Page 43

“ H e looks like a natural up there,” I say to Shay as we watch Maverick lead her brother, Joey, around the arena. Both of them are chatting away as they take laps around. The smile on that boy’s face could light up a whole room.

“He certainly does,” she smiles, unshed tears filling her eyes. I place my hand on her shoulder and rub small circles. “It’s amazing seeing him open up like that so easily. Joey doesn’t usually speak a lot unless he feels comfortable.”

“Well, if anyone is going to make him feel at ease, it would be Mav,” I say, knowing what a fun-loving guy he truly is.

She nods in agreement, and I don’t miss the look in her eyes as she watches Mav’s every move.

“You know, ya’ll can come and do this whenever you’d like.” I’m more than certain both Cash and Mav would love to teach Joey how to ride.

Joey grins at us and pats Mav on the head, then points to where we’re standing. Mav looks up, pausing June's trot to head in our direction.

Once Mav is right in front of us, Shay smiles. “Let me guess. You want a horse now?”

Joey nods excitedly. “Yes, please.”

We all chuckle at his enthusiasm.

Mav pats him on the leg, and Joey doesn’t flinch at all, showing just how relaxed he is around Maverick.

“Listen, my man, you can come and ride whenever you want. You just say the word, and we can make it happen.”

“We’ll see. I’d hate to bother you guys,” Shay says, sounding unsure.

“It would never be a bother. Joey and I are buddies. If he wants to ride, we’ll be here,” Maverick insists.

“Yeah…we’re buddies,” Joey grins in our direction without making eye contact. I notice he only does that with Shay and Mav, as he’s more comfortable with them.

“Want to come around with us?” Mav asks, as Cash walks out of the stall with one of the older mares, saddled and ready to go.

“Oh no, I don’t kn—” Shay begins to refuse, but it appears the guys are having none of that.

“I’ll walk you both around, and I’ll go slow,” he insists, reaching his hand out to her to help her off the wooden fence we’ve been sitting on.

“Come on, Shaaay!” Joey cheers.

She willingly takes Mav's outstretched hand and walks alongside him, where he helps her onto the saddle. Joey bounces and claps as he waits for her to get situated.

Cash steps back toward me when the three of them start their walk. A big smile is plastered on his face as he hops up next to me on the fence, his hand settling next to mine.

“This was really sweet of the two of you,” I say, linking his pinkie with mine.

“Was all Mav’s idea. He’s been talking about it for a while now. Especially once he discovered that Joey was obsessed with horses.”

Once Mav, Shay, and Joey return from their walk, we all head inside the stable. Joey was asking to look around and see where the horses stay and, of course, Mav was more than happy to show him.

I nudge Cash with my shoulder as we follow them inside. “Mav seems to really enjoy this, too. He looked like a professional trainer out there...”

“He’s always been great with the horses, but I think his excitement is stemming from a different place,” he says, jutting his chin in their direction, where Mav and Shay are standing awfully close to each other.

While we’re showing Joey all the photos and awards throughout the stable, Gigi arrives with a pitcher of sweet tea and a stack of cups for us all.

“I bet ya’ll are thirsty, so I wanted to drop this off real quick. Be up to the house in ten. Lunch will be ready,” she tells us as she empties the tray onto one of the flipped barrels that serves as a table.

“Oh, I’ll come and help,” I say, following Gigi toward the exit of the stables, leaving Mav, Shay, Joey, and Cash to roam around the stalls. Knowing her, there’s a feast waiting, and I’d hate for her to bring it all out herself.

The moment we step inside the house, I know I made the right decision. The number of sandwiches and salads she’s prepared has me chuckling. “You know there’s only five of us here, not the whole Wolves Hockey team.”

“Oh, you shush…” she shoos me away with the towel she was just using to wipe down the counter.

“Well, everything looks delicious, as always. What can I help with?”

“Why don’t you grab some plates and whatnot,” Gigi says while opening the refrigerator for who knows what else. “Then you can tell me how my grandson has been.”

Her words have me stopping dead in my tracks. I turn and face her, a confused look on my face. But her expression says it all…

“Don’t give me that nonsense. I see my boy finally has life back in him. The last time I saw him like that was the summer you were first here. And don’t think I don’t notice the way you look at him, too.”

There’s no accusation in her tone, just love, and that has me biting my lip to hide my smile.

Even though she seems to be more than welcoming of the idea of Cash and me being a thing, the idea of our family finding out still has me a bit worried.

But no longer having to hide what the two of us share feels freeing.

There’s no point in lying to Gigi; she sees more than most, so I answer her as nonchalantly as possible, “He’s been good.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “If that’s how you want to play it off, then fine. But if you think for one moment, I’m blind to the two of you…”

I stand there fidgeting with my bracelet, unsure of how to respond. She juts her chin in my direction, eyeing the turquoise jewelry.

