How To Find Your Future

22 - I Don't Know

Charlie

It's freeing to be riding a horse. The wind whistles around me as my body bounces up and down. Yet I'm not scared to fall. I trust Cookies even if I barely know him.

It's my eyes I can't trust.

Instead of focusing forward like they're supposed to be they trail slightly to the left where Olivia rides Cream. Olivia's bright red hair hangs out of a low ponytail just under her black helmet. And somehow it makes her hair even more bright. Which I never thought was possible. She stays so focused on the path in front of her and her horse that when Cream startles she's already ready for it.

Me on the other hand? Yeah, I'm not prepared.

Cookies goes flying up on his hind legs, causing me to slide off him and down to the ground. A sharp pain jolts up my tailbone. My breath gets knocked out of me.

A bright laugh cuts through the pain right as a shadow falls over me. "Are you okay?" I look up to see Olivia. God. She's so beautiful. The sun shines behind her, casting an outline around her that makes her look like an angel.

I rub my back. "I think so?"

"You'll be sore for a couple of days," Vanessa says. She has Cookies reins in her hands. "You should watch where you're going more. That'll prevent you from falling off and hurting yourself."

I get up and nod as I try to fight off the blush that takes over my face. "Thanks."

Vanessa nods. "Hop back on and let's ride back. I think you've both had enough for today."

I climb back on Cookies as Olivia and Cream trot around the little clearing we're in. Once I'm all setting up Vanessa leads us back to the barn. I try my best to focus on Cookies and the path but it's really hard.

I told myself I wasn't going to fall so soon. Not just from the horse, but for someone else. And I know that Olivia is different from Eva but part of me can't help but feel like this will end the same way. So these feelings just need to go away. But if that doesn't happen I'm going to have to bury them deep down. I don't want to ruin anything with Olivia.

Not that there is anything.

I'm just having such a great time with her. I know that this is only temporary and that we'll part ways after she's found the perfect job, but part of me can't help but hope that when that happens our time together won't be over. I just have to make sure I don't ruin anything with my feelings.

When we return to the barn Vanessa and another girl help us off and to put Cookies and Cream back into their stalls. Then they show us how we take care of the equipment we used and where to store them. After that they hand us brushes and show us how to brush them.

As I try my best to focus on Cookies and not Olivia I think I hear her mumble and whisper to Cream. But I don't catch any of it. When we're done, we hand the brushes back.

"Thank you for today and everything you've shown us," Olivia says. A smile on her face and excitement continuing to dance in her eyes.

Vanessa grins. "You're welcome. Thank you for taking an interest in horses, not many folks do."

Olivia's grin falls. "Really? I thought they'd be pretty popular."

Vanessa shakes her head. "Sadly not around here."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Vanessa shrugs. "It is what it is."

Olivia's frown just grows more.

"Well," I interrupt. "Thank you for today." Vanessa nods. I turn to Olivia. "Ready for our next stop?"

She doesn't appear to hear me as she continues to stare past Vanessa towards the stables. But before I can say her name again she turns to me and smiles. Her eyes flashing with more excitement? Something else?