Born to Ride

Chapter 9

The was one mistake I regret making in the past, has long been buried and will stay there. Digging it up is no choice. Clover has to go.

No, not Clover.

I do. 

After my morning training, I head to the kitchen to eat some breakfast, which in reality, is the second breakfast, the first lunch for me. As I enter the kitchen, the atmosphere seems a bit too bright than usual. 

To no surprise, I find my mother with none other than the girl, I so much need to get out of my life. 

"Good morning darlin'," My mother gives me a peck on the cheek. "Training go alright?"

"Of course." I give her my best morning smile. 

" Do you want coffee? If you wait a few minutes I can perfect ranch-style eggs and bacon." Clover looks at my mom for encouragement. 

My mother smiles at her, approving. 

"I'm good." I grab a cup of black coffee. From the corner of my eye, I can see her smile faded into disappointment. I let her almost ruin my life once, I will not let her use me a second time. 

Clover comes over to sit in front of me wearing a smile as wide as she can, I ignore her by focusing on my cup of coffee. 

"Want some of my jam?" Clover breaks the silence. "I promise it's my ultimate recipe yet. I used kiwi for this one. I gave some to Arizona and she nearly melted. Have some?"

I wave it off, "I'm good." But I don't look at her. 

She ponders a bit, "Austin-"

Before she can say anything else, Arizona comes into the Kitchen all dresses up. "Ready to go?" she asks Clover. 

Arizona is wearing a crop top with some bagging jeans I have never seen her wear. She looks beyond recognizable. 

"Sure thing." Clover gets up from her seat collecting her bag. 

I cringe at her clothes, "Where do you think you're going like that?"

My sister puts her hand on her hips," To the city? Clover and I are going to hang out. You're not the only one who wants to catch up with her."

****

"Yo, Cowboy," I wince as soon as those words leave Taylor's mouth. 

"Cowboy?" I repeat to myself that it's not a big deal, but it is. I've made it a big deal. I want a life free of Clover, free of her scent, her gestures, just free from her sole existence. If I want to remain happy with a certain future, I need her out of my mind. 

"Austin, it was a joke," Flynn pats the top of my chest. "Why are you on the edge?"

I wave it off, "Let's just go."

Instead, off mentally drowning myself trying to obliterate any trace of clover in my head, I call out Flynn. It was the only thought of getting my mind of Clover. But so much for that, feel like Taylor has replaced her, they're both just so city-like. 

"Alright, gentlefolk, we got either shooting range or gossip with a strawberry smoothie on the agenda. How about it?" Flynn lays out the options. 

"Strawberry smoothie?" I squint my eyes to question him. "Since when do you gossip?"

"Come on, light up. What a buzz kill." Flynn Clasps his hands to grab my attention. "So, What will it be? Shooting range?"

"I don't know," I really don't feel in the mood for anything, I am in that zone where I have a desperate need to occupy my mind but have no energy to waste. I don't blame the guys for wanting to do something else, we've just been walking aimlessly for a while.