The Longest Ride

done.”

She waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. “I take it you’ve ridden him before.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve tried, though. Three times. He’s what you call a rank bull. Only a couple of people have ever ridden him, and that was a few years back. He spins and kicks and shifts direction, and if he throws you, he tries to hook you for even trying to ride him in the first place. I’ve had nightmares about that bull. He scares me.” He turned toward her, his face half in shadow. “That’s something almost no one knows.”

There was something haunted in his expression, something she hadn’t expected.

“Somehow, I just can’t imagine you being afraid of anything,” she said quietly.

“Yeah, well… I’m human.” He grinned. “I’m not too fond of lightning, either, if you’re curious.”

She sat up straighter. “I like lightning.”

“It’s different when you’re out in the middle of a pasture, without any cover.”

“I’ll take your word on that.”

“My turn now. I get to ask a question. Anything I want.”

“Go ahead.”

“How long were you dating Brian?” he asked.

She almost laughed, relieved. “That’s it?” she asked, not waiting for an answer. “We started going out when I was a sophomore.”

“He’s a big fellow,” he observed.

“He’s on a lacrosse scholarship.”

“He must be good.”

“At lacrosse,” she admitted. “Not so much in the boyfriend department.”

“But you still went out with him for two years.”

“Yeah, well…” She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “Have you ever been in love?”

He raised his head, as if trying to find the answers in the stars. “I’m not sure.”

“If you’re not sure, then you probably weren’t.”

He considered this. “Okay.”

“What? No argument?”

“Like I said, I’m not sure.”

“Were you upset when it ended?”

He pressed his lips together, weighing his response. “Not really, but Angie wasn’t either. It was just a high school thing. After graduation, I think both of us understood that we were on different paths. But we’re still friends. She even invited me to her wedding. I had a lot of fun at the reception, hanging out with one of her bridesmaids.”

Sophia looked toward the ground. “I loved Brian. I mean, before him, I had these little crushes, you know? Like when you write a boy’s name on your folder and draw little hearts around it? I guess people tend to put their first loves on pedestals, and in the beginning, I was no different. I wasn’t even sure why he wanted to go out with me – he’s good-looking and a scholarship athlete, and he’s popular and rich… I was so shocked when he singled me out for attention. And when we first started going out, he was so funny and charming. By the time he kissed me, I was already falling for him. I fell hard, and then…” She trailed off, not wanting to go into the details. “Anyway, I broke up with him right after school started up this year. Turns out he was sleeping with another girl from back home, all summer long.”

“And now he wants you back.”

“Yeah, but why? Is it because he wants me, or is it because he can’t have me?”

“Are you asking me?”

“I’m asking for your perspective. Not because I’ll take him back, because I won’t. I’m asking you as a guy.”

When he spoke, his words were measured. “A bit of both, probably. But from what I can tell, I’d guess it’s because he realized he made a big mistake.”

She absorbed the unspoken compliment in silence, appreciating his understated ways. “I’m glad I got to watch you ride tonight,” she said, knowing she meant it. “I thought you did really well.”

“I got lucky. I felt pretty rusty out there. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden.”

“How long?”

He brushed at his jeans, buying time before he answered. “Eighteen months.”

For an instant, she thought she’d heard him wrong. “You haven’t ridden in a year and a half?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

She had the sense he was debating how to answer. “My last ride before tonight was a bad one.”

“How bad?”

“Pretty bad.”

At his response, Sophia felt it click into place. “Big Ugly Critter,” she said.

“That’s the one,” he admitted. Warding off her next question, he focused on her again. “So you live in a sorority, huh?”

She noted the change of subject but was content to follow his lead.