“Aw, I’m sorry then,” I apologize to Frank…i? I swear she still looks at me like she wants to claw my eyes out. The look I’m familiar with from another woman in my life.
“Other than that, she seems healthy. We will just give her some vaccines. You’ll have to bring her back for boosters. Other than that, you seem to have a healthy kitten, about three months old.”
“Thank you.” I nod as he leaves. As soon as the door shuts, I turn to Franki. “I’m very sorry, I hope we can turn over a new leaf.”
She doesn’t growl, but she also doesn’t come closer to me. I’ll take it for now, I suppose. The vet tech comes in and Franki’s friendly façade seems to fade when they go to give her the shots.
Luckily, she wants to go into the carrier because getting away from everyone seems to be the best idea for her right now.
I make the next appointment for her before leaving. After getting in my truck and setting her carrier on the bench seat I feel my phone go off.
Ethan: What are you doing?
Parker: Just took my cat to the vet. Whatare you doing?
Ethan: I want to meet your cat!
Parker: I’m sure she wants to meet you, but maybe not today.
Ethan: Want to hang out?
Parker: Is Lily there?
Ethan: Yeah, but she’s sleeping. I want to ride the horses.
Parker: Good thing I’m better at that than your sister. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.
I go home to drop Franki off, and head over to the Baker’s house. The familiar drive brings out memories every time I drive it. Especially still having the truck that I created so many memories in with her. And even though I’ve ridden horses my whole life, I can’t help but think about times when I did it with her.
“I’m not going to race you,” I tell Lily seriously. But she’s giving me that mischievous look that she does. The one that I love that can get me to do anything. Even if she doesn’t know it.
We’ve been best friends for as long as I can remember. I don’t know when my feelings for her changed, but they have and I don’t know if she feels the same. I don’t want to risk losing her as a friend or lose the chance of having more with her.
“It’s just a little race. I’ll take it easy on you,” she taunts, her mouth spreading into a wide smile.
“Lil, you barrel race. I do not, there’s no going easy,” I tease. She’s always been one for going fast in every part of her life. She runs at a speed that’s quicker than anyone else. Which is just yet another thing that’s made me feel more for her than I do for anyone else.
“We aren’t going to racebarrelsthough. Just a little trot, you’ll be fine.” Her tone is not reassuring, and I’m sure she has something up her sleeve. But I can’t say no to her, not really.
“Fine, but I’m not really racing you,” I tell her again, because I have a feeling she’s not going to take it easy on me at all.
She lets out a little squeal, and goes to her racing horse, Boone. I go to Major’s stall and get him out so we can get them tacked up. Lily keeps giving me sly looks that make me chuckle because I know she’s plotting. I do my best not to give her a reaction; she can do what she wants, and she will win the race which is fine by me.
“Are you doing the Strawberry Festival rodeo?” she asks as we finish up getting the horses ready.
“I was thinking about it. Are you?”
“Of course. Someone has to be the winner.” She winks, and I chuckle.
“Of course,” I repeat. “And everyone knows that’ll be you.”
She smiles so brightly, I swear the actual world lights up when she smiles like that. “Damn right.”
I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her so badly, but I can’t run the risk of losing her completely. Fifteen years of being in each other’s lives and being best friends can’t disappear. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her. That’s why I don’t do anything. Instead of kissing her, I look away to break the temptation at least for now and focus on getting the horses outside where we have the space to run.
Lily doesn’t need a mounting block or any assistance to jump on the back of Boone. I can’t remember the last time she needed it. Shemay be short, but she’s determined. Even I used the block until I hit my growth spurt this last summer. It’s the first time I’ve been so much taller than Lily. She made fun of me at first, but I like it when she does.
“Look at you getting on the horse by yourself,” she taunts from the saddle.