We pulled up some chairs to watch Rodeo and Dray do bike tricks into the pit. Dray’s first ride took him about two feet in the air followed by a nosedive into the foam. Clutch had his phone up.
“Did you get that?” Nix asked.
“Sure did.” Clutch replayed the video and his booming laugh echoed off the back wall. “What a dick. Gonna have to post it.”
Dray emerged from the foam. He handed his bike over to Rodeo and climbed out of the pit.
“Hey, Dray, it’s all about the air,” Denver called to him. “And you forgot the air on that jump.”
Rett stuck his legs out in front of him and leaned back with a beer. “So, King, how’d you blow it with that cute wine princess?”
“What?” Clutch asked. “I heard through the Scotlyn grapevine that it was turning into something.”
“Yeah. Thought so too, but I’m back on the side of freedom. So the rest of you can just keep your balls in the clamps and watch me have fun.”
“Right,” Rett laughed. “That’s why you look like the kid who just had his cookie stolen off his lunch tray.” He kicked the edge of my chair. “You should ask Nix here for some advice. He’s the woman pro, you know Heartbreak Kid and all.”
Nix bowed his head at Rett. “And it takes one to know one.”
Clutch shook his head. “First of all, sparkles here,” he pointed to Rett, “dated a gazillion women before he met Finley, the only girl who could keep his attention span for longer than the usual ten seconds. And this guy, my best friend, Heartbreak Kid, carried Scotlyn’s picture around for a year before he even met the woman. Weird, obsessive and a little creepy, if you ask me.” He tapped his chest. “I’m the one to go to for advice on women, and everything else for that matter.”
Nix leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well then, my all too wise, completely overgrown and thickheaded friend, tell us how it’s done.”
Clutch took a long drink of beer for dramatic effect. “If you like her, you go over there, knock on the fucking door. When she opens it, you grab her and kiss her.”
“Sooo, the caveman approach,” Nix said. “That’s your go to move?”
“It’s not caveman. It’s fucking romantic.” Clutch slugged back the rest of the beer.
“It’s also the surest way to end up getting your face slapped,” Denver added.
Rett and I nearly fell off our chairs with laughter. If nothing else, having them there was making me feel a lot better.
“Maybe you should pull that John Cusack move from that “Say Anything” flick when he was wearing the long coat and holding the boom box over his head,” Denver suggested.
“Yeah, that wouldn’t be creepy at all,” Nix said.
Rett snapped his fingers. “Wait, I like that idea only take it up a major notch and have your dad outside her window singing one of his love songs.”
“Can’t think of anything more romantic or cool than having my dad stand with me under a girl’s window.”
Denver sat forward. “Yeah, but your dad is Nicky King.”
“Dude, we’ve discussed this before. A dad is a dad whether he sips coffee in a sweater or wakes up between two women on the balcony of some expensive hotel. I’m not getting my old man involved. Besides, even ole sparkly here”—I pointed my thumb toward Rett—“couldn’t hold a girl’s attention with my dad crowing out one of his sappy love songs next to him. Let’s just drop the subject.”
We turned our attention back to the pit where Rodeo and Dray were outperforming each other on the clown scale.
Clutch looked at his phone. “Well, sonavabitch.”
“What’s wrong?” Nix asked.
“The women are at some spa in Hollywood, and they’re just about to bathe in mud.”
We all sat quiet and let that vision soak in for a few long seconds until Denver finally spoke up. “Heard mud is good for the pores.”
We fell apart in laughter and nearly missed the doorbell. Clutch and Rett went in to get the pizza. Nix leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs and looked at me. “Hey, Cole, if you really like this girl, then talk to her. Tell her how you feel, and leave it at that. If that doesn’t work, then move on.”
“Having a hard time getting her to answer my calls, but I think I’ll give it another try.”
Chapter 28
Kensington
A long, hard workout in the arena had been what I needed. Bentley too. He’d been in his stall for two straight days and was full of vinegar when I took him out. The horse’s energy and my determination to push Cole from my head, at least for an hour in the saddle, made for a good ride.
I slowed Bentley to a walk to cool him off. A foamy lather covered his neck, and my back was drenched as well. I glanced up at the house. Dad was walking out toward the arena. I circled around one more time and climbed off Bentley’s back. We reached the gate just as Dad opened it for me. His mouth was pulled tight, and he looked a bit pale.
“Dad, you look like you’re in pain.” I was beginning to worry that there was more to this than just massive indigestion. But I’d decided not to bring it up. I didn’t want to upset Mom. Dad was seeing a doctor this week, and that had alleviated some of my concern.
“Yes, that’s what I was coming out to tell you. That east coast customer, that big restaurant co-op, is supposed to call in the next half hour. I gave the assistant your cell phone number. I decided to move my doctor’s appointment up, and they had a cancelation this morning. I’m just not feeling myself.”
It was the first time he’d indicated that he too thought it might be something more than indigestion. A thick knot of worry filled my throat.
“Oh, Kensie, don’t look like that. I’m fine. Just starting to feel the ravages of middle age and too much good living, I’m sure.”
“I’ll go with you. I can drive.”
“No, don’t be silly. I’m a grown man. Besides, I need you here to take care of business.”
He walked with me into the barn aisle. I put on Bentley’s halter and hooked him in the cross ties to unsaddle him.
Dad sat on the blanket trunk in the barn aisle. The grim line on his mouth had softened, and it made me relax some. “Can’t help but notice that you’re not your usual sunshiney self, Kensie. Is it because of Cole? I know I’m just an old man with a completely biased opinion, and firm in my belief that no one is ever going to be good enough for my little girl, but it seems as if you cared for this boy. At least more than any of the others.”
“I did think he was going to be different, and I definitely liked him. But I’m just a little off because of it. I’ll be fine. My main concern is you feeling better. What time is your appointment?”
He lifted his arm to look at his watch and stood up. “I should be leaving in a few minutes. Don’t forget that the customer will be calling soon. I faxed him the price lists earlier. He said they still had some questions.” He headed out of the barn.
“I’ll be waiting to hear what the doctor says. And remember to ask questions,” I called to him.
My phone rang the second Dad walked out. I’d left the phone in the office and raced inside to answer it. I assumed it was the east coast customer and hadn’t taken the time to look at the screen. “Hello, this is Kensington of Modante Winery.”
“Hello, Kensington of Modante Winery.”
His voice made a flutter of nerves shoot through me, and I hated that I’d reacted like that. I was supposed to not give a damn, but just hearing his familiar, deep voice had shaken me.
“Cole, I can’t talk right now. I’m expecting a call.”
“I just want a chance to explain the whole thing. I haven’t stopped thinking about you for one damn second, Kensington. It’s not about a bet. It was never about a bet. Let’s talk and then if you still feel the same way, I’ll just walk away a broken man. You won’t have to see me or talk to me again.”