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“Selene actually had the same idea.” She giggles. “She wants me to come down for my next three-day weekend so I can see her vision boards. Then I guess I’m coming down for my spring break and we’re doing the whole rodeo thing after we go dress shopping.”
“Wait. When are you coming down next?”
“Presidents’ Day weekend,” she answers with a yawn.
“You should come out to visit us. Or better yet, stay with us!”
Energy surges through my body as the excitement and anticipation of seeing Naomi in person settles in my bones.
“I’ll talk with Selene and see what her plans are,” she says. “But I’d love to see y’all.”
“Then it’s settled. You’re coming to visit, and we’ll show you the ranch.”
Naomi lets out another yawn, and I know it’s time for us to end the call, the date.
We say our goodbyes, and then I sit there with Alvie in silence.
He lets out a little cough. “U-Haul.”
“Stahp.” I groan, giving him a little thwack on his arm with the back of my hand.
“You know I’m right.” He chuckles.
He might be, but it’s really too early to tell.
I know myself well enough to know I burn through emotions and interests quickly. I like Naomi, and I want to get to know her better, but I don’t want to go too fast.
Alvie gave me his warning at the club and, despite my protests indicating otherwise, I do value his input.
I feel like I’m being pulled in two separate directions. One advises caution and the other urges me to steamroll ahead.
Only, I don’t know which to listen to.
Texting with Naomi is nonstop. I can't help how my heart flutters each time that I get a notification from her. We talk as often as we can. I send her pictures of the horses I train for my therapy program and other animals around the ranch.
I think school is taking more of a toll on her than even she realizes. Every time we talk, I can hear the relief in her sigh as the call connects.
When I ask her for updates on school, she brushes me off. I know she’s stressed and frustrated, but she’s not willing to talk about it much. There’s a part of me that admires her independence and how it’s pushed her to accomplish everything she has, but I have to grit my teeth whenever I hear a tremor in her voice because of that same independent streak.
Alvie is really only involved in our group text, but he likes to leave me to my own devices when it comes to our calls.
Or he did.
Recently, I've found him lurking in the background when I’m on the phone with Naomi. I'll be in the living room and find him in the kitchen, listening in as I talk with her and chuckling at our banter.
We talk about everything—well, almost everything. Sometimes it feels like I’m being too open in contrast to her, sharing some of my past trauma and how it's impacted my life and journey as a yoga instructor.
I started running retreats from the ranch around six years ago and it's grown enormously. We host yoga and meditation instructors from all around the world for both teaching and personal practice retreats. A few years ago, we started running artist and writers retreats—opportunities for creatives to disconnect from the rest of the world and concentrate on their work without distractions. Patrons and donors from all walks of life have influenced our ranch, and while it is still a fully functioning cattle ranch, it's also an oasis for the mind and body that I'm proud to have helped create.
The life I've crafted with Alvie is intentional, and since the moment I met Naomi, I knew we were intended to meet and that she was to become part of our lives. In what capacity remains to be seen, but I know with time, she'll slot right in where she belongs.
I'm putting away my Quarter Horse, Sour Patch, after a trail ride with our retreat guests when my phone starts buzzing in my saddle bag.
Digging it out and looking down at the screen, I smile.
The heat of Alvie's body seeps into my own as he comes up behind me, cradling me in his arms. "Naomi's calling."
"I can see that, silly," I snark, turning to face him over my shoulder.
