Cole

  “Yeah, and he was probably not having much more fun working on your grumpy, whining ass either,” Denver said. “I’ll get the antiseptic.”

  Cole sat on the sofa in the front room. Denver brought in the bottle of antiseptic and a box of gauze. He grinned down at Cole. “If you’re real good and don’t put up too much of a fuss, we’ll buy you an ice cream cone later.”

  Cole turned his back toward me. “Really? I want one of those Blizzard shakes with the chopped up Snickers bars.”

  “See, he’s fine,” Denver said. “Can I get you something to drink, Kensington?”

  I blotted off the scrapes with the gauze. “Nope, I’m fine. I’m going to run home and get some pain pills I have in my medicine cabinet. Between that and an ice cream shake, he should be a happy patient for the rest of the night.”

  Rodeo plopped onto the big chair that was positioned in front of the television set. “Hey, get me one of those shakes too, Denver. I was also a good patient.”

  “No you weren’t. You’ve been fussing for the last twenty-four hours.” Denver walked over and pushed up the front window. “Stuffy as hell in here.”

  “Well, you’re all cleaned up.” I kissed Cole’s shoulder as a final act of first aid. I hopped up from the couch. “I’ve just got to check on the horses and grab the pills. Then I’ll head straight back.”

  Cole smiled up at me as he stretched out on his side. “You surpassed perfection long ago, my sweet. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  I headed out the door and down the front steps. I reached my car but decided to run back up to the house and ask Cole if he needed me to bring my heating pad. As I hurried up the steps, I could hear Rodeo laughing about something. His words floated out the window and smacked me like a cold, hard hand.

  “Fucking hell, King, you’re really taking this bet thing seriously. All you had to do was take her on one date and snag one kiss.”

  And there it was. The disappointment I’d been waiting for. Only this wasn’t disappointment. This was pure heartbreak. I’d allowed myself to fall for the guy. But for him, the whole thing had just been a bet, a wager, a fucking wager.

  I spun around and ran for my car. Tears clouded my vision as I pulled out of the driveway and headed for home.

  Chapter 25

  Cole

  Denver was standing in the front window watching Kensington pull away. “Shit, Rodeo, you’ve got a big mouth.”

  Rodeo looked at me to see if I understood what Denver was talking about.

  Denver shook his head. “Boss, I think your day just got shittier. Kensington overheard Rodeo talking about the bet.”

  “Fuck.” I sat up sharply. “Fuck, that hurts. Where’s my phone. I need to talk to her. Shit, Rodeo, why’d you bring up the bet at all? Already told you I’d give you the fucking car. You know this wasn’t a wager anymore.”

  “I didn’t know she was still standing out there. I was just fucking with you.” He got up and reached for my phone. “Here, I’ll talk to her and explain the whole thing.”

  “Right. I’m going to let you explain things.” I grimaced in pain as I stood from the couch and walked into the kitchen. I dialed Kensington’s number. I was sure it would be easy to turn things around. She had to know how I felt about her.

  It rang and went to voicemail. I’d expected it. “Kensington, it’s me. What you heard—Shit, can’t explain it over the phone, but it was nothing. Just some stupid thing between Rodeo and me. You have to know that from the first second I met you . . . Please call me back and let me have a chance to explain.”

  I hung up the phone. “Fuck fuck fuck.” I went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer. Then I reached in for two more. This was one of those multi beer days. It had started badly. But the fall and the fight with Harkin were nothing compared to the thought that I might have lost Kensington for good.

  Denver and Rodeo had sat down to a video game. “Did she answer?” Denver asked.

  “Why the hell would she? Where’s the fucking calendar? I need to see if this day was blacked out. Maybe I was never supposed to leave my bed this morning.”

  Chapter 26

  Kensington

  Sometimes the only thing I needed when I was upset was to be around the horses. The inside of the stall was dank and quiet and had that familiar fragrance of pine shavings, alfalfa and horse. Bentley pushed his big head against me and nudged my side. It was probably only because he was searching me for a treat or trying to scratch an itch, but I could at least let myself believe that he was trying to comfort me.

