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A blush creeps onto my cheeks and I dip my head because I don’t want anyone to see. Especially him.
We hear the sound of whistling and hooves beating the ground behind us and I pull away from Riggs quickly as if suddenly, he has burnt me. Twisting fast, I smile when I see the boys approaching.
“You took your time,” I put my hands on my hips, a lopsided smirk pulling at my lips.
“We know when to accept defeat,” Pacey scoffs as he jumps from his horse, followed by Austin and Tripp.
I lean against a large tree, sliding down the trunk and watch as the guys flop down beside me.
This is perfection.
Me.
Them.
Us.
Sure, I was the kid sister but they were everything to me. Every single one of them.
I adored them, and I knew deep down, all three Rivera brothers adored me too.
“So, seems Tripp is going for a swim?” I tease, a soft laugh bubbling out of me.
“Doesn’t bother me,” he shrugs nonchalant as he begins to undress, and I cover my eyes and shriek.
I hear a large splash and when I finally lift my hands, my smile widens. Tripp is sitting in the middle of the creek, completely and blissfully at ease.
It really was the best day.
We all rode home, and Orla made hotdogs and corn bread with ice cream and pie for dessert. And of course, she made sure we were home by dusk, but the Rivera brothers came with us. We spent our evening melting s’mores over a little campfire and sleeping under the stars.
This was just the start of our adventures.
CHAPTERFOUR
ASPEN
It had been a week. A week since I returned home. It felt weird calling ithomewhen I hadn’t been here for so long. I was a little bit lost. I didn’t quite know where I belonged. I hadn’t seen Riggs. I hadn’t seen any of them. I’ve stopped myself from walking down to the paddocks and to the fence line but curiosity still burns deep inside of me, wanting to see if everything is the same as it was all those years ago.
A heavy, burdening sigh passes my lips as I watch my dad and Austin round the mares up for their new hooves. I’m standing at the large kitchen window, my arms wrapped around my body and my visible breath dancing in front of me from the coolness of the open windows; the winter air filling the once warm and cozy kitchen. My eyes flick over to the farrier getting ready to shoe the horses; tall, burly, clean-faced. Opposite to Luke. Very good looking. I let my eyes roam over him, he is only wearing a muscle tee and dirty chaps over light wash jeans. He must befreezing. Dad and Austin are all wrapped up in layers and the hot farrier is dressed for summer.
“Why don’t you go and see the horses… see if your dad wants any help,” I hear my Mom’s voice vibrate through me.
I turn my face and look over my shoulder, my cheeks blushing crimson at being caught staring at said hot farrier.
“He doesn’t want my help, I’m about as helpful as a cowboy without a horse,” I snort.
“Just go, I’m sure he would appreciate it,” she urges and my stomach knots.
My nerves prick. Anxiety creeping up and slowly drowning me in my own body, my breaths labored and harsh as I gasp for the air I so desperately crave.
“You need to try and beat this fear, Aspen.”
Easier said than done.
“It’s not that easy,” my throat constricts and tightens which causes my voice to come out more like a squeak. “When something happens and completely destroys you mentally and physically…” I pause, squeezing my eyes shut as I try and stop myself from crying into a crumbling mess. My words sound harsh, whipping across my mother’s skin and I instantly regret it. Sniffling, I turn my face forward and focus on the three men in front of me, my chest rising and falling a little slower now.
My mom walks towards me, standing next to me and twisting her body so she is facing me. She is wearing old, worn denim overalls with a cream crew neck tee. She places her soft hand on my cheek while her eyes probe mine as if she is searching for something, anything, to give her a glimmer of what may or may not be going on.
