AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I blink, stunned. I’ve never been invited to a party, not even a birthday party at the bowling alley in elementary school, let alone one that promises terrible musicandcommotion. Maria is my friend and we’ve been hanging out in arenas and ranches these past few months, but never without horses around. This feels like a big deal.
“Oh. Um…”
“Please say you’ll come,” she begs. “It’s so rare to find a girl my own age that doesn’t annoy the living hell out of me, never mind a stellar barrel racer. Bring Michaels, if you must. I’m sure Pax’ll want him there as a familiar face, so bull riders are welcome, Iguess,” she drawls. “Just as long as your boyfriend doesn’t break the good china.”
My mouth drops open to protest, but she’s going like a freight train.
“Sorry. That was a terrible pun. You know what I meant. Like a bull in a china shop?”
I snap out of it and shake my head. “Yeah, Maria. I get it. But Case and I aren’t dating.”
Maria’s smile is triumphant, and my belly drops like I’ve missed a step. “That’s what I hear,” she says, her tone cajoling. “But the fact you assumed I was talking about your handsome cowboy bestie is all the confirmation I need. In fact”—her eyes flicker over my shoulder—“don’t look now, but he’s on his way over.”
“Maria,” he drawls out evenly, making the little hairs on my arms stand up straight.
His gaze hesitates on my features, and I have no doubt he’s noticing my flaming face. Smooth, Sutton. Just once, God, I’d love it if you could give me a winning race and five minutes of not feeling like an idiot around Case.
Fivemeaslyminutes.
“Convince Winnie she has to come to my party tonight. Better yet, you should bring her.” Her dark eyes are sparkling with trouble, and I nearly roll mine in exasperation. Subtle she is not. She and Garrett have been hanging out way too much. I knew I shouldn’t have let her help pick up my little sister from school.
Case looks at me. “Jesse’s at home tonight, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, and even if he wasn’t, my dad’s supposed to be.”
“It’s up to you.”Always.Ever since Case went behind my back to ask his dad to sponsor me last spring, he refuses to makeanyplans without asking me first. It warms me to know he’s so determined to stick to his promise. But also,my dude, it’s fine if you want to buy me a lemonade. Not everything needs a consult. I’m gonna have to sketch a Venn diagram illustrating the difference for his nerd brain.
I think my crying jags have scarred the poor guy, unflinching or not.
“I’ve never been invited to a party before,” I say in a low voice only for his ears.
His eyes widen. “In that case…” He turns to Maria. “What time do you want us?”
They exchange information, but I’m completely distracted from their conversation. I don’t even know what to do at a party. Do I dress up? She said it was at her ranch. And there would be drinking! Like, alcohol? I’m assuming alcohol. She probably wouldn’t bring up drinking if it was water or soda. That’d be like saying, “Hey, I’m having some people over, and we’ll be dining on water, lemonade, and Sprite, so don’t worry if you get thirsty.”
I bet I could ask Jesse about this.
Oh my god, am I even hearing myself? I could askmy fourteen-year-old brother how to party? Gah.
Maria starts heading out, and I wave her off, lost in my musings until I’m interrupted again by Camilla and Mr. Michaels. The pair saunter up to congratulate Mab and me, and Mr. Michaels does one of those manly shoulder squeezes to Case. I pull out my check, passing it with a flourish to Camilla. It’s not myfirst winnings—the first went to much-needed car repairs. But this one’s special.
“A down payment on Mab,” I say, and I can almost feel the heat from the pride shining out of my eyeballs like little happiness lasers. I’m gonna own my own horse one day—and not just any horse, but Queen Mab, the best horse in the entire world.
Camilla beams and tucks the check into her shirt pocket without even looking at it. “You got it. I’ll write up a contract, and we can keep track of the payments until she’s all yours. Which”—she winks at me under her ever-present Stetson—“should be in no time at this rate.”
Maria’s earlier comments about touring spring back. If I could tour bigger rodeos and keep collecting prizes, I wonder if I could make a small living at this. I shove the thoughts away for later when I’m alone and lying in my bed trying to budget out groceries. No point in going down that road right now. Who’s to say I could even keep up in a larger field? Considering my dad’s complete failure to be dependable, I’m not comfortable risking the time away to try.
Case’s dad and Camilla offer to meet us back at the ranch, and I turn to Case, finally alone. He ruffles his hair thoughtfully, lifting his ball cap and fidgeting with it.
“You sure you’re up for this tonight? Maria was being a little pushy. I can totally make up some excuse—”
“No!” I cut him off. “I want to go.”
He looks relieved. And cute in his rodeo plaid and vest, but what’s new? “Good. When you said you hadn’t been to one before—”
“Not just been to one, I haven’t even beeninvited. I’m not sure I could’ve gone even if I wanted to, but Maria’s the first person to think of me.”
“That’s not true,” he hedges.
