"Told ya,” I say.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, and I share half my broccoli with him.
“So, Chrissy, have you ever been horseback riding?"
"I haven't. There are not many places for that where I live."
"Would you want to?"
"Isn't it, like, too cold for the horses or something?"
He laughs. "They live outside."
I pause the fork right before it enters my mouth, saying, "Yeah, I knew that," then take the bite and nod my head.
"My parents have ten horses on their property. I was thinking we drop the stuff off at the house and go for a ride?"
The butterflies I once felt come back, and this time they flutter around my heart.
"I would love to. You will tell me what to do, right?"
"Of course. I'll even give you a helmet."
I roll my eyes while taking another bite. Throughout the rest of lunch, Troy tells me everything he can about riding a horse even though a lot of it is stuff that is easier learned when you are actually with the horse.
I'm excited to go riding. It is something I have always wanted to do. I think every little girl dreams of riding a horse with a long whimsical dress on. Well, I did, at least. It's too cold for a dress, but I am still going to pretend I am a princess riding her noble steed.
Chapter ten
Chrissy
"Grabboots,"Troysays.
I go back to my room after we drop all the bags from shopping into the living room.
"I don't have boots," I yell back to him.
"Doesn't Sarah have some?"
"We don't wear the same size...Oh, I have these," I tell him grabbing the winterish hiking type boots Sarah bought for me. "Sarah got them for me because she knew I wouldn't bring appropriate shoes to feed the animals in."
He peeks his head around the corner into my room. "Those work."
"Should I grab warmer clothes?"
"Nah. My parents have this bin of winter gear. She has something in every size. It's from years of friends and family coming over unprepared."
"Gotcha. Okay, let's go."
We drive thirty minutes out of town, and when we pull onto his parent’s property, I am floored. Their home is huge and gorgeous with stonework and a green tin roof. We pass it going towards another building, this one red and silver, a classic barn look. I follow him into the barn and am shocked and relieved that it's heated. There are rows of stalls on either side, each with their own barn stall accessories.
Troy opens one of the doors to the side and when he turns the light on, it's like a walk-in closet, but filled with only coats, snow pants, beanies, and gloves.
"Wow. This is impressive."
"My mom's a little extra."
"I love it. I would totally do this, too, if I could."