Mustang Dreams (COMPLETED)

Chapter Eleven

     Misty knew that if she stood in the kitchen any longer, Clay would get suspicious. Gathering herself and her thoughts, Misty took a deep breath before heading outside. 

     When she saw Clay in the barn putting away some tack, Misty inwardly wanted to smile, just like she did every time she saw him, but because of the circumstances, a frown was frozen on her lips. 

     Remembering what she came in here to do, Misty folded her hands in front of her, walking further into the barn. "Clay..." Misty started, making Clay turn away from what he was doing. Clay smiled at the sight of Misty, but Misty kept her head down so she wasn't able to see Clay walking towards her. "Clay...we need to-" 

     In one swift motion, Clay turned Misty's face up to him and silenced her talking by pressing his lips against hers. Misty was taken aback by Clay's kiss, so instead of kissing him back, she pulled away. For the first time ever, Misty wiped Clay's kiss off of her lips. "Talk. We need to talk." Misty's voice came out so quiet that she knew Clay didn't hear her. 

     "I'm really happy to see you." Clay smiled at her, completely unaware of Misty's rejection to his kiss, or to her wiping her lips off afterwards. "How did you sleep?" Clay asked Misty, adjusting his cowboy hat on his head. 

     "Uh. Good. I slept well." Misty stumbled over her words. Clay was in way too good of a mood for Misty to break the news to him. Or at least, that's what she told herself so she wouldn't have to tell Clay what just ensued in the kitchen between her and Jace. Tucking her hands into her jean pockets, Misty asked, "How did you sleep?"

     "Pretty good actually." Clay said, walking into the tack room. Misty followed in behind him. "Okay. Lunge line, halter, lead rope, and saddle pad. Anything else you can think of that we need to work with Casper today?" Clay asked, tack in hand. 

      Misty had been staring at Clay as he walked around the tack room, grabbing what he needed. She was trying to find words to tell him the news. "Um, no, I think we're good." Misty responded, following Clay back outside of the barn. 

     Clay placed the lunge line and saddle pad over the rail of the round pen, slinging the halter and lead rope on to his shoulder. "Alright, let's go get your rascal." Clay smiled, reaching out to grab Misty's hand as they walked out to the corral together.  

      Misty held Clay's hand as they walked, but she felt like it was wrong. All she could think about was Jace and her kissing and him professing feelings for her that he had never even hinted he had. Jace's kisses were different than Clay's; she didn't know how to explain it any other way- they were just different. 

      "You seem quiet today. Everything okay?" Clay asked, looking at Misty as they walked further from the round pen, towards the pasture.

     No, everything was not okay, but how did Misty explain that to Clay? In the moment, holding hands with Clay, Misty decided that she wasn't going to tell him that she was "breaking up" with him...yet. She would tell him when she was ready, which certainly wasn't right now. In the meantime, Misty tried to rationalize what she felt when she kissed Jace. What she had felt was certainly not what she was expecting. 

     "Yeah, everything is fine." Was what Misty decided to respond with. 

     "Okay." Clay was still staring at Misty as if trying to decide if she was telling the truth or not. "Come on, Misty. Smile." Clay stopped walking to turn and shoot Misty a smile. He wrapped both his arms tight around Misty's waist, pulling her close to him. "What's it goin' to take? Do I need to kiss you? That's always seemed to work in the past." Clay bent his head down, about to lean in to kiss Misty.