  I had a golden rule about not crying or at least never getting weepy about a guy, and until now, the men I’d been dating had made that a pretty easy rule. But Cole wasn’t one of those men, so this time I let myself break the rule. But only for one day and then I had to move on. After all, I’d been expecting it. I’d been expecting for the other shoe, the big stinking other shoe, to drop. And it had.

  In my mind, I’d created a romantic account of how we’d met, his motorcycle scaring my horse and the slightly worrisome but mostly amusing events that’d followed. But now I had to retell that story as the moment that he’d started a bet with his friend to see if he could dupe the wine heiress into falling for him. It must have been some stakes because he’d put his heart and soul into winning it. The sadly amusing thing about that was that he didn’t even have to work so hard. He was incredibly handsome and charming and obviously he’d been one hell of an actor because I’d fallen for it. It embarrassed the hell out of me to know how easily I’d fallen into bed with him and how easily I’d let him take control of my heart. A rock star’s kid, I should have expected no less. He’d left me a voicemail, but I wasn’t ready to listen to it. I wasn’t completely sure I’d ever listen to it. A clean break would be best.

  I stroked the long white blaze on Bentley’s face. “You’re the only trustworthy man in my life, Bennie.”

  A throat cleared outside the stall. Dad’s face appeared in the opening. “And I thought it was me. I’ve lost your heart and faith to a horse.” Dad bowed his head to Bentley. “Sir, it appears you have won. You and your wet snorts and cooing nickers, you’ve stepped into my place.”

  Dad looked at my face and his mouth pulled down into a frown. “I saw you walk past the house without stepping inside. Things aren’t going well with Cole?”

  “It’s done.” I shrugged casually as if my heart wasn’t splitting in two. “I’m convinced there aren’t any decent men out there anymore.”

  “Well, there aren’t. Your mom snagged the last one.” He opened the door to the stall, and I stepped out. He dropped his arm around my shoulder. “You’re too good for them all.”

  “Said every dad that has ever tried to cheer up his brokenhearted daughter.”

  “Yes, I know, it’s cliché. But it’s the best I could come up with. In truth, I’m a little disappointed. I rather liked Cole, and I think your mom was already planning what she’d wear on her fist visit to your future father-in-law’s estate.”

  I spurted a half laugh, half sob, and he tightened his arm around my shoulder. “You’ll forget all about him in a few days, Kensie.”

  “Uh huh,” I said with zero confidence. This time I wasn’t sure it would be so easy.

  Dad lowered his arm long enough to pull his antacid tablets out of his pocket. He popped a few in his mouth.

  “Dad, were you eating chips and salsa again? You’ve got to stop torturing your stomach.”

  He scrunched his face in pain and tapped his chest with his fist. “No salsa today. I’ve been sort of nauseous this morning, so I haven’t eaten anything but toast. Maybe it’s morning sickness.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up his palm. “And before you hand out your usual two cents, I’ve already made an appointment with my doctor. Next Thursday
.”

  “Good. One less thing for me to fret about.” My phone buzzed as we crossed the lawn to the back steps.” I pulled it out. It was a text from Cole. “I’ll be right in, Dad.”

  “All right.” He stopped and turned back to me. “Kensie, remember sometimes it’s all right to lead with your heart instead of your head. You tend to overthink things.”

  I raised a questioning brow at him. “You are still dreaming about those backstage passes to a Black Thunder concert, aren’t you?”

  He laughed. “Maybe a little. But I’m serious, Kensington. Just think about what I said. But don’t overthink it.”

  I headed over to the bench beneath the mulberry tree. Its branches were still heavily laden with deep green, shade producing leaves. It wouldn’t be long before the backyard lawn was covered with yellow leaves.

