57. The Best Aftermath
The Best Aftermath
BETTY
“Ihave to get up,” I whined, flipping in bed.
“What? Why?” Mary asked.
“I have a lesson and it’s noon. I need to tack my horse up and get ready,” Betty said.
“Bets, aren’t you hungover?”
I stood and sorted through my underwear drawer. “Yeah, but… it’s fine.”
We’d been partying for two days. The first night was the afterparty and the after-afterparty.
Then, we took my brother’s yacht and partied more.
I was so tired, I fell asleep before Mary finished brushing her teeth last night.
It didn’t stop me from waking her at three AM, but it did give me a little strength to keep going.
We’d fallen back to our slumber as if blissfully unaware of the crazy response to Mary’s career win and the kiss I laid on her because of it.
Mary lay there, face covered with the duvet. Only her feet were visible.
“I have an Olympic bid to prepare for. I know my girlfriend is super famous and just won this big competition, but I gotta stop being lazy and get back to work.”
Mary popped her head out as I pulled on a sports bra.
“Oh, shit! The Olympics are next year.”
“Ja!” I giggled, smacking her playfully with a pillow. “And I’m trying to make it. So, if you wouldn’t mind, I must go.”
Mary smiled, “Okay, if you must. But I’d rather rot in bed with you all day.”
I leaned over, granting her a small kiss. “Let me do my three hours of workout and then I will be back to rot in bed with you.”
“I’ll… I’ll come with,” Mary said.
“Oh, Marit, you don’t-”
“Rubbish! I want to come with you, ?lskling.”
“Fine,” I agreed, heading to find a pair of full seats in my closet.
Mary joined me, sorting through the duffle she brought. “What do I wear to this?”
I snickered, pulling on my breeches. “Jeans. A t-shirt.”
She shook her head at me. “Not the cool, weird-butt trousers?”
“Full seat breeches,” I said. “I have about two-dozen pair. You want a pair? You got ‘em. Leave my whites alone. Those are competition only. You may be less of a klutz than I am, but nothing good can come of white breeches.”
“Not pink herringbone?” She joked, poking fun at my choice.
“No. I think I only have purple left.”
“I’ll stick to jeans,” Mary acquiesced.
“That’s fine. They make your ass look great. No complaints.”
“Am I really just a piece of meat to you, ?lskling?” Mary asked, barely able to play straight.
“No, but if you’re going to be my barn bitch for the day, I’d be okay with it happening while you wear those dark jeans I find potentially dangerous.”
Mary shook her head and dressed. We slipped into shoes in the mudroom and bopped to the barn to grab my mount.
“Hold him,” I handed a schoolmaster to Mary. “This is Juneau.”
Mary nervously took the lead rope while Juneau tried to eat her hair. I burst out laughing watching her keep one hand on the lead and avoid him with the other.
“He’s a gelding. He’s dumb as a brick, Mar, but he’s no threat. I don’t think he’s ever bit anyone in his whole twenty-year-long life.”
“Ah,” Mary played it cool. “So, is this who you’re taking to the Olympics?”
“No,” I shook my head. “He’s far too old. He’s a dressage superstar still. I use him to learn things. We keep him in rotation with some of the intermediate riders, but he’s earned a retirement from international events for now.”
“So, who is the horse?”
“Lady Jane Grey.”
“Like… the short-lived queen?”
“Well, yes. But I rode her in Florida and we’re moving her to put some miles on her. Ingrid’s dressage coach is going to work her a bit. By the time I arrive down there, I’ll be ready to hopefully ride her at Burghley.”
Mary fell silent, watching me as I worked. I wondered what was on her mind, but gave her time to compose her thoughts.
Tentatively, Mary asked, “So, does that mean you’re coming to London? For a while?”
I shrugged. “I don’t quite know yet. I figured I’d wait until Lars and Rose had their baby before I made any big moves. But… maybe if you wanted me to—”
“Of course I want you to.” She didn’t give me a chance to finish.
Mary wanted me in the UK, but was she staying?
“Are you staying in London or moving back to Stockholm?”
Mary laughed. “I’m staying in London. No part of me wants to permanently move up here.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, that’s… good to know. I will end up in Florida this winter, then back in the UK. I won’t lie to you, Mary, it will be a busy year for us both. I don’t think it will be super easy, but I do think we’ll be okay.”
She hesitantly patted Juneau’s shoulder. “I think we will be. We’re both independent enough to make it work for us.”
Independent.
I furrowed my brow. “Is it independent or are we just self-assured now?”
Mary shrugged. “Does it matter? I trust you. You trust me.”
I smiled. Hearing the words made all the difference. Mary focused on straightening Juneau’s fluffy forelock. I let them bond, secretly loving that she tried.
“You know, you’re right.” I agreed. “We survived it. And in a way, everything that could have gone wrong, did.”
Mary turned, cocking her head.
“Look, you worried about Max destroying the band’s run.
He tried to in the most terrifying way, but you held him accountable.
We got outed at the worst time but survived it.
People are obsessed with us, and I doubt that will end anytime soon; but we both know we’ll weather it, Mary.
All the things that freaked you out? They didn’t end us. ”
Mary patted Juneau’s neck. “You say, ‘I told you so’ in the nicest way, ?lskling.”
“I’m not wrong.”
“No, you’re not,” Mary shook her head. “I suppose I was once more trying to get in my own way. I am glad I listened to everyone who wanted to strangle me—yourself included.”
I stepped forward, kissing her gently. “I’m going to go get my tack. I’m saying nothing more.”