“You want to know how I knew,” she says, grabbing another platter out of the fridge and handing it to me.

“For one, the way you two always seemed to gravitate toward each other. Don’t even get me started on the way he would stare at you when he thought no one was looking.

That boy had hearts in his eyes from day one. ”

I’m thankful I’m facing the table, because the stupid grin I’m sporting would confirm all her suspicions.

“That bracelet you never take off… It’s from him,” she says, and I turn around yet again.

“He had picked it out for you at the end of that summer, just days before your parents announced they got married. I was with him when he got it. The way that boy's eyes lit up when he saw it. He was so excited, but wasn’t sure when to give it to you.”

Placing my hand over my heart, I relive that heartache all over again. How our parents' announcement caused us both so much pain.

“I’m not going to get into those months after, because I could see the way you both were suffering, but when Christmas came around…he asked me to give you the bracelet. Despite everything, he still wanted you to have it.”

Chest tight, I hold back the tears that are threatening to spill.

Gigi puts down the dish she’s currently carrying and steps to me with her arms wide, inviting me in for a hug.

“Sweetie, don’t cry. Sometimes you can’t help who you fall in love with… And that boy has loved you from the moment he laid eyes on you.” Her words have my tears freely falling. Filling me with hope that this might actually work. That all my fears may have been for nothing.

Cash’s alarmed voice breaks the moment. “Is everything alright?” His hurried footsteps approach, and he stops right next to me. I feel his hand clasp onto my shoulder.

“Everything’s fine,” I say with a smile, swiping at my wet cheeks. Gigi releases me from the hug, but not before cupping my cheek and whispering, “It’ll all be okay, I promise.” Sincerity shines in her eyes as her gaze remains locked on mine.

“I’ll finish getting this set up. Why don’t you two get washed up before we eat,” she suggests. I know for certain my mascara is streaking down my face, so I don’t hesitate when Cash takes my hand and leads me to Gigi’s bathroom.

Once we have the privacy of the closed door, he grabs my hands in his and pulls me close to him. With our clasped hands wedged between our bodies, his eyes study my face, as if he’s afraid I’ve changed my mind.

“I’m okay, I promise,” I say, squeezing his grip a little tighter.

“What happened in there? For a second… I, I thought maybe Gigi said something to you, and—” His jumbled words have me leaning up on my tiptoes and pressing my lips to his.

“Everything she said just solidified all the reasons why you’re the man for me, Cash Leblanc. I was just happy to hear we have her support.”

He releases my hands and wraps his arms around me. “We got this, baby… No matter what, nothing is going to stop us.”

After several peaceful moments, I pull back. “Were you ever going to tell me about the bracelet?” I ask. The turquoise bracelet has always been special to me, but now it takes on a whole other meaning.

Cash smirks, his fingers swirling over the stone. “One day, I would have. Every time I’d see it on you, it reminded me that you secretly carried a piece of me with you.”

The thoughtfulness clogs my throat once again. For years, I was loving him from afar when, in all actuality, I had him all this time.

The jersey number.

His phone password.

The bracelet…

“I know you loved Gigi’s, but never bought one for yourself. So, when I saw that one”—he nods to the bracelet on my wrist—“I just knew I had to get it for you.”

I lift onto my toes to kiss him, speaking over his lips, “That’s so incredibly sweet of you.”

“I love you, Bellamy Clark. Always have and forever will,” he says and gently kisses me again, his tongue caressing mine.

I love hearing those words on his lips, and I’ve longed to say them to him myself, so in a way, it doesn’t feel like the first time.

He’s always shown me that actions speak louder than words, and in one way or another, Cash Leblanc has been loving me since I was seventeen.

I moan softly but force myself to pull back. Wanting—no, needing to say it too.

My green eyes bore into his warm brown ones. “I love you, Cash. I love you with my whole heart and soul. And I know without a shadow of a doubt I’ll love you forever.”

The admiration in his eyes has my belly swarming with butterflies.

Unfortunately, commotion in the kitchen pulls my attention away from him. Everyone else must have arrived.

A frown takes over my face, not wanting this moment to end and Cash must notice because his thumb glides over my pouting bottom lip. “Don’t worry, baby, we have all the time in the world. But we need to get out there. Lunch is ready.”

“I say, let them wait.” I smirk and kiss him with such passion, he presses me up against the door, his body flush with mine as he’s the one who moans this time. When I feel him smiling against my mouth, I know he’s right. Nothing will stop us from being together anymore.

Because being with him is the only place I want to be.