Page 115 of Only With Me

“I was jokin’. It’s dormant this time of year.”

“Yeah, I know. I got poison ivy in November.”

“Oh.” I stay focused on the road but glance quickly at her. “I bet that wasn’t fun.”

She frowns, looking down in her lap, and I wonder if she’s thinking about “him.”

“No, it wasn’t. But a guy I met in a group chat helped me with ideas on how to deal with the itch. I stayed in bed for like two or three weeks because it was all over my arms and chest.”

“Wilder and I got it once. It sucked big time.”

“Really? It must be quite normal out here.”

I wonder if she’s thinking about the conversations we had and if they’re feeling similar. I can’t remember how much I told her about when Wilder and I had it in high school, but now that I brought it up, I have to find a way to change topics.

“That was the same summer I got a tick in my neck.”

“Oh shit, that sounds painful.”

“Well, I’ve gotten lots of ticks over the years, but it was extra brutal being in my neck. I had to go to the ER to have ‘em take it out.”

She visibly shivers. “I would cry if that happened to me. I hate ‘em so much.”

“When we went back to school that fall, there was a lice outbreak.”

“Oh my gosh! What in the world happened to y’all that year?”

“It was madness. My mom was inspectin’ everyone’s heads and pickin’ out lice.”

“Gross,” she laughs. “Your poor mother.”

“She’s been through it with havin’ five kids.”

“And with four boys? I don’t envy that.”

“Do you think you want kids when you settle down?”

“Yeah, I think a couple. When I’m old, like thirty.”

“Old, really?” I glower at her, and she laughs again.

“You’re just too easy to tease. But in all seriousness, I’d love to have a family, but it’s hard thinkin’ that far ahead with my dad’s health issues. I don’t wanna leave my mom responsible for him all by herself and she’ll never put him in an assisted living home unless it’s her last resort.”

“I told Wilder somethin’ similar…” I admit.

“What’s that?”

“That I couldn’t settle down because of how much his mental health affected me and with his reluctance to get help, I had to be the one to stick around and watch him.”

“What did he say to that?”

“Recently, he told me to stop using him as an excuse not to be happy.” I lick my lips, glancing over at her staring at me. “And I’m startin’ to think he’s right.”

Before she can respond, I’m pulling up to Bentley’s apartment complex.

The afternoon riding with Bentley and Harlow turned out to be a huge success. Bentley had a blast and even tried to race us down one of the trails. Considering we have years of experience on him, Harlow and I crushed him. But he had fun trying.

Once we make it back to the barn, we head to The Lodge for an early dinner. I told my siblings we’d be there if any of them wanted to come and eat with us. None of them besides my twin have questioned why Harlow and I are hanging out, which I appreciate. I’m not ready to fully explain how all of this happened.