  I decided to avoid the voicemail. Somehow hearing Cole’s voice was going to make this whole thing sting more, especially now that I couldn’t trust a word he said. I opened the text.

  “Yes, there had been a bet, but it was out of my head the second I met you. Everything, the entire world, including that stupid wager, has faded into the background since I met you. Give me a chance to explain myself. On my knees.” A picture followed of Cole on his knees with a pleading look. The picture brought back that same funny sounding hybrid laugh-sob. Damn him for being so irresistible. I stuck the phone back in my pocket. Even with my dad’s subtle hint still fresh in my head, I wasn’t willing to lead with my heart yet. I’d have to give it some thought. Thus proving my dad right, yet again.

  Chapter 27

  Cole

  The call was from Rett. “The girls are at some thing, don’t know what exactly, but it’s a girl thing where uninhibited cussing, burping and farting are not allowed—your sister’s words—not mine. And we’re all bored, so we’re coming over to play. Dray is obsessing about the foam pit. Clutch sold a Chevy Nova today so he said he’d buy the pizza and beer. What do you say, bro? Can we invade your space tonight or do you have plans with that hot little Cinder wench?”

  My mood and the fact that I’d downed six beers and another dose of aspirin was making my head just foggy enough that I couldn’t answer fast. I was on the fence about whether seeing them would help or worsen my mood. “Uh, well I’m kind of out of it because I got taken out today on the track.”

  “What the fuck? Who took you out?”

  “Nate Harkin. It’s a long, boring ass story, but I can verify that all the rumors about him being a mega-douchebag are true. But you know what—pizza with you guys sounds like a good way to piss away the evening. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  ***

  Denver and Rodeo had planned to go out to a bar, but when they heard the words free pizza, they decided to stay. They were pulling the BMX bikes out of the shed while I sat on the small retaining wall that ran adjacent with the kicker and foam pit. We’d filled a cooler with ice and beers.

  I pulled my phone out, checked it and shoved it back into my pocket. There were four new texts, but none from Kensington. It seemed I wasn’t even going to get a chance to talk to her.

  My eyes drifted out across the dry landscape. The days were getting shorter, and the sun was already dropping low in the sky. The only part of the Modante residence I could see from the retaining wall were the grapevines and the top of the barn roof.

  Rodeo pedaled past me on a bike. “Dude, if you’re not checking your phone, you’re checking out her house. Starting to look a little pathetic.”

  “Fuck off. You caused this with your rambling mouth.”

  “Yeah, yeah, guilty as charged.”

  Denver rode up on a bicycle. “Give her a night or two. She needs a cooling off period.”

  “Yeah? You think so?”

  He shrugged. “How the hell should I know? If there’s one thing on this whole fucking planet I don’t understand, it’s women.”

  Rodeo looked over at him. “Really? One fucking thing? Then how the hell do they get the ships into those little bottles?”

  Denver stared at him. “That’s the question that’s been chipping away at your brain? Ships in bottles?”

  “See, you don’t know it.”

  “They collapse the sails and then build it back up once it’s inside. I’ve watched a couple YouTube videos on it.”

  Rodeo snorted. “You would watch that.”

  My phone buzzed, and I was glad for an excuse to pull my attention away from their stupid conversation.

  “There he goes again, checking his phone.”

  I held my middle finger up at Rodeo as I answered it. “Hey, Fin, what’s up?”

  “Rett said you got hurt today. I was just checking in on my favorite brother.”

  “Favorite, huh? Cuz Jude told me just last week that you told him he was your favorite brother.”

  “Yep, you’re both my favorites. What happened?”

  “Nothing. Rett has a big mouth. I’m fine. In fact, Rett and the guys are coming out here to hang because apparently you women have made other plans. The aspirin and beer has me feeling loose enough that I might just try a few tricks over the foam pit.”

  “That sounds silly if you were hurt today. So that’s where they’re all heading.” She laughed. “They acted like they had some big exciting plans without us.”

