Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls, #1)(32)
“Got it,” I say, my body thrumming at the electrifying feeling of being this close to him.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Not really.”
“I’m not going until you’re ready,” he tells me.
“Okay, fine. I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.”
He nods and squeezes his calves, and we’re off. I squeal and grasp on to him tighter.
“You good?” he asks.
I’m not falling off. I’m not being kicked. I’m fine. “Yes?” I answer. But it comes out with less conviction than I intend.
We’re walking down the dirt path when Cooper veers left and heads into the woods.
“Um, where are we going?” I ask.
“Just for a walk.”
The woods are filled with birds chirping and bugs buzzing and trees rustling in a whispering breeze. I close my eyes and listen. It’s a calming symphony I’ve never heard in the city.
It almost doesn’t feel real.
I open my eyes to the sound of rushing water. Cooper has brought us to a river lined with trees and brush. Ink walks along it, carrying us back in the direction of the stables.
“How’d you learn to ride?” I ask.
“Dad used to be a farmhand here when he was younger. I spent every summer here with him. Except for our summer—I ditched him that year. Anyway, he taught me, but it’s not something I really do a lot. Or ever, anymore.”
“Why not?”
“I never wanted to be an equestrian,” he says, smiling as he looks back at me out of the corner of his eye. He shrugs. “And I got busy with other stuff.”
“Like working at the Caffeinated Cat?”
“Yeah, among other things.”
Cooper steers us left again, and after a minute we come out of the woods and ride into a large meadow full of wildflowers in the back of the farm.
“Oh my god, it’s so pretty,” I say.
“Is that why you’re squeezing me to death?” he asks with a laugh.
“Oh.” I loosen my grip and give him space, the warm autumn air suddenly feeling cold against the areas of my torso no longer pressed against him. “Sorry.”
“If you apologize to me one more time, I’m throwing you off this horse.”
I laugh. “Okay, sorry!”
“Ellis!”
“It just comes naturally. I can’t help it!” My head falls against his back as I laugh harder, and his body shakes with his own laughter.
We get back to the stables, where someone has already taken care of Coffee. Cooper hops off Ink, then helps me down.
“Well, thanks for helping me overcome my irrational fear of horses,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome.”
“And I’m totally not sorry about your nose.”
His dimple sinks into his cheek. “Good.”
We stand there for a second. There’s nothing else to say. The day is over. But I don’t want to leave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mitchell.”
Right. “Okay. Yeah. See ya.”
I leave the stables and grab my warty pumpkin from the trailer. Then I head to Aunt Naomi’s home-base building, where Mom said she’d wait for me at the end of the day. And the whole time, all I can think about is hanging out with Cooper tomorrow.
Maybe there’s still hope for our friendship after all.
* * *
I’ve just finished eating dinner and clearing the dishes when my phone buzzes in my hand. I freeze halfway up the steps when I find Cooper’s name lighting up my screen.
Summer Cooper: How are your thighs? Sore?
I smile at my phone.
Me: Are you stalking me or something?
Summer Cooper: You’ve never been on a horse, and we rode for a while. Plus, you were so tense, Ink probably has bruised ribs. So, logic says you’re probably a little sore.
“Hey,” Sloane says as she’s passing the steps. I look up to find her watching me, and she waggles her eyebrows. “You talking to Mr. Hot Dog?”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Mr. Hot Dog? What on earth are you talking about?”
Sloane lets her hair fall into her face, hiding her rosy cheeks. “Dog as in, like, a golden retriever. You know, because my mom referred to Jake as a lost puppy? And he’s obviously hot….” She chews her lip for a moment. “Maybe Mr. Sexy Puppy is better.”
I snort. “Or maybe let’s just call him Jake.” My phone buzzes.
Summer Cooper: Leaving me on read. Okay, I see how it is.
“I gotta go, cuz.” I sprint up the steps, ignoring the burning in my thighs and Sloane calling behind me, “Tell Jake I say hi!”
Me: Sorry, I was in the middle of CRAWLING up the steps because, yeah, my thighs hate me right now.
I lie back on my bed and bite my nails as I watch three dots appear on the screen.
Summer Cooper: What are you doing now?
I press my lips together, trying to suppress a grin. We’re casually texting again.
Me: Not sure. Maybe putting on a movie? Aunt Naomi brought up some old DVDs. Unless I want to watch Practical Magic again, I have to choose between the ‘90s live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or Spirited Away.