High Mustangs win the Texas State Championship. Celebrating my birthday has always felt secondary on the heels of so many major holidays, and this year is no different with the added excitement over our state win. Jason and the rest of the team are beside themselves with joy and pride after prevailing in a rematch against the Mayfield Matadors. It was almost a complete shutout, but Mayfield was able to clinch a third-quarter field goal to get some points on the board.
This year, Jason kept his anxiety at bay and showed up to AT&T Stadium raring for a win. With every possession, the Mustangs drove hard against the Matador defense and pushed into the end zone three times. The town is still celebrating, and Jason has undoubtedly cemented himself as Saddlebrook Falls royalty. The spirit committee organized a parade (which was really just a caravan of a bunch of decorated cars and trucks) and kids from the local Pop Warner league stood in line to get autographs from Jason and the other players. Even Liam was a part of it, bragging to the other little kids that his Uncle Wells helped the Mustangs to win state.
Now that the season is over it feels like I have my boyfriend back. There are dozens of house parties thrown over the course of winter break, most of them focused on launching the football team on an even higher pedestal than they’re already on, and I’m on Jason’s arm at every single one of them.
We spend most afternoons, like today, at the ranch. Jason was taken aback when he realized how much I’ve been here over the last few months. Not that he didn’t know—I always told him about what I was up to any time we had a chance to catch up. Even still, he was surprised to learn how integral I was in Lucky’s transfer to the ranch, and even more surprised to learn how much Kasey has taught me.
When I groom and tack up Champ all by myself, Jason shakes his head in disbelief. “Dang, girl,” he says. “Who is this cowgirl in front of me, and where did my cheerleader go?”
I laugh off the comment. “I’m still a cheerleader,” I insist. “But I really like it here. I’d love to have a ranch like this one day.”
“I don’t know about that,” he counters. “It’s a lot of work, and I’ll be away from home quite a bit.” He watches as I glide the curry comb over Champ’s back. “Plus I’ll want you to travel to games with me, you know?”
I peel my eyes away from Champ to look at him, noting the eagerness in his expression. The desire to agree immediately flares, but something gives me pause . . . It’s the first time I think I’ve ever shared a want for my future, but it goes against the natural progression of what being with Jason would mean.
I know I don’t just want to be an NFL wife—I want to carve out something of my own, something that no one can ever take away from me. But, if Jason and I really are going to spend the rest of our lives together, I should probably find something to do that complements his dreams, not competes with them.
“Maybe after you retire, then,” I say.
His eyes twinkle. “That sounds nice . . . a happy retirement with a big piece of Texas land to call ours.”
See? He’s not shutting me down completely, he’s just being practical. I force a smile and turn my attention back to Champ.
Later, Jason comes to my door wearing a dark gray sports coat and matching pants, his white button-down open at the collar. And he looks good . “Wow,” I say, a bit breathless. “I didn’t realize it was a fancy occasion.”
Jason looks down at the white dress with a flower pattern I’m wearing and smiles. “You look perfect, babe. Trust me.” He leans in to press a kiss to my cheek, a warm hand wrapping lightly against my waist. The touch sends a current of electric heat through me, anticipation curling tight.
We still haven’t had sex yet, but I’ve been feeling ready to take that step with him—especially now that the season is over. As he pulls away and smiles down at me, I wonder if tonight might be the night. “Ready?” he asks, his voice low.
I can only nod, grabbing my purse as my mom comes around the corner from the kitchen. “Hey, Jason! You guys heading out?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jason nods, standing straighter as he turns his gaze toward her. “Thank you for letting me steal Layla away tonight.”
Mom’s returning smile is as wide as a Cheshire Cat’s. “I’m just happy she has such a darling young man who treats her so well,” she says, eyes brightening.
Jason lets out a quiet chuckle. “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll have her back in before eleven.”
She waves a hand, shifting her focus to me. “Oh, don’t rush home. You two just enjoy yourselves, all right, bug?”
I smile. “Thanks, Mom.”
Jason drives us to Emiliano’s, an Italian restaurant in the next town over. It’s a gorgeous dinner with ivory table linens and pasta so rich and creamy I can’t help but moan as I eat. Jason’s blue eyes smolder in the flickering candlelight, and I’m struck with another wave of desire so strong I squirm in my seat.
“I have something for you,” Jason says just as the waiter takes our plates.
“You do?” I look around the table—I didn’t notice him bring anything in. “I thought dinner was my present.”
He laughs softly. “You’re worth more than just a dinner, Layla.” When I give him a look that says, Okay then where the hell is it? his eyes flash with a heady mix of desire and excitement. “It’s in the car.”
The waiter returns to ask for our dessert order, but I shake my head. “None for me, thank you.”
Jason’s smile curves higher. “No dessert? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I say, more than sure.
Jason takes care of the bill and holds my hand on our way out. He drives us down a back road that winds parallel to the main highway, and when he parks within a cluster of tall trees my stomach flips. This is it , I think. It’s happening.
But then Jason pulls a beautifully wrapped box from the back seat, adorned with a bright yellow bow. I stare at it with wide eyes and ask, “What’s this?”
“Your gift,” he murmurs, placing the box in my lap.
I carefully pull on the ribbon until the bow unfurls, and when I lift the lid, a loud gasp escapes me. “Oh my god!” I exclaim as I pull out a dark brown cowboy boot with ornate yellow daylilies embroidered along the front and back shaft. I know immediately that Melody made them—they look just like the ones she wears. “These are amazing! How did you know?”
His grin is shimmering and dripping with confidence. “I know how much you’ve been enjoying the horses, and I figured it was time for you to have some proper boots,” he says.
This is the best present I’ve ever gotten in my life. Tucking it back in the box, I lean forward to untie the shoelaces of my Keds, then switch them for my new boots, thrilled that they’re a perfect fit. “And you knew my size!” I exclaim.
Jason chuckles. “I asked your mom,” he explains.
Joy bubbles through me, effervescent in the way it moves through my chest. For the third time tonight, I’m struck with the instinct that I’m ready to take things further. “I want to have sex.” The words nearly burst out of my mouth, and I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of such a left turn in conversation.
Jason’s eyes grow as wide as saucers. “What?” he rasps.
My smile stretches all the way to my ears. “I’m ready, Jay. I’m so crazy about you, and I thought it’s what you meant about a gift in the car, and I feel dumb about that now but these boots are perfect and you’re perfect and I’m just really ready?—”
I’m cut off by Jason’s mouth on mine, eager and hungry. His hands grip my waist as he tries to pull me closer, but my hip hits the gearshift with a loud thump. “Ow,” I laugh again.
Jason’s blue eyes have grown five shades darker. “Get in the back seat,” he directs.
So I do.
He’s slow and careful and yet so earnest in the way he touches me, like he really wants to make this count. I’ve never asked him how many girls he’s done this with, but I’d guess there have been a few based on how he seems to know exactly what will make my head spin and my body tremble in anticipation.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his lips sucking at my collarbone.
I nod. “Mhmm.”
He reaches to pull a foil wrapper from his wallet and makes quick work of taking off his slacks. I help him pull his jacket off, and he folds it over the headrest. When he’s ready, he positions himself over me as his hands roam beneath my dress. “I love you, Layla,” he says, like he can’t believe this is happening. “I love you so much, and I swear I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
“You better,” I whisper. And then I gasp, because his fingers have found where I’m most sensitive, and I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s a wild current of electricity that sparks across every inch of my skin.
“I promise,” he says as he pushes into me.
And I believe him.