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The same thought keeps bursting through the seams of my mind.Would it be selfish to have something more than the life I’m destined for?
A real love. A future that won’t resemble my parents’.
Tonight, I just want to enjoy a rendezvous with my fake boyfriend. Like a normal girl.
The most normal girl in the world.
We pass the yoga studio, the pickleball court, and the lobby.
Where could he possibly be taking me?
As if reading my mind, Matthew glances over to me and asks, “How are you feeling?”
“Nervous.”
He gives my hand a squeeze. “Good nervous or bad nervous?”
“Good—very good, I think.” I manage the words through a high-pitched laugh.
“We’re almost there.”
The path through the resort is dotted with cacti and desert flora, making the air smell sweet. The quiet hum of insects buzzes in my ears. We turn around a bend, and the horse stables come into view.
My heart skips over itself. “Are we going to see the horses again?”
“We had so much fun visiting Honey and Maple, I thought we could take them out on the trail.”
I glance down at my Christian Louboutin Mamadrague flats. “Wait; I can’t ride in these.”
“Don’t worry, I already took care of it.” Matthew shoots me an earth-shaking wink.
As we enter the stables, the musky scent of the oil for the saddles, the bales of hay, and the alfalfa transports me into memories of riding as a kid. It’s like a warm hug.
A tickle shoots up my nose, and I sneeze. Over and over again.
Okay, this is the least nostalgic part of my time in dressage.
“Bless you,” Matthew chuckles. “Are you alright over there?”
“Yes, just allergies. I should be okay once we get out of the stables.”Last time we came to visit the horses, they were already on the pasture outside. The hay was far, far away from me.
“I had no idea; you didn’t mention anything in your fact sheet. What are you allergic to?” He turns to me, leaning close.
“Hay.” I play off the second sneezing fit as best as I can. “I didn’t mention it because I started getting allergy shots this year and haven’t had any issues since.”
“Seems like pertinent information for a boyfriend to know,” he voices calmly. I can’t place whether his concern is for me or for our arrangement.
“Well, my own fiancé didn’t—uh, ex-fiancé,” I clarify quickly when Matthew’s lower lip tugs downward ever so slightly.
“Hmm.” Matthew doesn’t say anything else, and we make our way deeper into the stables.
The stables have fifteen well-maintained horse stalls. On the walls, brushes and horseshoes hang in an assortment. Midnight, a shiny mustang, nickers as he sticks his head out over his stall door.
“Sweet boy,” I coo, stroking his muzzle. “He used to always click his teeth together when he wanted something to munch on.”
As if on cue, Midnight bites at the air, angling his head toward us. I grab an apple from the nearby basket and hold it out to him. His muzzle gently brushes against my palm, causing me to giggle.
Matthew watches me intently.
