Less than a minute later his phone rang.
“I don’t want Pooh at your place, Billy. You don’t have anyone to take care of her.”
“That’s all you’re gonna say? You aren’t going to ask what I’m sorry for?”
“I don’t care what you’re sorry for, unless it’s because you moved my horse.”
“I take good care of Pooh, along with the rest of the horses that board here. Also, I hired Sookie. He’s gonna stay here whenever I’m out of town.”
“I’m bringing her up here anyway.”
“Why, Renie? Because I kissed you?”
He waited, but when she didn’t say anything, he kept talking. “It isn’t a reason to move your horse, but it is a reason for us to talk, which we could’ve done if you hadn’t hightailed it out of here, and then refused to answer my texts.”
?
??You were drunk.”
“You’re right, I was. That’s still not a reason for you to refuse to talk to me.”
More silence.
“Look, you gotta give me somethin’ here. Are you mad at me because you didn’t want me to kiss you, or are you mad at me because you did?”
“I’m not sure,” she murmured.
“What are you doin’ right now?”
“Billy—”
“Just answer me. What are you doin’ right now?”
“Trying to study.”
“Trying?”
“I can’t concentrate.”
“You think if we hang up right now, you’ll be able to?”
“I doubt it.”
“I’m comin’ up.”
“Don’t, Billy.”
“We gotta resolve this, Renie. These have been the two worst days of my life.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
4
It had been a roll of the dice. Billy was pretty sure he’d kissed Renie, but not one hundred percent. It did explain her behavior, which is why he decided he hadn’t dreamt it.
He hadn’t ever visited her at school, but Fort Collins was close to Greeley and he’d competed there enough to know about how long it would take him to get there.