Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“If only you had more confidence,” I said sarcastically.
“We can but pray for that,” Atticus said, and turned to leave when he paused at the door to say, “Are you coming to the welcome dinner tonight?”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Do you think I’ll be at the dinner?”
Atticus held up his hands. “Just saying, Hallie and Sage will be there, all glammed up. As the newbies, all eyes will be on them.” Atticus shrugged. “And I’m sure Jake will be dressed to the nines and making his play.” Atticus sighed. “If you’re not there to watch him . . .”
“Then you will,” I said, through gritted teeth.
Atticus laughed. “Jas, tonight I’ll be getting my dick wet. I can’t compete tomorrow without getting some relief first.” Atticus opened the door, but said, “Black tie as usual. If you decide to shed your reclusiveness and come to protect Hallie’s virtue.”
“And who will watch Sage’s virtue?” I argued, trying to hit my mark this time. Atticus could talk of me and Hallie all he wanted, but he was like a lapdog, following Sage Miller around like a lovestruck idiot.
“That lady can take care of herself,” he said, heat flaring in his eyes. He bit his bottom lip, then said, “She’s fuckably vicious.”
Atticus shut the door, and I looked back out over the balcony to see Hallie and Sage walking away, presumably to get ready for their turn in front of the inspectors. Jake McGowen watched them go. I ran my hand down my face. I wasn’t going tonight. Going would mean every single person on the circuit would know I was here and would ask a billion questions that I had no intention of answering.
But just the thought of Jake McGowen chasing after Hallie . . .
I got myself a bottle of water from the room’s fridge and kept my eyes glued on the arena. Two more teams completed their trot ups, and it was time for ours. Sage ran first, impressing the fuck out of me as she managed to keep Seraphina in a straight line so the judges could see her physique. I don’t know how she did it, but she’d managed to get that mare to respect her, a mighty feat if there ever was one. I’d written Seraphina off as untrainable. Leon had believed he could find a rider to harness her level of crazy. I had to give it to my friend: He’d done it.
I couldn’t help but smirk when Atticus came out next, dressed in a checked shirt, jeans, and boots. Barnaby was as impressive as always, and Atticus smiled and winked his way past fellow riders, spectators, and inspectors, giving them the grin that meant he rarely slept alone. Taking out my phone, I took a video, zooming in on his face and sent it to the cousin’s group chat.
It was only seconds later when my phone buzzed in my hand.
Forrest: I was just eating, and the sight of my brother’s ugly face has just spoiled it. Thanks.
Felix: I hope you’re not near his room tonight, Jas. You know Atti gets loud the night before a competition.
Me: Not near his room but have earplugs just in case.
I slipped my phone away when I saw Hallie walk Huxley into the tunnel to await her turn. An assistant gestured for her to join a lane, and I stopped breathing as she began to trot. Dressed in a Knighton checked shirt, jeans, and brown suede, knee-length country boots, she looked incredible. Her raven hair fell down her back in waves, but it was the smile on her face that I couldn’t look away from. Huxley was perfect, keeping pace with Hallie’s every step. I could see her mouth moving as they turned and trotted back. She was talking to him, and it reminded me of the day I saw her training him in the arena when Dahlia got loose.
Hallie had a God-given gift where horses were concerned. I wasn’t sure she quite saw it, but from the way people were watching her, everyone else could. A smile crept onto my face as I watched the inspectors nodding and conversing among themselves. They were impressed. My years of doing this told me so.
But that happiness quickly fell away when I spotted Alexis Hobbs near the tunnel, watching from the stands. I leaned forward, and anger surged through me when I saw she was watching Hallie. My fury only increased when Jake McGowen and Camille Dubois joined her.
Camille Dubois, a French rider, wasn’t quite in the same narcissistic lane as Alexis, but it was close. She and I had history—something I was glad was in the past. She, unfortunately, was not. The fact that Camille and Alexis were friends, and now seemingly cozying up to McGowen too, wasn’t ideal. No, it was a fucking shit show. These three were the biggest antagonists in the sport, and nothing good would come of their allying with one another on this tour.