“I’m excited to see the animals,” Salem says softly. “A friend of mine in middle school did 4-H, and I used to sneak out sometimes when Nora was asleep, and we’d sit in his barn at night with the animals. He had pigs and horses and sheep. Chickens too, but birds don’t really cuddle you, y’know?”
“Well, Hunter’s house is definitely the place for animals,” I say, grinning. “Maybe he’ll teach you to ride a horse.”
Salem’s head snaps up. “Do you think he really would?”
“I think he definitely would.”
Lips curving into a smile, Salem nods. “Yeah, I’d like that. As long as he doesn’t think it’s a bother.”
Before I have a chance to answer, Nora sighs. “Iwant to learn how to ride a horse.”
Salem glares at her. “You’re too little to ride a horse.”
Pushing back from her chair, she stands up, flipping her long hair over her shoulder and putting her hand on her hip. “I’m not too little to ride a horse.”
“Are too,” Salem says.
“Kids,” Arlo cuts in.
“I’m not too small, Salem.”
“Hey,” Arlo says.
“You are.” Salem sticks his tongue out, his eyes lighting up. I almost don’t even want Arlo to step in. This might be the first time Salem has gotten to be a big brother in a long time. I know what that feels like.
As much as I miss Sarah, and as much as I wish I could lean on her for support and have her in my life, I also miss stuff like this. Teasing and picking fun and giving each other a hard time. Just like Sarah used to do with me, Nora calls Salem on his shit, standing tall with her head held high.
“You’re not the boss of who’s big enough to ride horses,” she snaps.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
“Salem. Nora.”
Both of their heads turn to Arlo. He raises an eyebrow, looking between the two of them. “If, and that’sif,Hunter teaches you how to ride horses, it’s up tohimto decide if either of you is too small.”
“I’mnottoo small,” Nora says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Maybe you are.” Arlo taps her nose. “And maybe you’re not. All I know is that none of us are qualified to decide that. So we’ll talk to Hunter tomorrow and see what he says.”
“Fine,” Salem says, a bit of bratty teenager defiance in his voice.
Oh, these two are going to keep us on our toes.
I fucking love it.
Chapter 25
Arlo
Everythingiscalm.Fornow.
I know that when Luca gets here, and the kids come out of their rooms, it might be a different scene. They’ve been arguing like cats and dogs all afternoon, and I’m not sure why.
We’re sitting on the couch. The TV is playing, but I’m hardly paying any attention to it. Jasper has been catnapping on and off, but right now, he’s awake and has my feet sprawled across his lap, massaging my shins.
“Why are they already arguing with each other?” I ask, glancing at Jasper.
He shrugs. “Safety, maybe? They haven’t seen each other in a while, right? So it’s possible that they’re just making up for lost time.”
