“Yes!”
“We can come tomorrow,” Mikayla suggests.
“I’ll let her know,” he replies. “It was good to meet you, Mikayla,” my dad adds.
We watch as he walks away. And now I know why I hadn’t heard him. The man left his horse about half a mile away.
When I know he’s out of earshot, I turn back to Mikayla and ask, “What happened?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mikayla
I’m being silly. I haven’t even spoken to her. But the voicemails, the ongoing text messages… I feel off knowing that Caine spoke to her while I haven’t in months.
I look up at Caine’s worried face, knowing I have to talk about this, but I’m not exactly sure how. I don’t want to come across as dramatic or silly.
“Was it because I answered your phone?” he presses, his mouth set in a grim line as his hands clasp my shoulders. “I’m sorry about that; it was an accident.”
“Not really. I feel… just kind of weird, I guess, because I haven’t spoken to her. And now that you have, I feel like I need to call her and get it all out.” I am ineptly explaining how I feel, yet there are no words. It’s not his fault. These feelings have been simmering for weeks. “But at the same time, I don’t want to ruin our day.”
I look up at him as he pulls me into his arms. How is it that I feel so comfortable being right here, so at peace, feeling the heat of his body against mine? It’s as though he knows what I need. And he gives it so willingly. It amazes me.
Yet, a part of my brain is screaming at me to not trust it, to remember what he said when we first met about not being boyfriend material. Yet, he told me he wanted to try with me. I don’t know what to believe.
“How about this?” Caine asks.
I stay silent as he grabs my hand and takes a few steps to the river or stream… I don’t even know what kind of body of water this is. We sit on a large boulder. My toes skim the surface.
“Call her… now. I don’t think you’re gonna feel better until you get whatever you’re feeling out of your system.”
I nod. He’s right. I’ve been known to let things fester. But it could get really ugly, and I don’t know what Caine will think of me if I yell at my mom in front of him.
I look down at my hands and consider my options. I guess he might as well know what he’s getting into with me. But once he does… I’ll need to figure out what the hell I’m gonna do about my car. I need to contact the place Caine took it. I’ll definitely need my car back if something happens and Caine wants me out. The thought makes my chest tighten and my stomach churn.
I look over at him. I’m worried, scared actually. I don’t want him to end things. Yet I know it’s a real possibility. When he places his arm around my back and places his hand on my hip, I instantly curl into him. It’s crazy! It’s like I belong here, right here.
“Let’s call, eat some lunch, and then I’ll give you your first riding lesson,” he says. “I have the entire day planned. After we ride, we go home, shower and head out for a little road trip.”
Caine places a soft kiss on my temple, then lets go of me and stands. I take his offered hand, and we walk back to the blanket he laid out.
“Call.” He poins at my phone.
With a deep breath, I place the call and press speakerphone.
“Well, nice of you to callme back,” my mother snaps by way of greeting.
“If you want this call to go well, I’d recommend shutting down that attitude, or I’ll end this conversation before it starts.” My brows raise at Caine’s words directed at my mother. He jumps right in before I even open my mouth to speak.
He places a kiss on my cheek before grabbing a cracker and some cheese. Then he hands me my wine glass. I take a deep sip.
“Who the hell are you?” my mom huffs.
“I’m Caine, Mikayla’s boyfriend.”
“A new boyfriend? Well, you don’t waste any time.”
“Last warning,” Caine says angrily. He’s frowning, his eyes narrowed, looking at the screen, though she isn’t there.
