"Yeah, it's fat and ugly. How'd the ride go?"
"I told Jameson he's going to need to buy her a horse." Zander walked out of the tack room. "Irish needs to retire from the saddle for good."
Indi turned around to reply. "We're going to start looking this week. I just hope we can find a horse that's safe and reliable like Irish."
"There are plenty out there. I'll look around, too," Zander said. He looked at me. "Shit, Ro, did you already get into a fight at work? It was your first day. How the fuck did that happen? Did they fire you?"
I let him finish. "Jeez, you're like an old nag. No fight and I'm still employed." I patted my stomach. "Are there any leftovers from dinner? I'm starved."
Zander looked at Indi. "You didn't tell him?"
"I was about to until you walked out with your hurricane of nosy, judgmental accusations," Indi said. She rarely got mad, but when she did, it was fun to watch.
"Tell me what?" I asked just as Rio slid shut the stall door.
"RoRo!" Rio was the only person allowed to call me RoRo. She'd come up with the nickname, but when Jameson tried to use it, I made it clear that it was never going to happen.
Rio came running over. She was wearing new cowboy boots. She hugged me. "We're going to have so much fun."
I looked at Indi, deciding she was my best bet for figuring out just what the hell was going on.
"We were hoping you'd come stay with us this week." Indi added in one of her classic school jewel smiles to help soften the blow that my big brother was kicking me out, just like Dad had done.
I looked at Zander. "So you're sick of me?"
"Not sick of you. Just want you out."
"Sounds like the same thing only using different words." I had no idea being kicked out hurt so bad. It wasn't the first time. I was just getting tired of it. I couldn't wait to move in with Colin.
Rio wrapped her arm around mine. "You belong to us now."
"Sort of feeling like a stray dog but thanks, kiddo. I've just got to get my stuff." I turned back to Indi. "Wait, does Jameson know, or am I going to get the same adoration and love from him as I got from Z?"
"Yes, he knows."
"So do my friends, so a few of them will probably justhappento drop by for a visit." Rio rolled her eyes. "Dusty and Brittney are Team Ronan."
"Team Ronan?" I asked. "Didn't know I had a team."
Rio blew out a frustrated sigh. "I've told you this a million times. Two of my friends are Team Ronan and two are Team Colin."
"I thought Dusty was Team Nate?" Indi asked and then shook her head. "How do I get so easily drawn into this?"
Rio laughed and hugged Indi. "Cuz you're cool, and just for the record—everyone is Team Nate."
Indi nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense."
Zander scoffed. "What happened to Team Zander? You know, the uncle who taught you to ride a horse?"
"Oh, you're too big, and my friends think you're grumpy." There was nothing like having a teen in the family to hear hard truths without a filter.
"I'm not grumpy," Zander said in the grumpiest tone ever.
Rio looked at Indi and me and shrugged. "We should get home. I've got a ton of homework."
"You should have mentioned that first," Indi said. "Let's get going. We'll wait for you to get your stuff, Ronan. Thanks for the riding lesson, Z."
"Yeah, thanks." Rio ran over and hugged him. "It's all right. I don't think you're grumpy. At least not all the time."