  “Coming out here to shovel pizza, suck down beer and fly into a box filled with cut up chunks of foam is exciting.”

  “In your book. How come you’re not seeing Kensington tonight?”

  I didn’t answer.

  “Shit, did you blow it with her already? Shoot, I really liked her. Plus, now I’ve got to bake cookies for Jude. He told me you’d screw it up with her before the end of the month. I thought you’d make it until at least Thanksgiving.”

  My siblings had had a bet about a relationship that I’d messed up because of a bet. Fucking ironic. “You both suck, just to let you know. What’s happening with Dad? Haven’t heard from him this week.”

  “He was in Austria and was having trouble with his international phone plan. He emailed me some pictures. He’s living it up, as always.”

  The front doorbell rang. “Rett’s here. I’ve got to go, Fin. Catch you later.”

  “All right. And Cole, I’m sorry. It seemed like you really liked Kensington.”

  “I did. Have fun tonight.”

  I headed inside. Dray was leaned down staring through the front window. “Why are you walking like an old man, King?” he called through the glass.

  I opened the door. “And why are you staring into my house like some weirdo, nosy neighbor?” I lifted my hand for a fist bump. “I hit the dirt today and my back is telling me that crouched over is better than straight, so fuck good posture.” I motioned them through. “I’ve got an ice chest of beer outside, and the bikes are out for anyone who would like to try some jumps and eventually join me in my beer slash aspirin therapy.”

  Nix walked with me. “Thanks for letting us crash your beer aspirin party. How’s it going with the wine heiress?”

  “It’s not.”

  “Oh, sorry. Rett acted like it was a thing.”

  “I thought it was, but I fucked up.”

  Dray had already climbed on a bike. He was taking jump pointers from Denver.

  Clutch had perched his massive frame on the wall. “I’m ordering the pizzas. How many should I get?”

  “Let’s see,” Nix said. “There’s the six large pizzas that you and Rett eat, and the rest of us will probably be all right with four large ones. So ten.”

  “I’ve never eaten six pizzas in one night,” Clutch argued.

  “Bullshit,” Nix said. “But I did mention that you’d be sharing those with Rett.”

  We pulled up some chairs to watch Rodeo and Dray
do bike tricks into the pit. Dray’s first ride took him about two feet in the air followed by a nosedive into the foam. Clutch had his phone up.

  “Did you get that?” Nix asked.

  “Sure did.” Clutch replayed the video and his booming laugh echoed off the back wall. “What a dick. Gonna have to post it.”

  Dray emerged from the foam. He handed his bike over to Rodeo and climbed out of the pit.

  “Hey, Dray, it’s all about the air,” Denver called to him. “And you forgot the air on that jump.”

  Rett stuck his legs out in front of him and leaned back with a beer. “So, King, how’d you blow it with that cute wine princess?”

  “What?” Clutch asked. “I heard through the Scotlyn grapevine that it was turning into something.”

  “Yeah. Thought so too, but I’m back on the side of freedom. So the rest of you can just keep your balls in the clamps and watch me have fun.”

  “Right,” Rett laughed. “That’s why you look like the kid who just had his cookie stolen off his lunch tray.” He kicked the edge of my chair. “You should ask Nix here for some advice. He’s the woman pro, you know Heartbreak Kid and all.”

  Nix bowed his head at Rett. “And it takes one to know one.”

  Clutch shook his head. “First of all, sparkles here,” he pointed to Rett, “dated a gazillion women before he met Finley, the only girl who could keep his attention span for longer than the usual ten seconds. And this guy, my best friend, Heartbreak Kid, carried Scotlyn’s picture around for a year before he even met the woman. Weird, obsessive and a little creepy, if you ask me.” He tapped his chest. “I’m the one to go to for advice on women, and everything else for that matter.”

  Nix leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well then, my all too wise, completely overgrown and thickheaded friend, tell us how it’s done.”