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The farm is massive, and I direct him down different gravel roads that service the pastures, foaling barn, training arenas, and boarding stalls.
“Park there.” I point to a large white clapboard building with black trim. “That’s the main tack storage.”
“And you want to show me all the saddles?”
“Kat lives in the apartment above. I want to see her first.”
“So you can have an unfettered, excited reunion before facing the rest of the family,” he guesses.
I undo my seat belt and open the rental car door. Looking back at him before I step out, I smile. “You get me so well.”
He grins back and exits his side.
A staircase leads up to Kat’s apartment, so very similar to my own apartment above Dr. Schoen’s garage. A rush of fondness hits as I think of the sweet veterinarian who returned from her trip abroad to a burned-out barn and instantly forgave my actions that led to it.
I sat her down and shared the entire story, starting with me committing a crime by stealing Princess, which led to Hellman retaliating. Dr. Schoen replied by pulling me into her arms and hugging me tight.
Her words, “Not your fault, dear girl,” made me cry, but I’m still not sure how deserving I am of such forgiveness.
It’s something I need to continue to work through, and Kellen patiently reassures me, never getting frustrated.
“Thing One,” Kat yells, and I look up at her at the top of the steps, standing outside her door, a big grin on her face. My twin. My identical. The other part of my heart and soul, although an argument could be made that Kellen has a big piece of those as well.
Kat trots down the staircase, and she’s a vision with her long, black hair bouncing as she descends. The bright sun makes her green eyes look much paler than they are. She’s wearing a summer dress—guaranteed it’s a high-end designer—and sparkly sandals. Kellen will now see what I used to look like with long hair, and I wonder if he’d want me to grow it out. He’s never said a word one way or the other, except early in our relationship when he mentioned loving the fact that my neck was always bared if he wanted to kiss it.
She slams into me, hugging me hard, and I squeeze the hell out of her in return.
“I’ve missed you so much, and you’re such a turd for not visiting more often,” she whines, hugging me harder.
“You’re a shit for not coming to visit me more,” I counter.
She pulls away and turns to Kellen who’s walked around the front of the car. Crossing one arm over her stomach and raising the other to tap a finger against her chin, she gives him a critical once-over.
With her eyes pinned on him, she talks to me. “He’s gorgeous, I’ll give you that. Looks like he’d be fabulous in bed.”
I choke and elbow Kat hard in her arm. Before I can chastise her, Kellen says, “I am. Your sister is quite happy there.”
My gaze swings his way, but he’s got his eyes locked on Kat. He’s not going to give her the upper hand. He’s trying to prove his worth, although how good he is in bed isn’t a great standard to judge by, and he knows that Kat’s opinion about him is the only one that will ever matter to me.
“I’m sorry, Abby, but if you’re going to have a relationship with this guy, I need to ensure that he knows how to find the button. If you know what I mean?” She waggles her eyebrows at me.
I cover my face with my hands, groaning with embarrassment. “Unfortunately, I do know what you mean.”
“I definitely know what you mean,” Kellen says with a lopsided grin. “And I know exactly where to find it. I’m well acquainted with the button. We’re best friends.”
Kat cocks an eyebrow.
“And I care deeply for your sister. That is the most important thing you should be worried about.”
Kat looks him up and down again, cocks her hip in a dramatic pause, and finally smiles at Kellen. “I like you. You have my permission to continue to see my sister.”
She then turns to me. “You have my permission too.”
“Gee, thanks,” I drawl sarcastically. “I was so worried about it.”
We break into peals of laughter, and I hook my elbow with hers. “Let’s give Kellen a quick tour of the farm before we head in for dinner.”
“Somebody’s avoiding something,” she quips in a singsong voice.
“I’m not—”
“You flew in last night and basically stayed away all day today.”
“I was showing Kellen around Lexington. We were sight-seeing.”
“You come rolling in with barely half an hour to spare, and now you want to tour the farm rather than go up to the house?”
I don’t acknowledge her observation. She’s absolutely right… I specifically stayed away until it was close to time for Dad’s birthday dinner to start. And when it’s done, we’re heading straight back to the hotel, and we fly home tomorrow.
