she fits in so well with her new friends 😃

a group of men are standing next to each other on a stage with cups on their heads . ALT: a group of men are standing next to each other on a stage with cups on their heads .

i fear that won't end well for him 💀

you may be withdrawing this after thonight's update

need him in unholy ways

this is just a tuesday

Yesss Elle and Austin have been getting into all sorts of trouble over here 🤣

i actually feel a little bad for him here

no playing hard to get over here 💀

couldn't he have found better things than this 😭

Sooo, hi? Been a while 😅

Not going to curse myself this time by saying I'm back or I'm gonna post more! Let's just hope it won't be another two months before the next one.

Thanks for reading 💕

Finally, Teddy’s features softened. He let out a low whistle, and the corners of his mouth twitched with pride. “Pretty good. Shame I missed it.”

“She’ll do it again. Probably even quicker next time.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Teddy grinned. “Where the hell’s she got to, anyways?”

“Can’t say I’ve ever hugged my friends like that,” Teddy grumbled, but his shoulders dropped, and he exhaled hard.

Kit tried to look just as relaxed. He shrugged, working hard to keep his face straight. “Told ya, she was happy ‘bout her time.”

“What’d she get?”

“15.89.”

Teddy’s brow twitched, his features still full of doubt. “Friends?”

“Honest,” Kit insisted. “We’ve known each other forever. Anythin’ more than that would jus’ be… weird,” he screwed up his face and added a mock shudder, hoping it would make the lie more believable.

“I ain’t lyin’!” He was panicking now, his voice carrying across the paddock louder than he intended.
His ability to come and go as he pleased from Riverstone, the riding lessons he felt so blessed to get for free, all of it flashed before his eyes. “I don’t like her like that. We’re jus’ friends.”

“We’re not, I swear.”

“So what was that?”

“Nothin’. A hug. She was excited that she beat her time in barrels.”

For a moment, Teddy looked like he might be more interested in Autumn’s achievement than the scene he’d interrupted, but Kit would never get so lucky. “I don’t like liars, kid.”

Kit winced. “𝙉𝙤,” he denied, too quickly to be convincing even though it was true. He wished they were; that might make Teddy’s temper worth it.

“It’s fine if you are,” Teddy growled, but the way his jaw clenched around the words said otherwise. “Jus’ need to set some ground rules, that’s all.”

Watcher, this was 𝘣𝘢𝘥.
Kit turned to Autumn, hoping she’d see his silent plea not to leave him alone with Teddy, but they both knew her refusing wouldn’t make things any better. With an apologetic glance, she reluctantly shuffled into the barn.

Teddy wasted no time. “Are y’all datin’?”

The heavy slam of a door and boots crunching over gravel snapped them out of the moment.
Teddy’s face was stony; his icy glare locked on Kit as he strode over to the guilty pair, who were desperately scrambling away from each other now they had company.

“Autumn, get Sierra saddled up for me.”

She pulled back and ran a thumb along his cheekbone, staring into his eyes as they teetered on the line between friendship and something deeper.
Awestruck, he saw heart finally win over head as she cautiously closed the distance between them.

Neither of them heard the truck pulling into the drive.

Her face lit up as she let out a shocked laugh. At once - before Kit knew what was happening - she leapt from her saddle and threw herself into his arms.
The paddock disappeared, his vision obscured by a curtain of copper strands, his face nuzzling into her neck as he breathed in her floral perfume.

Autumn hollered at him to hit stop as she made her last turn, as if she knew he’d be so captivated by watching her, he’d forget his task.

“Well?” she called, her stare a little wild as adrenaline surged through her veins.

He paused, fighting a grin, enjoying making her sweat a little. “15.89.”

She was perfect, as always.
Eyes narrowed against the wind rushing into her face, hair streaming behind her like a banner; if Kit hadn’t been using his phone as a timer, he would have taken a picture so he could freeze the moment forever, and hung it right next to the painting above his bed.

Kit shook his head as Autumn pulled away and swung herself onto Honey’s back. He was as sure as he could be that she felt the same, but if she still couldn’t admit it, he’d wait. Even if it took a lifetime, he’d be ready when she was.

For now, he hit start on the stopwatch.

He could see the words forming; the fierce battle in her mind as the confession on her lips warred with her need to keep everyone at a safe distance.

“Time me.”

Kit blinked. That wasn’t what he expected, or hoped, she’d say.
“Time you doin’ what?”

“Barrels. I’m still tryna get under 16 seconds.”

“You wanna tell me why you’re so mad ‘bout me talkin’ to another girl?”

Autumn’s eyes were fixed on where her hand had landed, her fingers splayed against his chest. She must be able to feel his heart thundering wildly as he leaned into her touch. Perhaps she could even hear it racing.

He held his breath as he waited for an answer, but Autumn seemed suddenly fascinated with the straps on Honey’s bridle. Slowly, as if moving too suddenly would startle her and send her running for cover, he reached for her hand.
When he spoke, his voice was barely louder than a whisper.

“So she ain’t your girlfriend?” she eventually muttered.

“No,” he chuckled. He knew Autumn was a champion grudge holder, but he’d never been the target like this before. At least he’d finally found out what had upset her, but he still didn’t understand why. “Would it matter if she was?”

“Maddie ain’t sittin’ with me,” he sighed. “She’s sittin’ with Elle, and I’m there ‘cos you’re ignorin’ me.”

He watched as Autumn chewed the inside of her cheek. She always did that when she had something she wanted to say but couldn’t, and he wondered what it was she was trying to hold back now.

He paused, then realised who she meant. “Elle’s cousin?” he asked, and she nodded sharply. Kit couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Please don’t tell me that’s what this is all ‘bout?”

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. The way her shoulders tensed at the question said it all.