Free Gypsy Girl and Horse Lovin' Boys by K.D. Kinney Page B

high. He kicked her sides to canter around the ring. They crossed the arena diagonally. Then he had her do it again the other way. Her nose flared really big each time she exhaled and she chewed on her bit as if it was hard work. He looked confident when he glanced over at me.
    A huge smile spread across my face as I clasped my hands tightly in my lap. When he stopped Ezra quick and then backed her up, turned her around and looked as if he’d finished, I whispered in Josh’s ear.
    “How’d he do?” I grabbed his arm with both hands.
    “I didn’t see anything wrong. He looked great. But so did Kelly. She was a little more confident. Actually, I thought she looked arrogant as she schmoozed the judges pretty good during the final marks. I don’t know what that does for her.”
    “It looks like Noah is schmoozing too.” All of sudden I was worried .
    “That’s not schmoozing, that’s Noah. That’s why everyone always loves him. Kelly has a manipulative charm. I’ve seen her get a lot of things she wasn’t entitled to because of it.”
    I pulled out my phone to check the time. “I hope I don’t have to go before they do the results.”
    “I’ll let you know what happens if you have to.”
    A few more horses and riders did their thing. In the stands, the people whispered and clapped when the horses and riders left the arena.
    “Dang it. I have to go. I can’t even watch you deal with Bree afterwards.”
    “Just gives me an excuse to see you later.” He raised his eyebrows and gave me an endearing half-smile.
    “Are you and Noah talking now?”
    “Not yet. I’m not sure if I’m going to forgive him just yet.” He messed with his phone avoiding my eyes.
    I nudged his side to make him look at me. He didn’t. I nudged him again.
    “You’re making me feel bad about this whole thing,” I said.
    “Well, did you kiss him?” He finally looked at me with narrowed eyes.
    I slid down the bench to get off and pulled Josh’s shirt to make him follow.
    “What?” Josh’s hands went to his hips and he glared at me once we were face to face. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    “I have to go and help my mom, but I don’t want to leave stuff unsaid so you’ll screw up your friendship with Noah even more. I’m not worth it.” I stopped talking for a moment and studied the gravel “We didn’t kiss in that picture.”
    “Noah already told me that.” He folded his arms.
    “Then you kicked him out of the tent because you said you knew something was going on between me and Noah. Hardly anything was going on. I think you were upset because you knew you weren’t going to win. So where do you think he went?”
    Josh didn’t say a word. His hands fell to his hips again. He dropped his gaze when the gravel was very interesting to him too.
    “You pretty much guaranteed that we had some time alone together because of that. Yes, he kissed me.” I grabbed his arm when he started to walk away. “But he wasn’t going to when I was worried about you and said I was afraid I would ruin your friendship. Then I was selfish, I asked him to. He did and it’s my fault.” Josh tugged his arm from my grasp. I wouldn’t let go. “This morning I felt awful and I only thought about how much I didn’t want to hurt you and be the reason you and Noah aren’t friends anymore. So be mad at me. Not Noah.” I pleaded.
    Josh jerked his arm out of my hand. He rubbed his face and walked away.
    I could only watch him leave and wipe my eyes. It didn’t help anything that I was really late heading back to help Mom prepare for the show.

11

I was painfully distracted during the show. Noah, Josh, Noah, Josh. I couldn’t stop the guilt and the flashbacks of the night before. Mom noticed and dealt with it without complaining or making much fuss about my lack of attentiveness. Admittedly, the show was not our best. The next two shows were better even though I was still out of it.
    “You’re in the middle of a mess, I can