10 #3
I walked to him anxiously, since this was completely new to me.
“He is very placid,” added Adrik, picking up on my lack of confidence. “Don’t be afraid of him.”
“I’m not,” I admitted, while struggling to keep my breathing steady. “But I’m afraid he won’t like me.”
Adrik let out a quiet laugh without parting his lips. He started stroking the horse until it grew calmer, responding to his touch.
“Horses aren’t like people,” he explained, still stroking the animal.
“They don’t judge you, they don’t make fun of you, they don’t hate you.
They are pure and sensitive. They might be in a bad mood, but if they reject you, it won’t be because of who you are or how you look; it will be because of your intentions. ”
I looked at him with a hint of astonishment, though still distrustful. It was kind of like we were the Batman and Joker sitting down to have dinner. Neither of us would let our guards down in front of the other.
All right, I had to be brave.
“You know quite a bit about horses,” I said, taking more steps.
“I like them,” he said simply. “I like all animals, but I know horses better because I’ve been riding them since I was a kid.”
I couldn’t help but imagine a very little Adrik riding a black pony. No idea why.
A few seconds later, he gave me an approving look.
“Look, he’s ready to go.”
I didn’t even realize that I had come to stand next to the horse, which was now calm and still. I then plucked up the courage to pet him, and the horse seemed to like it. It was so delightful, so incredible, that it made me forget about everything for a second.
“Now it’s time to get on it,” said Adrik.
First, he explained where I should put my foot and how to push myself upward.
Then, when I tried and it didn’t quite go to plan, I instinctively went on the defensive, bracing myself for him to mock me.
Only he didn’t, which I wasn’t used to. He took a deep breath and showed me what I had to do again.
About to fail on my third attempt, he suddenly lifted me by the waist. His touch sent a strange thrill surging through me that I had to brush off. Before I knew it, I was on the horse.
I was thrilled.
“Oh, fuck, I’m up,” I said, looking around with a smirk on my face.
Adrik nodded from his spot, like a teacher pleased after a great lesson. Even with his disheveled jet-black hair and gray Cash eyes, he didn’t seem so cruel in that moment.
“The rest will be straightforward.”
“Thanks, I—” I started to say, still excited, but he cut me off.
“I teach anyone who needs to learn, so don’t get the wrong idea,” he said.
For some reason, that shut me up.
Well, I’d learned the basics. Now I wanted to learn how to ride.
I braced myself for that part, but then I heard neighing as Hades came charging into the riding arena.
The horse came to a halt in a ridiculous, overly dramatic way with Aegan atop, who gracefully lowered himself to the ground, proving just how skilled he really was.
His face was taken over by his insufferable smile of superiority.
“It looks like Driki’s a miracle worker,” he said, looking at me over on the horse. “Adrik could make a cactus learn how to withstand the cold, if you wanted it to.” He spoke to Adrik, but the insult was directed to me. I was the cactus.
I was about to fire off an epic comeback, but Adrik spoke first, and he did something I wouldn’t have anticipated in a million years.
“I just got here,” he lied. “This has nothing to do with me.”
And, without saying another word, he headed toward the stable.
As soon as Aegan and I were alone, I threw him a serious look and climbed down.
I strode past him without a word and made my way to the back door of the clubhouse, dying to get the hell out of there.
I heard his swift footsteps following close behind me.
I tried to ignore him, but he had the audacity speak.
“What? Are you mad at me?”
Mad at him?
MAD AT HIM?
I was so angry I could start a war.
But I couldn’t let it show. I was supposed to like him. A girlfriend in love him would be patient.
“No,” I lied, tense and holding back my anger.
He stopped me in the hall, smiling as if promising impending chaos.
“That’s good,” he exhaled, “because now that you’re part of the club, we can do a load of things together, so come by tomorrow.”
My anger made my brow furrow slightly.
“What’s the plan tomorrow?” I asked in an obnoxious tone.
Aegan winked at me. “You’ll see.”
He said bye, strode down the hallway toward fuck knows which part of the club, confident, triumphant, and thoroughly pleased with himself. I had no choice but to leave.
Despite making a fool of myself when trying to mount the mare, I wasn’t about to give up; after all, the day hadn’t been that bad. Actually, I’d discovered something. I could still picture the door, the one Aleixandre said should have been closed.
I had to see what was behind it.
I also needed to come up with cleverer ways to fuck with Aegan while I investigated Eli, especially before my ninety days with him were up.