Page 38 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

“Where were you when Jason spiked my drink?”

Connor blinks rapidly, caught off guard by my question.

“I was at the bar.”

“Why were you still at the bar? You went to refill our drinks, and you didn’t come back. If you’d come right back, Jason wouldn’t have ever approached me.”

“I went to get us new drinks and I got caught up chatting.”

I smile placidly at him. “I know. I saw.”

“What do you think you saw?” Connor asks dumbly, but with a hint of irritation.

“I saw a gorgeous woman with her tits in your face, fingering your hair.”

“Shit. Del. That was Carolyn. She works at the liquor store. I’m not involved with her. Hell, I don’t even like her. I told her to get her hands off me.”

“That’s not what it looked like to me.”

“Doll, it meant nothing. Why are you pissed at me about Carolyn when you let Jason get you a drink?” Connor snaps.

How. Dare. He?

“Oh, I don’t know Connor. Maybe because it felt nice to have a man show interest in me. Maybe because I haven’t been on a date in years. Maybe because I’m so tired of waiting.”

Connor’s shock is palpable. “Waiting for what?”

I can’t tell him the truth. He doesn’t want me. He’s never wanted me like that.

My voice is barely audible. “Please don’t make me say it.”

Somehow Connor’s crept closer and is right beside me. His clammy hands frame my face, forcing me to look at him.

“Don’t make you say what?”

“Connor…please.” It comes out as a pained whisper.

“Delilah…I⁠—”

My phone rings cutting the tension. I scramble to answer it, desperate to wake up from my worst nightmare.

“Hello?” I answer too chipper.

“Hello, is this Miss Tate?”

“Yes, this is she.” I stand from the couch and pace the living room.

“This is Angela from Blue Mountain Rescue and Rehabilitation, is now a good time to talk?”

My eyes bug out of my head, and despite the awkward state of our relationship, I turn to Connor to ground me. He’s watching my every move.

“Yes. Now’s a great time to talk.”

“Congratulations on earning top of your class this semester. Your advisor tells us you are a shining star in the psychology program.”

I blush at the compliment. “Thank you so much…”

“As I’m sure you know, you were awarded the top internship selection among your classmates, and based on the interest form you submitted, we’d like to offer you a fall internship shadowing our licensed clinical therapists and equine specialists.”