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The door opens, and Ashton comes in with Weston and his family.
“Look who’s here!” Mom exclaims, rushing over to Ashton while Callie and Angel migrate to Jenni and Meera. “Come give your mama a hug.”
He embraces her. “I’ve missed you, Mom.”
“You’re gone way too much. I know you came back to visit, but it’s not enough. We miss you in Blue Mountain.”
He pulls back from her. “I miss it here too.”
“Have you met any new girls?” Mom asks.
“Mom, you know I don’t have time for dating. We’re going through a merger.”
Typical Mom. Always the matchmaker.
“You’ve been off the hook for a while. It’s your turn to have Mom pick out a girl for you,” I say.
Dad speaks up. “I know just the girl for you, Ashton. Mr. Lee’s daughter.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Mom says. “She’s completely gorgeous and comes from a stellar family.”
“That’s new,” Weston says. “Now Dad’s getting involved in the matchmaking?”
“We’re struggling with this merger. If Ashton were to get in good with the owner’s daughter, it could help us get through it,” Dad says in a serious tone.
Ashton makes a face. “Chloe? I don’t think so. She flat out hates me.”
“I’m sure with a little bit of the old Keith charm, you can get her to warm up to you,” Dad says with a grin.
Ashton groans.
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s for the good of the company.”
* * *
Just before the race begins, we all go outside so the horses can parade around for the people. Thunder is with his new jockey, Brian, and he’s shown as his registered name of Ahead of the Storm, which is what the announcer will call him during the race. Next comes Valentine as Love Comes Quickly and his jockey, Christian.
“Go Thunder!” Hayden calls. “Boo Valentine!”
Jenni looks over at Hayden and laughs. “Valentine is going to win, you’ll see, Hayden.”
And for a minute, it feels like we’re back to normal. And oh, how I long for that. Jenni snuggled up in my arms, teasing me about how her horse is going to win.
I want her back into my embrace more than anything. But there’s no opportunity to talk to her. Everything is craziness, and before I know it, we’re heading to our front row seats, where we’ll watch the race.
Jenni is sitting a ways down from me with her parents and Ronnie. I can’t help but glance down at them every now and then to see how Jenni is doing. I feel like a kid in middle school, staring at his crush hopelessly from afar.
“Just go talk to her,” Ashton says from beside me. “You’re staring at her like a creeper.”
“I am not. I’m staring at her like I’m desperate. Anyway, I can’t talk to her right now. The race is about to begin.”
“Excuses, excuses.” He grins at me.
Just then the race begins, and horses burst from their stalls, bolting down the dirt track. Our racetrack is exactly one mile long, and there’s only one lap from start to finish.
Thunder starts out in first place for the first half of the lap, but by the time they reach the opposite side of the track, Valentine pulls forward, taking the number one spot. Thunder’s jockey urges him forward, but Valentine stays in the lead.
My fists clench, and I can hardly breathe. Not again. Even this new jockey isn’t enough to beat Valentine. I’ve lost in love, and now I’m going to lose the race too.