***
We got dressed, jumped back into the truck, and got back on the road. Ari talked nonstop, and I just smiled the whole way. My baby was happy, and that made me happy as hell. Now, I just had to get her to stop talking about going riding. I was scared to death that she would have another accident.
“I’m gonna ride, Jeff, I can’t live my life scared to move, and you shouldn’t want me to. ”
“I don’t want you to, baby. It’s just, god Ari, if anything ever happened to you or the baby, I would never forgive myself. If I could, I’d put your ass in a bubble and lock you away for the next seven months. ”
“Ha-ha, very funny. It’s going to be fine. I promise to stick to the older mares or Big Roy. ”
“Big Roy, just stick with him. ”
Ari laughed and grabbed my hand.
“Okay, babe, I’ll only ride Big Roy. ”
***
When we pulled up to the house, Heather and Josh were talking, sitting next to each other on the steps. That has to be a good sign. Heather stood up and gave us a total go-to-hell look. Okay. . . maybe that isn’t such a good sign.
“Where the hell have you two been?” Heather asked.
Ari walked up to her and smiled.
“Sorry, y’all. Jeff had to make a quick pit stop. ”
“Yeah, I’m sure he did,” Josh said as he punched Jeff in the arm. “Horny bastard. ”
“Oh my god, Josh. Really?” Heather said as she started to follow Ari into the house.
“Dude, am I right?”
I smiled and winked at him.
“See, I know you. It’s about damn time you got here though. I was running out of stuff to talk to Heather about. ”
Heather turned around and gave Josh the finger before she walked inside.
“Still nothing?” I asked.
“No, to be honest, I’m not really trying anymore. I mean, I’m with Lynda now, and I’m just trying to get back to being friends with her. That’s all. It doesn’t have to be awkward for any of us, like it was earlier today. ”
“Josh, hold on a second. ” I grabbed his arm, pulling him aside.
“You have to know that Heather is absolutely devastated about what happened. From what Ari told me, she only slept with Jerry that one time. She has this crazy fucked-up thinking about letting you in and then you leaving her like her parents left her. ”
Josh looked down at the ground and then back up to me. His eyes glazed over, and I knew he was fighting back tears.
“I can’t do it, Jeff. When I walked in and saw that guy there, what happened between them hit me hard. I knew in that moment that I couldn’t do it anymore. She’s so worried about me leaving her, but it’s her who left me, Jeff. I need someone in my life that’s going to trust me and not worry all the time if I’m going to cheat or leave her or whatever other fears she might have. I can’t do it. I’m doing most of the business at my dad’s now, and I really think I could make this business grow even more. I need to concentrate on that, and Heather needs to work on finishing school. I think we are on the paths we are meant to be on. ”
I looked at him and shook my head. “Do you really believe that load of shit you just spit out, dude?”
Josh sighed and turned to walk into the house. “I have to, Jeff. It’s the only way I can get up every day and move on. ”
Ari and Heather were in the kitchen, laughing, and of course, talking about what to wear to tonight’s barn dance. I smiled when I saw Ari leaning up against the counter. She looked beautiful. Her skin looked like it was glowing, and her smile lit up the whole room. I was going to have to keep her pregnant often because she was even more beautiful carrying my child.
Josh and I sat in the living room and talked about the wedding. When I looked up, my breath was taken away. Ari was standing there, wearing a Longhorn T-shirt, blue jean shorts, and a pair of Longhorn cowboy boots. I let my eyes travel up and down her body.
Fuck me. She’s so damn beautiful.