Page 121 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

“I’ve never had anything so nice…” she coos.

Perfectly decorating her chest is a small sun pendant. The center is a silver color, and the rays are golden. When I saw it, I knew it was meant for her. I had to dip into my savings, but it was worth it to put joy on her face.

Thankfully, she doesn’t ask why a sun, because if she asked, I’d tell her the truth and fuck everything up. If friends is all we’ll ever be, I’ll be the best friend she could ever ask for.

“I’m never going to take it off,” she promises, and I like it more than I should.

“Happy birthday, dollface,” I say, squeezing her hand.

“Happy birthday, studmuffin.” She squeezes right back.

50

“Have you seen Connor?” Izzy jumps out of her skin at my question.

“Oh my god, you scared me! Why are you here?” she scrambles.

“What do you mean why am I here?” I chuckle. “I work here. Why are you being weird?”

Izzy looks over my shoulder and back over her shoulder like we’re being stalked.

“I’m not being weird. You’re being weird,” Izzy says.

With her hair grown out, we look like twins again. She kept it short for so many years, I can’t lie and say I didn’t miss looking the same.

“You do realize we’re basically the same person and I can tell when you’re being weird because you’re doing what I’d be doing if I was being weird,” I point out. “Now, have you seen Connor, or not?”

“Shit! I forgot, Reid asked me to run to Clark’s Hardware to pick up something he ordered.” She takes me by the shoulders and marches me towards the cars.

“Would you be a dear and go for me? I have…a call I can’t get out of. Yea. Forgot about that call I have.”

I eye my sister skeptically; there’s clearly something going on.

“I just got here, I wish you would’ve asked me before I left the apartment. I hate to double back.”

“Oh, but you will, won’t you? Text me when you’re on your way back, okay? And text me when you park.” Why’s she so antsy?

“Okay, sissy. Whatever you say.” I kiss her on the cheek and make my way back to town. Maybe I’ll stop by Bean & Brew for a hot chocolate and work on my business plan.

“Hey doll, what are you up to?” Connor rubs his sleepy eyes and kisses my cheek as he joins me at the kitchen island.

He looks divine in only low-slung athletic shorts, but bone-deep exhaustion cloaks his features. I’m so proud of him for how hard he’s working on his farrier apprenticeship and keeping up with his responsibilities at the ranch. But he’s working too hard.

“Just finished framing your farrier certificate and my diploma,” I say, bursting with pride, running my finger along the smooth wooden frames.

“I didn’t know they’d come yet. That’s fucking awesome, baby. Thank you.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Mine came first but I wanted to wait for yours to come in the mail before I framed them together. Sorry for being sneaky.”

Connor gets the strangest look on his face. A mix between guilt and panic. “Nothing to apologize for. It’s not sneaky if it’s for a nice surprise, right? Can’t be mad if a person kept secrets to pull off a surprise. Right?” His rambling borders on frantic.

“You’re right. It was worth it to see you happy.” I smile at him, tipping my chin asking for a kiss. He visibly relaxes.

“What else is on tap today?” Connor asks.

“Well, I know it’s technically my day off, but I was thinking about coming to the ranch with you today.”

“Today? But it’s your day off.” He parrots back at me.