Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“And you were the horse kid,” I guessed.
“Yep. Horses were Dad’s passion too, so I probably got more of his time than anyone.”
“That’s cool.”
“Maybe. He’s a piece of work too,” he said cryptically. “I try to remember the good parts when he’s driving me batshit crazy and asking me to track down hockey stars.”
I smiled. Hank’s easygoing repartee had a nostalgic bent that invited shared experiences. I suddenly wanted to tell him about my dad. He’d been a superhero too, the biggest star in my galaxy. I had good memories, I had great stories, I had so much to say, but—
I slammed my mouth shut and swallowed the words.
“Do your clients know how to ride, or do you teach them?”
Not the smoothest topic change ever, but Hank didn’t seem to notice. “Your skill level isn’t important on the right horse. Bess is ideal. She’s gentle, sensitive, and wise. She’ll be perfect for you.”
I pointed at my chest. “For me?”
“Yeah, you. C’mon, let’s put a saddle on her and—”
“No.” I shook my head adamantly. “I’m not here for that. I told you…no broken bones allowed.”
“Ah, that’s right.” He inclined his chin in agreement, however, the twinkle in his eyes was hard to miss. “But are you sure you don’t want to hop in the saddle and go for a ride?”
“This is corny innuendo, right?”
Hank snickered, patting Bess’s flank. “It is.”
“Well, I think you should probably lead by example and sit in the saddle first, cowboy.”
“Gladly.”
“Just like that?”
“I’m not shy about sex, assuming that’s what we’re talking about. If it feels good and nobody gets hurt, do it. YOLO.”
I raked my teeth over my bottom lip. “I agree in theory, but I’m not very adventurous. I had the same girlfriend for years.”
“She’s the only one you were ever…intimate with?”
“No, we took a short break our freshman year of college, so there were a few others.”
“What about guys?”
“No.”
Hank hopped over the fence, whispered in Bess’s ear as he pulled a lead rope from his pocket and attached it her harness. “So your bisexual curiosity has been on simmer for years.”
“You could say that. What about you?”
“Gay. A hundred percent gay. I tried to be straight. I really did. But boobs did nothing for me. Kissing girls was fine, but touching them felt all wrong. Too soft where I wanted hard. I did some mild experimenting in high school and pretty much fucked my way through college. Men only. I’ve done it all and then some—sex in clubs, in cars, parking lots, at roadside stops, in the barn. One partner, two partners…and on one memorable occasion, a mini orgy in Aspen. Sex is life. It’s beautiful proof we’re alive and able to communicate joy and happiness.”
My lips twitched. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely,” he enthused, opening the gate for Bess. “And I’m a fully qualified sexpert in the homo arena.”
I had a million questions about that Aspen orgy, but I just nodded. “Oh, good. I’d hate to be extorted by a novice.”
Hank rolled his eyes and motioned for me to follow him toward the barn. “Are you planning on coming out?”
I blew my cheeks out like a chipmunk and sighed. “No. I mean…eventually, yes. But not anytime soon. It would require a major conversation, and I can’t deal with that during hockey season. No one even knows MK and I broke up.”
“So your ex is your beard?”
“Well…maybe. It was her idea to keep it private till the end of summer, and I didn’t argue. I don’t do well with external distractions in regular everyday life, but especially not now. No matter how inclusive a team claims to be, that’s not the spotlight they want on their rookie. Once I say the words, I can’t take them back. What if I’m not bi? What if the more we do, the less I like it? What if the sex is terrible?”
Hank stopped at the wide entrance of the stables. “With me? Unlikely.”
I barked a laugh. “I like your confidence.”
“That’s not confidence, that’s a guarantee.” He cocked a lopsided grin and hiked his thumb. “Now get your head out of the gutter and come meet the gang.”
Hank’s deep voice echoed in the cavernous structure as he gave me a small tour of the stalls, the tack room, the office, and storage area. A musky scent of animals lingered, but it was a pristine space with ceiling fans affixed to the wood beams above to keep the horses cool in warmer months.
He led Bess to her stall and introduced me to her friend, Fred.
“Nice to meet you, Fred,” I said awkwardly. “Are they…a couple?”
“No, just companions. Bess likes everyone, but Fred is kind of picky. She’s a calming influence. Some horses, like people, get crusty with age. She’s eighteen and she’s a regal old lady with…”
I listened absently to his idle chatter, his tone dropping to a soothing coo for Bess’s benefit as he watered her and brushed her coat. I watched his sure movements, his strong hands on the brush. I didn’t know anything about horses but I could tell he was good with them. He was patient and confident and…somehow, that felt like a character reference of sorts.