Page 72 of In Full Bloom
Flynn slings his arm around my shoulder. “Told ya. Good one.” When I don’t respond, Flynn notices my hesitation. “What is it?”
“I thought Toby was a good one too.”
He stiffens beside me. “He was … wasn’t he?” Flynn pulls me to a stop, turning me to face him. He doesn’t know what happened the day of the car accident. He doesn’t know how hard I fought for my relationship with Toby. I never felt like it was worth bringing it all up and airing the dirty laundry with anyone other than Olivia, who only heard about it because she caught me in a weak moment and I spilled my guts before I could stop myself.
“I thought so. At the start he was. He was perfect. I thought he was the love of my life. But, even before the accident, I’d lost him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Flynn said, tugging me in and wrapping his arms around me.
The warm embrace triggers something in me and before I know it, I’m sobbing against Flynn’s shirt. He stands rigid, his hand carefully rubbing my back as I heave in shaking breath after shaking breath.
Eventually I step back and wipe at my eyes. Aurora gently nudges my shoulder and I give her a soft pat, thanking her for her silent support.
“I thought it was weird you never mentioned him. Ever,” he says as we resume walking. “I figured it was just your way of handling the grief.”
“It is, but there’s too many layers to it, so much anger and hurt. I thought I was okay with it all, until I saw Max again for the first time. They’re just so alike, in looks and personality as it turns out.”
“Fucking Max,” Flynn grumbles. “No one gives a shit about Max, okay? Or Toby. The bastard. God, he was like my best friend. I can’t believe I didn’t know he was an asshole.”
I squeeze Flynn’s arm. “Flynny, I was with him for years. I lived with him foryears. I didn’t find out until the day he died what he was really like.”
“Do I even wantto know?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m kind of sorry I told you he wasn’t the guy you thought he was. That I ruined that for you.”
He shrugs. “You’re who matters, Katie Kat. You’re the one who’s here.”
“Yeah, which makes it sound like I’m blaming a guy who can’t defend himself.”
“Well, then the idiot shouldn’t have got into a car after drinking. I’ve always been mad at him about that. Even if you’re not supposed to be angry with your old bestie who’s no longer with us, I still am. I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling with whatever his betrayal to you was.” He lets out a long breath. “But, let’s refocus. Dallas is not like that. And if he is, I’ll have my pitchfork handy to run him out of town. We’ll keep Sadie though. I like her.”
I laugh. “Deal. I like her too. She did a barrel race yesterday.”
“Really? Man, sucks I missed it. How did she do?”
“Well, it wasn’t the slowest race I’ve ever seen,” I say with a laugh.
“Oh yeah?” Flynn knows there’s more to the story.
“Yeah. That accolade goes to her father.”
That sends Flynn into fits of giggles. “Hey, he’s trying his best.”
“That he is.” The warm, cozy glow I’ve grown accustomed to over the past couple of weeks settles over me again at the thought. I always expected that he’d blow off the riding lessons before long, but he’s sticking them out.
“Well, let me know next time Sadie’s going to do somethingcool. Geez, next she’ll be Grand Prix show jumping and I won’t even know she can handle trotting poles.”
I laugh and begin to untack Aurora, slipping the saddle and bridle from her body, then picking up a brush. Flynn picks up another brush and begins working on her other side.
“Flynny, what’d you mean before?” I ask.
“About what?”
“About your innocent ears and ‘more than you’d think’.”
“Oh.” He’s quiet for a long moment, studying the horse’s coat carefully. “I’m just being bitchy and jealous.”
“Jealous?”
