They got their coffees and found a table in an out-of-the-way corner.“You might as well take off your coat.We’re going to be a while.”
Letty did as Val suggested, then decided to confront her friend head on.“If this is about me and Riley—”
“You bet your ass it is.I can’t believe you two haven’t gotten back together.Why?I know you still care about him.”
“Technically, Riley broke up with me.”Yes, she’d told Val that but apparently Val hadn’t heard her.
“I don’t believe you.He’s madly in love with you.”
“Well, it’s true.”Feeling guilty, she added, “But it was my fault.”
“Why?What did you do?”
Damn it.She was going to have to tell her.“When we started dating we agreed we’d only date until the holidays were over.It was a fling.A holiday fling.”
Val stared at her.“But you fell in love.”
“Neither of us was supposed to.I told Riley from the first that we weren’t going to be permanent.And he agreed.”But had he?“Sort of.He said he’d still try to change my mind.”
“Did he?”
“He tried.I didn’t change my mind.I couldn’t.But I fell in love with him.”
“Then why break up?If you love each other—”
“It’s not that simple.”She drew in a breath, trying to think how to explain her feelings to Val.“Do you remember what it was like when I lost my parents?”
“Of course.That’s not something you forget.”
“I was devastated.I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over it.I never really did.I lost the two most important people in my life.I can’t go through that again, Val.I thought I could.I thought about it before Riley.But I just couldn’t do it.I’m too scared of what would happen if I lost him.So that’s why I said we could only date until the holidays were over.”
“Why would you lose him?You’re both young and healthy.”
“Accidents happen.Besides, you’re being rational.My feelings aren’t rational.I know that.”
“Have you explained this to Riley?”
“I’ve tried.I don’t think he understands.”
“You two need to talk.It doesn’t make sense that you love each other yet don’t believe you can be together.”
“I don’t think it will help.”
“You won’t know until you try.And don’t give me flak about you’ve ‘tried.’Try again.”
How was she supposed to do that when they were both busy avoiding each other?
“Letty?I know you think that you can call things off and eventually you’ll be fine.And you might be.But Riley won’t be.He’s never been in love before, because he never found the woman he wanted to spend his life with.Until you.So think about Riley’s feelings.”
*
Riley was workingin the barn when he heard the dogs freak out.The horses sensed something as well.A few moments later he heard, “Yes, babies, I missed you too,” in his sister’s voice.No wonder.All the animals loved Val and as far as he knew she hadn’t been by recently.
“Hey,” she said and stopped to pet the nearest horse and give him a carrot.
“Hey.If you want to be useful, I have some stalls that need mucking out.”
“Thanks!I’ll pass.”She continued petting the horses and giving them food without saying anything else to him.
