36. I was In Love With The Girl Who Talks To Horses
I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL WHO TALKS TO HORSES
CASH
I’d woken up when the sun rose above the mountains by the feeling of Paige milking my dick with her pretty little mouth.
It was a literal dream. Last night, Paige surprised the hell out of me by showing up at my window.
It was like she knew I needed her. Before she got here, I tossed and turned without a hope of getting any sleep.
She felt that, too.
When she snuck out this morning, I managed to fall back asleep for a few hours.
On instinct, I reached to my right to pull Paige into me only to find the blanket cold.
That was when I startled awake, only to find her side of the bed empty.
It took me a minute to remember that she wasn’t here sleeping next to me.
How did this happen? How did we go from barely speaking to each other, to not being able to spend a night apart in a matter of weeks?
I rubbed my dry eyes and got out of bed. I threw on a pair of sweats and a white tee before heading outside. I needed a distraction so I ventured to the ceremony space to check out the set up.
The girls had an early wakeup call to have their hair and makeup done, but I wasn’t set to meet the guys at Walker’s for a few hours.
That left me entirely too much time to be alone with my thoughts.
I headed across the field and past the stables until I spotted Gigi setting up flowers where Paige had chosen for us to say our vows.
Lottie and Owen were getting married in the old barn across the property, so Paige wanted something different. We settled on setting up chairs in a field that had a breathtaking view of the mountains, and then having the reception under a tent right next to it.
Gigi spotted me and waved.
“Hey, Gi,” I said, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Hi, sweetie.” She beamed at me. “Are you ready for today?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m just so happy you two finally found your way to each other. You always looked out for her and she was so mad about you. This is all I ever wanted for you both.”
I wrapped her in a hug. “I’m just happy that Paige gives me the time of day. I’ll treat her right, I promise.”
“I know you will.” She sighed as she resumed setting up the flowers. “I always thought about you as part of the family, but now it’ll be completely official, and that makes my heart so happy.”
“Do you need any help?” I asked, ignoring the tightening feeling in my chest. I needed to change the subject before I started crying in front of the only woman I’d ever viewed as a mother.
“Oh no.” She waved me off as I tried to reach for flowers. “Go relax and enjoy your day. I got this.”
I nodded and turned on my heels. I had expected Walker to punch me. I had expected the family to be upset. I had expected to fight. I had not expected everyone to tell us how much they loved us together and welcome me into the family.
The only family I’d ever known.
I rubbed at my chest as I ducked into the stables to hide for a few minutes. I always felt calmer around horses. They never judged your past, they only judged your character and how you treated them.
I was walking past Shadow’s stall when a familiar laugh made me stop in my tracks.
“This is such a big day, baby girl. I wish I could ride you down the aisle. I feel sad you won’t be there.”
A smile crept onto my face and my body instantly relaxed. Paige had that effect on me. I walked up to the stall and leaned my back against it.
“People might think it’s weird if you marry your horse instead of me today,” I said, facing away from the stall.
Paige screamed, and I heard her jump to her feet.
“Fuck, Jesse, you scared the shit out of me.”
I loved that she almost exclusively called me Jesse now. “I should’ve known you’d be here.”
“You always seemed to be able to sense when I was here,” she said softly.
“And I always will.”
I glanced down and saw her hand resting on the stall gate. I reached out and laid my hand on top of hers. I needed my anchor.
“I know you’re not supposed to see me today, but all I want is to be near you right now.”
“Me too, baby.”
“Close your eyes,” she said, sternly.
“What?”
“Close your eyes and keep them closed.”
I laughed, but followed her instructions. “They’re closed,” I said, smiling.
I heard the gate latch click open seconds before Paige wrapped her arms around me. I buried my head into her hair and inhaled deeply. This was where she belonged—in my arms. Paige pulled back and rose up on her toes before kissing me lightly.
“I’ll see you at the altar,” she whispered against my mouth before pulling away.
I waited a few seconds before opening my eyes and she was gone, as if I conjured her with my mind.
“I’ll see you at the altar,” I whispered into the air.
I was sweating.
Holy fuck, was I sweating.
My tie felt too tight and my shoes were uncomfortable as I stood in front of the wooden trellis with two hundred pairs of eyes on me. The entire fucking town of Ashton Creek was here. This was it. Paige was about to walk down the aisle to me and declare her love in front of everyone.
The pastor announced we were about to begin, and everyone shifted their attention to the back of the aisle.
The sweet sounds of violins drifted through the air as Reid stepped up and took a bow.
He had a basket full of rose petals dangling from his fingertips.
He sprinkled a few at his feet before doing a dramatic leap a few feet in front of him and tossing some over the guests on the bride’s side of the aisle.
He leaped again and sprinkled the other side before doing a twirl and throwing some above his head.
Cheers and whoops erupted as he continued to dance and twirl until he reached me. He lifted his little basket above my head and beamed at me. Then, he dumped the remaining rose petals directly onto my head. I shook the petals off, watching them flutter to the grass.
Whistles and laughter rang out as Reid turned and bowed to his adoring fans. It had been his one and only request for the wedding, and it was an opportunity too good not to have on video.
Everyone quieted as Taylor appeared at the start of the aisle, followed by Micah, then Lottie.
The girls wore long champagne colored satin dresses in different styles with little bouquets of wild flowers in their hands.
Walker clapped both hands on my shoulders from behind me as I attempted to settle my shaking hands.
Everyone stood, and my breathing was rapid as I waited for the one person I was dying to see. When Paige appeared at the end of the aisle, my heart stopped. The world around me went still—quiet. All I could see was her.
She looked like a fucking dream. She wore a thick lace dress that hugged her curves until it flared slightly around her knees.
Her hair was in a thick braid over her shoulder and she had on a tan wide brim hat.
The flowers in her hands were different hues of orange, pink, white, and tan, and her grandmother’s emerald ring popped against the cream satin ribbon wrapped around the stems.
She looked like her.
Paige and her dad started slowly moving down the aisle and my breathing calmed with each step closer they took. Paige glanced up and smiled brightly as soon as our eyes met. When they reached me, I shook Mr. Brooks’ hand and took Paige’s arm in mine.
The pastor started the ceremony, but I barely heard a word as I stared into Paige’s eyes.
We repeated the vows as he read them to us, and Paige slipped a simple gold band onto my finger.
This should have felt wrong and deceitful, but all it felt was right.
I could see Paige and me in our own house on the ranch, living life for a few years before there were a few kids running around.
I could see us growing old sitting on the front porch drinking coffee. I could see us forever.
For the first time in my life, I was ready to let myself have the one thing I wanted. I was ready to let myself live and love openly and freely—and I was ready to do that with Paige.