I squeezed his hand again. “Then I hope you have to most fantastic wedding and life together.”
He kissed my forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Blowing out a breath, I said, “Speaking of wedding, we should probably sit down and get started on figuring out all the details sooner rather than later.”
“How about tonight?” Dad asked, brow quirking up. “We could do dinner here, or if you wanted we could go out. Whatever you prefer.”
A wave of guilt crashed into me. “Actually, um, I’m supposed to go to dinner with Hux.”
“He can come too. It’ll be a good opportunity to get to know him more.” Dad’s tone took on his usual enthusiasm.
If only I shared that excitement. It was clear how Georgette felt about Hux, and I got the impression that the feeling was mutual on his end. Putting them together would likely end up being a dumpster fire.
“Um, let me see what Hux thinks after he gets here. I don’t want to just assume—”
Dad cut me off. “It’s okay. I know it’s last minute, so if it doesn’t work out that’s okay! We got plenty of time.”
I huffed. “We really don’t, Dad.”
He waved me off. “One more day won’t hurt.”
I kicked my feet in the water, enjoying the feel of the cool liquid against my skin. Right now, the heat wasn’t so bad. “Where even is Georgette?”
He checked his watch. “She’s probably just finished up kickboxing right now and has a hot yoga class for an hour after. She’ll be back in another hour or two.”
“How long does she work out for?” I scoffed. The idea of doing it for an hour seemed brutal, but multiple hours? God, no wonder she had the body of a goddess.
“Her Sunday workouts usually last three hours. Sometimes four.”
I didn’t even know how to comprehend, let alone respond, so I just nodded. Pulling out my phone, I checked the time. 3:30. I didn’t need two and a half hours to get ready for my date, and it’d been a long time since Dad and I had a chance to catch up just us two. So, with a sigh, I laid my head on his shoulder and asked, “How have things been?”
Chapter twelve
Fallin' In Love
Hux
It was hot, humiddays like this that made me think of packing my shit up, quitting, and moving my ass as far away from Texas as possible. Somewhere cold most of the year. Maybe find myself some ranch work up in Montana—Travis had family up there I could go visit. But honestly, even Montana seemed too warm right about now, but it sure as hell beat here.
Texas was my home though, for better or worse. I was born here, and I’d likely die here as well. I almost had once already.
“Ho,” I soothed as I sat deep in the saddle and drew Doc to a stop, letting out a sigh and wiping sweat from my brow.
I’d given up a lot of things since losing my vision, but I’d be damned if riding was one of them. It had taken a while to get used to, but growing up in the saddle definitely had its perks at the end of the day. In an arena or round pen it was easy enoughto figure out the layout, and most halfway decent horses weren’t going to run themselves into the fence, so I could manage easily enough.
I liked riding. It was one of the few moments in my day where I didn’t feel like a hindrance, a burden, a waste of space. On horseback, I felt at peace.
“Hey, old man!” Travis’s familiar voice echoed across the round pen, coming from the left.
“The hell do you want?” I asked, adjusting the reins in my hand and spurring Doc gently with my left leg to turn back in the opposite direction, starting up our circular pattern once more at a walk. He’d worked enough for today and I was done with this heat. It was about damn time I cooled him off. And myself.
“Ain’t you supposed to be seein’ that girl soon?” Travis’ words came from my right, closest to the gate.
I thought of Quinn, a flicker of excitement sparking in my chest. She’d driven my thoughts all day long. Her voice, her scent, her touch. She was more intoxicating than any damn drug or drink.
“Yeah, what time is it?” I asked. I’d set an alarm on my phone to go off at 5 PM so I could clean up and get ready.
“It’s 5:25.”
