by Carrie Banks
“I’ll take the ribbons, but I just can’t bear to look at her clothes and boots. Things she’ll never wear again.”
“I understand son.”
I turn back to Cody and cry against his neck. Roy leaves me alone to grieve.
“It’ll never go away, will it, boy? Why? Why her? Why did that driver have to be on that road? At that time? Fuck, life is so unfair.”
In this moment of sad truth, I’m forced to admit; forced to see everything I’ve done. All the girls I’ve hurt. Every selfish thing I’ve done to distract myself from the harsh reality that Abby’s never coming back.
All I can do now is be better.
Live better.
Love better.
And all start with Cody and Tess.
I’ll be a man they can both depend on. Then in the fall, I’m going to kick ass at HSB, and nothing is going to hold me back.
“I’m ready, Roy!” I swipe my hand across my eyes and clear my throat. He comes back and shows me how to put Cody’s halter and lead rope on. Then he puts fuzzy earplugs in, and we lead Cody out of the barn and load him into the trailer.
“Alright boy, it’s time to go to your new life. Don’t worry, I’m going to mine in the fall. We’ll get through this together,” I pat his butt and shut the trailer door.
***
“He’s beautiful, Ry. He resembles a unicorn. They only thing missing is a horn.”
I smile wryly, “Abbs, thought so too.” She pets his nose and he nickers softly. I put his halter on just like Roy showed me and lead him out of his stall. “He likes it here. We don’t have any fences up yet, so we have to graze him on a lead rope.”
Together, Tess and I walk Cody out into the green grass and find a shaded spot under a huge oak tree.
The ocean breeze blows through, bringing the taste of salt with it. Cody starts grazing. I sit with my back against the trunk of the tree. Tess settles into the crook of my arm and together we just enjoy this peaceful moment.
“I can’t believe your summer will be over in a month.”
“Will you miss me?”
“You know I will,” she whispers.
“What about you? Are you ready for senior year?”
“I guess…I just wish we were closer in age.”
“I know it’s bothering you. But I’d never cheat on you. I swear it, Tessa.”
“So, we’ll last past August?”
“I never put an expiration date on us.”
“I want this to last, forever.”
I sigh and rest my chin on top of her head, “Me, too. But nothing lasts forever, Tess. I learned that the hard way. But no matter what happens in the future, we’ll always have this summer.”
“And it’s not over yet.”
“No, it’s not,” I agreed. With the end of Cody’s lead rope secured around my wrist, I roll over, pinning her under me.
“Fuck, I’m so lucky to have found you,” I breathe against her lips moments before capturing her mouth.
We make out under the tree for an hour. I stare at the sight of her sweet tits under the golden sun.
She’s beautiful, perfect and all mine.
Finally, we break apart and take Cody back inside.
“Are you going to keep him here when you go back to Boston in the fall?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I just knew I had to save him for Abby. I need to make sure whatever happens to him is something she would want.
Tess picks up a brush and starts smoothing over his coat.
There’s stables in Sea Crest. All the snooty girls at school ride there. I could call and ask if Cody would be a good fit?”
“Thanks. I just don’t want Cody ending up in some rich girls hands. He’s not a prize.”
“No. He’s a gift,” she murmurs.
My heart sputters. I’m so in love with this girl. It fucking terrifies me. I swore I’d never let anyone in again, but it’s almost as if our meeting was fated. I hope we can make it work next year but I know better than most, how life can change in an instant.
“Do you have a dress for the gala?”
“I do. My mom even helped me pick it out.”
I raises an eyebrow, “How did that go?”
“Surprisingly, well. She told me some stuff about her past that I never knew about.”
“Spilling her secrets, huh?”
“Tell me all of yours,” she giggles, tickling my rock-hard abs.
I pin her wrists above her head and push her against the wooden wall, “I don’t have any. Secrets are ugly. They are powerful and destructive. How about you tell me all yours…,” I break off, peppering hot kisses against her neck.
“I don’t have any either. I’m pretty much an open book.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, open up, baby!” I growl against her throat as my thighs pressed into hers.
“Ry!” She laughs, slapping my shoulder, “You’ll scare the pony!”
“Fine. Let’s take this inside.”
I held her in my arms all night, never letting go. Things were perfect. How could I know the secrets hiding in plain sight, that threatened to destroy my newfound happiness?
They were swirling around us.
And soon, we’d have to face them.
Whose secret has the power to destroy everything.
Will Tess and Ry weather the storm?
Find out in Sea Crest Secrets: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T98V25G
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