Interesting. Very interesting.

CHAPTER FOUR

JEFF

“Where is Ari’s horse, Jeff?” Matt asked.

“She’s not here, buddy.”

I saw Josh walking into the barn with a concerned look on his face. I looked down at Matt as he was trying to sweep some hay away from one of the barn doors.

“Hey, Josh.”

Josh looked over at Matt and smiled, and then he looked at me as his smile faded. Shit. I know that look. Something must have happened with Heather.

“What’s up, dude? Hey Matt buddy, you helping Jeff clean up?” Josh asked.

Matt smiled at Josh and held out the broom for him to see it.

Then, Matt turned to face me again.

“Where is Ari’s horse, Jeff?”

“She isn’t here, buddy. What’s going on, Josh? You look like someone just kicked you off the playground.” I said with a smirk.

Josh rolled his eyes and gave me the finger.

When I laughed Matt looked at me.

“What’s so funny, Jeff?”

“Nothing, buddy, Josh rolled his eyes at me, and it made me laugh.”

“Do you like that, Jeff? I can do that, too! Jeff, where is Ari’s horse?”

“She’s not here, buddy. Want to pet Rose?”

“Yes!”

Josh walked into Rose’s stall, put a lead on her, and brought her out. I picked up Matt and carried him over to Rose.

Matt loved being around the horses. Even just the mention of seeing them got him all excited. Ari and I had taken him to some stables around Austin a few times. I just loved this little guy.

I started to think about Ari and how badly she wanted kids. She’d been worried about having kids. Now, with the whole Rebecca shit, I knew it was going to be on her mind again.

“You like her, Matt?” Josh asked. He was giving Rose some oats while Matt was running his hands along her back. “You want to sit on her, buddy?”

Nodding his head at Josh, Matt smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen.

“Keep a good hold of him, Josh,” I said.

“I know what I’m doing, asshole.”

“Assmole!” Matt yelled out.

Josh and I lost it, and we both started laughing. This only caused Matt to say it over and over again.

“Assmole! Assmole! Assmole!”

Holy shit! We couldn’t stop laughing.

“Assmole Jeff!”

Oh hell! I needed this laugh.

Josh had tears running down his face. I think the fucker even snorted.

“Huh? Jeff, Why is my little brother saying a bad word?”

Josh and I both looked at Ari, and instantly stopped laughing. Matt smiled at Ari as she walked up to him.

“Hey, buddy! Do you like sitting up there on Rose? You want to go for a ride with me, sweets?” Ari asked.

Matt nodded his head, and I held my breath because I knew what was coming next.

“Assmole!” Matt yelled again.

Ari was so good with Matt. Instead of laughing, she just went on about her business.

She started to pull out a saddle and harness while she talked to Matt.

“Matt, we’re going to ride Rose for a little bit while Josh and Jeff talk about using the proper language because swearing is not nice.

“Ah, that’s the pot calling the kettle black, Ari.” Josh said with a laugh. Ari turned and shot Josh a go-to-hell look.

“Where is Ari’s horse, Jeff?” Matt asked again.

“She’s not here buddy. Remember I told you a little bit ago that she wasn’t here.”

Ari turned to me. “Be specific Jeff, he needs a real answer, babe.”

Oh shit! I always forget that. I’m just so use to him repeating his questions to me. Damn.

“She’s down at another stable, buddy, and then she’s going to come live on our property at our stable,” I explained.

“Oh…cool,” Matt said.

And that was it. Question was answered, and he was satisfied.

Damn. Where was Ari twenty-five minutes ago when he first asked me that question?

“You want me to go riding with y’all?” I asked while I helped Ari saddle up Rose.

Something was off with her today. Last night had been so perfect, but this morning it was like she woke up with the world on her damn shoulders.

Rebecca.

“No, I’d rather be alone with Matt if you don’t mind. I think you need to make a phone call. Don’t you?” Ari said with sarcasm dripping from her mouth.

“Um, yeah I guess so, but, I was kind of hoping to take care of it tomorrow when we’re back in Austin.”

Josh lifted Matt and put him in the saddle while I helped Ari get seated behind the saddle on Rose.

“Can you hand me that helmet for Matt, Josh.” Ari asked.

Then she turned and looked at me. The look in her eyes as they filled with tears about gutted me.

“No. Take care of it now.”

She put the helmet on Matt and started to ride off.

“Ari, what about your helmet?” I asked.

She just rode off without an answer and never looked back at me.

Fuck.

I jabbed my hands through my hair and looked up at the ceiling. Motherfucker. Josh slapped me on the back, bringing me back to reality.

“Jeff, she’s right. Call Rebecca and set up a time to meet with her. You have to get this shit taken care of. I still can’t believe that you’re the one who got the baby daddy phone call.” Josh said with a laugh.

“Yeah, douche-bag assmole! You should be the one with about twenty-five girls knocking on your door.”

“Fuck no. I have three fuck rules.”

Did he just say fuck rules?

“One, always use protection and buy the most expensive-ass condoms you can get. Two, never have sex drunk, and three, never have sex with a girl who is clearly in love with or obsessed with you.”

I just stood there, staring at him. Bastard.

“Fuck off, Josh!”

Josh threw his head back, laughing, as we walked out of the barn. He stopped dead in his tracks, grabbed my arm, and turned to walk us in the other direction.

“Jesus, Josh, I’m not in the mood for a romantic stroll with you. I’ve got to go call a crazy bitch who claims to be pregnant with my kid.”

Josh picked up the pace and made his way around the other side of the barn. Shit. He was almost in a dead jog. What the fuck is he trying to get away from?

“Josh! What the fuck, dude? What are we doing?”

“Shit, Jeff, keep your voice down and just walk, dude. I’m trying to get the fuck away from Lynda, Gunner’s cousin.” Josh whispered.

I wanted to laugh at him but, considering what I had going on with Rebecca, I didn’t need any bad karma.

Throughout the wedding reception yesterday, Lynda had spent most of the evening hanging all over Josh. Every time Josh had looked for Heather to dance, Lynda somehow showed up and talked him into dancing with her.

“What is she still doing here? I thought Gunner’s cousins went back to Austin last night,” I said.

“They did! Lynda claimed that she wasn’t feeling well, and get this, she ended up staying in the same room as Heather last night. God knows what the fuck she said about me to Heather.”

“Wow. That’s messed up dude. What’s going on with you and Heather anyway? Are you ever going to ask her out on a real date?”

Josh stopped and looked at me. I almost laughed at the face he was making. Damn. I’ve been in his shoes before. I should really be a better friend.

“I have asked her, Jeff, like twenty times. Every time I ask her, she says no. I’ve done everything I can think of. She’s driving me crazy. One minute, she acts like she can’t stand me, and the next she looks pissed because I’m talking to another girl. Do you know when the last time I had sex was?” he said, clearly frustrated.

“Ah, no, and I don’t care to know, so don’t share that shit with me!”

“Four fucking months, Jeff! Four. I haven’t had sex in four months, and it’s all her fault!”

I just stood there and looked at him. Holy shit. he really liked Heather.

“How the hell is it her fault?”