“Have you seen yourself? You can’t look like that and not get attention. Trust me, if I wasn’t with your sister, I’d be all over—”
“Okay! I’m going to go do my job.” I pointed over my shoulder toward the barn. “And you can get back to yours. Nice talk, Bailey!” I turned on my heel, continuing on my way when something thumped against my ass.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Bailey's glove laying in the dirt.
“You should walk away more often!” Bailey shouted after me, following it up with a catcall.
“Jackass,” I muttered under my breath as I flipped him the bird over my shoulder.
Most of the time, I tried not to give the moms the time of day when they came off like that to me. Not every mother was here to flirt with me, but the few who did made it very obvious, and if I was anything, it was afraid of conflict, so naturally I didn’t put a stop to it like I should. I let it continue because I thought it was the nice thing to do to not make them feel bad, but in the end, I was the one left feeling like some spectacle on display in that arena while their kids rode. They should be watching their child make those memories and learn how to ride, not watching me.
My mind drifted back to Sage as she watched Avery ride for the first time and how all her attention was captivated by her daughter. She hadn’t even glanced at me as Avery rode—her heart practically shone in her eyes.
For some reason, I hadn’t minded the conversations with Sage. Usually, I was polite to parents and only spoke to them when I had to, but with Sage, I willingly started them. Opposite of everyone else, I didn’t want to seem closed off to her.
My family knew I was overly empathetic, but I was only that way to the people I was close to. I was courteous when I had to be to others, but aside from that, I’d rather keep to my bubble.
But something about Sage made me want to care for her, too. Not in the aspect that I thought she wasn’t capable of caring for herself, but more like when you look at someone and you just know they need a shoulder. Sage had that aura to her that screamed tired, like she’d been keeping the world afloat for so long that she just needed someone to throw her a life raft, even if just for an hour, and keep the world afloat for her, too.
There was only so long a person's meter could stay full for others without replenishing it for themselves.
Before making my way over to Christopher at the cross ties, I glanced at my calendar to check for the twentieth time today that little slot of time blocked off for Avery’s lesson.
A week between lessons was getting to be too long, and it was only her fourth one.
12
Callan
Sage’s SUV came up the driveway right on time, and as soon as the car was stopped, Avery was jumping out of the back.
“I’m here!” Avery announced as she closed her door.
Sage turned off the car, getting out herself. Her movements were slow as she pushed the door shut, following a few feet behind Avery as she approached me.
My brows pulled together when I noticed she was catering to one leg, her steps off balance. I set my water bottle in the dirt and closed the distance between us, reaching for her elbow before I could think better of it.
“Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice foreign even to my ears.
Her forehead creased. “It’s just my knee. The Tupperware is on the back seat with the pastries.”
“What happened to your knee?” I ignored what she said about the baked goods and led her over to the bench by the arena, helping her sit down.
Avery had disappeared inside the barn, most likely to grab a halter and get ready for her lesson.
“I kind of…landed on them too hard? Concrete isn’t especially cushiony.”
I kneeled in front of her, eyeing her knee.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her eyes locked on me.
I gently ran my fingers over her knee and she winced.
“What do you mean you ‘landed on them too hard?’”
“I wasn’t thinking when I went to look under my car,” she explained.
I looked up at her, bringing my hand back and dangling it over my thigh. “What’s wrong with your car?”
Her brow furrowed like she wasn’t sure why I was asking that. “Nothing’s wrong with my car.”
“Then why— I’m going to have my mom bring you some ice. I have to make sure Avery’s not opening every stall in the barn. And no more pastries,” I said, standing.
The look on her face made me instantly feel guilty. I didn’t want her to think she was being a burden, but the way I said it, it definitely came off that way.
“It’s okay, Sage. I’m fine with doing the lessons for free. Stay here and I’ll keep an eye on Avery. I just want to make sure she’s okay.” Now here I was, caring for the both of them.
“You don’t have to worry about the ice,” she said. I wondered if she was going to ignore my comment about the pastries that easily.
Her knee was very clearly swollen under her leggings, and I wasn’t going to do this lesson and ignore that.
“Let me help you,” I practically pleaded. “Please.”
Her eyes searched mine, like she thought I was going to strike at any moment and tell her to get off this ranch and never come back.
“Okay,” she said softly. “And I suppose I can stop with the sweets as payment.”
I gave a closed-lip smile. Good. She didn’t need more on her plate. “Stay here. My mom will be out in just a minute.” I pulled my phone out of my jeans and sent my mom a text, asking her to bring ice, water, and some pain meds as I headed inside the barn to find Avery.
