Page 47 of Here With Me

When Jase mentioned meeting him at Lilian’s this Friday, I panicked.

That’s not a restaurant where you take a friend.

It’s one of the fancier places in town with romantic dim lighting, fresh roses and candles on each table, and a fireplace in the middle of the restaurant. People dress up and drop a few hundred dollars on the wine alone.

Instead of deflecting or telling him I had plans already, I mentioned his dad. He should be the one he spends time with, not me. But that blew up in my face when he suggested the three of us go to dinner.

When I asked if that was a good idea, considering Fisher and I work together, he pushed and said it’d help him to have a buffer person since they still don’t talk much. I felt too bad to say no, so I said I’d get back to him.After I spoke to Fisher.

I didn’t tell Fisher the full truth because either way, it’s a bad idea, and there’s no point in making him feel worse about the situation.

Jase calling me his girlfriend to his dad already tells me this will be awkward as hell.

Knowing things are tense between them adds pressure to keep the conversation flowing.

But I’m not doing it sober.

Now I’m half dreading and half excited to see Fisher outside of work.

Until then, I’ll distract myself with training.

“Ellie, you’re a little slow on that second barrel. That delay could cost ya the win,” I shout from the side as she finishes a run. Craig Sander’ssuggestionfrom the rodeo rings in my ears, and I hate that he was right. The weasel’s jealous that Ellie passed on his offer to train with him and is making a name for herself with my help.

“He drags each time.” She shrugs.

“Lift the reins and kick a second sooner and see if that helps.”

She gets Ranger back into position, and I reset my timer.

“Go!”

I watch as she rounds the first barrel flawlessly, then does as I said for the second, making Ranger move faster toward the third and sprinting to the finish line.

“That was better!” I note her time on my clipboard, where I record them.

“I reckon he needs new shoes.” She rides over to me, then hops off. “We have another competition next week, and at that point, it’ll be seven weeks since his last cleaning. His feet are takin’ a toll with our extra practices.”

I rub my hand over his back and down his leg to take a look. There’s nothing obviously wrong with it. His toe is almost to the point of being overgrown for the shoe, but he’s not in the danger zone.

“Want me to have Mr. Underwood take a look? I can get him on the schedule for tomorrow.”

“Yeah, would you? At least to ease my mind.” Her forehead wrinkles.

“Let’s go now,” I offer so she won’t have to wait. “I’ll see if he can squeeze him in.”

“Thank you.” She smiles.

She leads him as we walk from the training center to the barn and down to where Fisher’s set up. When he comes into view, he’s in the middle of searing a shoe, and my stomach twists when he gives me his full attention.

“Hey,” I say as we approach.

“Hello.” His eyes meet mine in question before they shift to Ellie.

“This is Ranger. Ellie’s worried somethin’ might be wrong with his hooves. He’s been a little slow goin’ around the barrels. Would you have time to check him?”

“Yeah, no problem. I’m on Millie’s last hoof now.”

“Great, thanks.”