Chapter Fourteen #4
It was a heady mix in my body, adrenaline from my first five-star Grand Prix, followed by the disappointment of Jasper not holding me in his arms. But I knew he wouldn’t.
He was too controlled, too reserved, and frankly, we weren’t together like that.
We’d fucked, once. Perhaps that was all it ever would be.
I tried to focus on Atticus too, but too many thoughts circled my head.
Why had he come to see me? What did it mean?
I was annoying myself with all the internal questions.
I wasn’t shy at coming forward. When we were alone, I would just outright ask him.
But even me, with my take-no-prisoners attitude, couldn’t help but admit it made me nervous.
What if he said it was just a single night?
The ache in my heart told me I wished it could be more.
Suddenly, the audience broke into rapturous applause. I blinked and brought myself back to the here and now. “Great,” Sage said, defeatedly, and I looked to the scoreboard. Atticus’s name went straight to the top. He had won. Convincingly.
I didn’t even feel sad. My goal was a clear round. I had done that and managed to secure second place too. With Sage in third, we’d achieved a Knighton sweep.
It felt like a dream.
Atticus came trotting toward us. Leon clapped, for once wearing a wide smile on his face. “Top three!” he said and shook Jasper’s hand. I watched Jasper’s face. He smirked. He was happy, but I caught a flash of sadness in his eyes too.
My heart cracked for him. I just knew he wanted to be in that ring with us. Our fourth member of Team Knighton. He should be. Simply recalling him on Henry back at Golden Oaks . . . He would have wiped the floor with all of us today. Of that I was convinced.
Atticus dismounted, handing Barnaby to Chris after kissing his stallion on the nose. Jasper hugged his cousin, as did Leon. Atticus then faced me. “Sorry, Hals. No hard feelings.”
I laughed but then hugged him too. I was proud of him. “You’re not sorry in the slightest, but congratulations anyway.”
Then he moved to Sage. She was raging. “Miller,” Atticus said, smiling, all his teeth showing.
“Atticus,” she said tightly, and Atticus’s face lit up. I shook my head. At least Sage was being civil in front of Leon and Jasper.
The organizers came over and led us to the podium. Atticus waved at the crowd as we walked past them. I smiled and waved too, but it all felt surreal.
When the interviewers came over, we talked of how we found the course, and just how successful a competition it was for Golden Oaks Stud, with us taking the top three positions. When an interviewer asked Sage, “And what do you think of how well your teammates have done, Sage?”
Sage’s smile was wide and obviously fake to anyone who knew her well.
“I already knew Hallie was amazing,” she said, and I flicked a glance at Atticus to see his expectant grin aimed at my friend.
“And . . .” Sage said through clenched teeth, “Atticus is one of the best riders I’ve ever seen. He deserved today’s win.”
“Wow. High praise indeed,” the interviewer said. As soon as we were free Sage quickly walked off. Atticus began flirtatiously whispering into our interviewer’s ear, making her blush, ignoring my defeated best friend.
I searched around me, looking for Jasper, but I only found Leon. I walked to my trainer, who hugged me to his side. “That was a hell of a start, Hallie,” he said, which made me beam. Leon wasn’t very forthcoming with compliments or affection, so for him this was practically euphoric.
“Thank you,” I said, but I searched all around us again. Clearly noticing who I was looking for, Leon said, “Jas had to leave.” He motioned to all the cameras, members of the press, and the professional riders milling around us. “The vultures were circling.”
“Oh, I wasn’t . . .” I tried to say. But when Leon was pulled aside by another newspaper for comment, I realized whatever was happening between Jasper and me had clearly not escaped his eagle eye.
The man was known to pick up on the finest details of the sport, so it made sense that he’d seen something between us.
But what that something was . . . I had no idea.
“Hallie,” Leon said as I made my way to the stalls after Sage.
“Remember the team dinner tonight to talk strategy for tomorrow.” I nodded.
I had completely forgotten. Tomorrow, the Knighton Cavaliers competed in the team event.
As I arrived at our aisle, Huxley was already washed down and enjoying a large hay net.
Sage was chatting with Dillon Matthews from Team USA, and every rider I passed shook my hand in congratulations.
Ducking into Huxley’s stall, I dropped to the ground and closed my eyes.
I had done it. I couldn’t believe it. Huxley finished his food and turned his head toward me, lowering his head so I could stroke his face.
“You’re such a superstar, baby boy,” I said, kissing his blaze.
Huxley snorted as though he was telling me that he knew it.
I smiled but found my happiness fall just a touch.
Jasper had come out from the private box to watch me. But now he was gone, without even a goodbye, and I had no idea when I’d see him again.
Getting to my feet, I dusted the sawdust off my white breeches and went to meet Sage. We had a dinner tonight, and a team event to win tomorrow.
I had to put Jasper from my head.
I just wished I knew how.