ON SATURDAY, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO do was trail ride with Charm and get away from everyone. I didn’t feel like working in the arena, but Mr. Conner would never let me go by myself.
“You sure you’re okay?” Paige asked. “We could go to the movies or watch a DVD. You could ride later.”
“Can we do that after?” I asked. “That sounds great, but I need to work Charm for a while.”
Paige nodded. “Okay. Later for sure.”
I left Winchester and walked to the stable. Inside the tack room, I gathered Charm’s tack. We’d just have to work in the arena. The door pushed open and Heather walked inside. I wondered … no way. She’d never say yes to trail riding with me. And did I even want to go with Heather Fox?
I was desperate.
“I want to trail ride,” I said. “But no one else can go. Want to come with me?”
Heather glanced up from the stirrup leather she was adjusting on Aristocrat’s saddle. She stared at me for a second. “Sure. But only because Jasmine took over the arena and I don’t want to see her face.”
I nodded. “Ditto. Leave in twenty?”
“Fifteen,” Heather said. “You’re not eighty, Grandma.”
“Make it ten.”
I groomed Charm and tacked him up. Exactly ten minutes later, I met Heather outside the stable. We mounted our horses and started for the woods. It was barely ten and there was still a slight coolness in the air. We let the horses amble at an easy walk—I wasn’t in any hurry to get back to campus.
As we entered the woods and the sounds of campus disappeared, I felt my tension slip away. I could finally breathe. Heather didn’t know anything that was going on and she was pretty much the only person I hadn’t lied to. This had to be one of the weirdest moments I’d had at Canterwood. Ever.
“So, what’s wrong with you, Silver?” Heather asked.
Okay, so I’d been able to relax for about five seconds.
“What? Nothing’s wrong.”
Heather peered at me from under the brim of her helmet. “You’re the worst liar. Really. Or I’m just way smarter than you.” She smirked. “Both are true, actually.”
The trail started to wind through the woods and we were about to reach the open meadow that was flat and perfect for galloping.
“You’re delusional,” I said lightly. “Want to race at the field?”
Heather edged Aristocrat closer to Charm. “How many times do we have to play this game? I know something’s up and you deny it. Eventually, you crack and fess up. I’m always right. So just spill already and quit wasting my time.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to push her off Aristocrat or tell her everything just because I needed someone—anyone—to talk to.
“Guess what? You can be wrong. And this time you are.”
But she was right. Like always.
The horses walked a few more strides down the dirt trail before Heather sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll tell you what’s going on.”
My fingers tightened around Charm’s reins. “Go for it.”
Heather looked over, her blue eyes settling on me. “You haven’t been making googly eyes at Eric all week, or smiling for no reason, and you’re not giggling on the phone every five seconds. So, basically, I haven’t been nauseous for a week.”
I forced myself not to show even the slightest reaction. I knew Heather pretty well by now. But she still surprised me sometimes with her accuracy. Like, scary accurate.
“Maybe I haven’t had time to be ‘googly-eyed,’” I said. “School just started on Monday and you know how crazy things are. No one has time for anything.”
Heather loosened the reins and let Aristocrat stretch his neck. “You haven’t seen your boyfriend all summer. Why aren’t you following him around everywhere?”
“I never followed him around. And things are perfect between Eric and me. We iChatted all summer, text a lot, and we’re really happy.”
Charm snorted and I leaned down to rub his neck. It was still cool since we were under the shade of the trees.
Heather slowed Aristocrat and turned to me. “Yeah. And you’d be even happier if you weren’t into Jacob.”
Heather’s words, even at a normal tone, seemed to echo through the woods as if she’d yelled them. Something twisted in my stomach. She was wrong.
“Jacob’s with Callie,” I said, my voice quiet. “I’m dating Eric and I like him. I’d never go after my best friend’s boyfriend.”
“Unlike Callie,” she spat.
My stomach did a somersault, remembering the moment I’d found out Callie and Jacob were together. But that was history. Ancient history.
Heather looked at me, her gaze softening. “I didn’t ask you if you’d try to get Jacob back. I said you liked him. You didn’t deny that.”
I stared at her. My mouth opened and for seconds, nothing came out.
“I do not like Jacob in that way,” I said. “If I ever did, I’d be a horrible friend. And Eric is amazing. He’s the perfect guy for me. Jacob and I wouldn’t have worked out.”
“How do you know?” Heather asked. “If some … things hadn’t happened, you might still be together.”
I paused. I’d never considered that scenario. Not once. Jacob and me—still together. No Eric. I couldn’t even imagine what that would be like.
“I guess I don’t know,” I said, my voice almost a whisper. “But it doesn’t matter.”
Heather nodded and we let the horses trot down the path. Their hooves were muffled against the dirt trail and we twisted and turned through the woods.
We reached the meadow and drew the horses to a halt. Charm and Aristocrat eyed each other—both horses knew what the field meant.
“Fine, let’s race,” Heather said. “But you have to admit one thing first.” She grinned.
I made a face. “What?”
“You totally don’t like Jacob—whatever. But the boy is hot. Say it.” Heather dropped Aristocrat’s knotted reins on his neck and folded her arms, waiting for my answer.
I rolled my head from side to side, stretching the tension from my neck.
“Fine,” I said, finally. “I agree. Happy?”
There. At least I hadn’t said directly that Jacob was hot.
And with that, I heeled Charm forward and shoved my hands along his neck. Charm leaped into a gallop, darting away from Heather and Aristocrat.
“Silver!” Heather yelled. “You’re dead!” Hoof beats thundered behind Charm and me and I lowered myself over his neck, giving him all the rein he wanted. Aristocrat and Heather never had a chance to catch us.