Wyatt
It's Tuesday and I'm currently sitting in Katie's driveway to pick her up for school.

Saturday Katie and her friends, well I should say my friends now went thrift shopping.

It was fun till Tyler bought a toy train that had very old strong-smelling cologne in it. Which spilled all over Izzy.

I also bought jeans and when we got back into the car I realized they didn't have a zipper.

I didn't see Katie Sunday because she and Izzy were at the barn all day. Monday we saw each other at lunch but afterward, I had to help a friend.

Weirdly I missed Katie even though I saw her yesterday.

And now If she doesn't hurry up we're going to be late.

Finally, I see her slam the front door shut and jog to my car. She looks pissed.

Huh, wonder what's wrong.

"Hey baby, what's wrong?" I ask after she climbs into my car.

Katie sighs as she buckles her seatbelt. "My idiot brother forgot to wash clothes last night and I didn't have any jeans to wear today. Now I have to wear these stupid pants."

After I pull out of their driveway I glance at Katie.

She is wearing an oversized green sweater and black leggings that flare at the bottom. I thought she looked cute.

Cute isn't the right word. She looked hot.

"I think you look cute," I say and I feel my ears turn red.

Katie rolls her eyes at me. Wow, it's been a while since I've received an eye roll from her. Is it weird that I find it kind of sexy?

Katie
Wyatt parks in his usual parking space and I grab my bag, ready to jump out of the car before he can open my door.

Wyatt notices me and cuts his car off and opens his door. He locks the doors before I can open mine.

I try to unlock it from the inside but the plastic is broken so I can't grab ahold of it.

Wyatt walks around the front of the car with a smirk.

He opens my door. "My lady," He says bowing.

It takes everything I have not to smile, instead, I shot him a death glare.

"Why are you so intent on opening my door?" I ask while sitting in the seat with my arms folded.

"Because I'm a gentleman and you deserve princess treatment."

I feel my mouth open and Wyatt gives me his signature smile that normally would melt my insides if I wasn't so pissed.

I slide out of his car. "I'm not your princess."

Wyatt stands in front of me so I can't move.
"Oh, but you are."

I tilt my head to the side. "So princes lock their princess in a car?"

Wyatt smiles a teasing smile. "If there's danger they do. Your safety is my top priority."

I try to look pissed but it was damn hard. I've always been independent and never needed anyone, but Wyatt is crumbling my walls down.

I push him out of the way causing him to chuckle.

He reaches into his car to grab his bag.

As he locks his car I get a wicked idea.

While his back is to me I jump onto it.

He stumbles forward and I wrap my legs around him tightly.

"Kate, what are you doing?" Wyatt asks slightly out of breath.

"Since you want to be a gentleman today; you can carry me to class," I whisper into his ear.

I notice goosebumps appearing on his neck, but he plays it off.

"Alright." Wyatt starts striding towards school causing me to loosen my grip on his neck.

"Alright?"

"You're not going to complain about it?" I ask. I figured he would be mad, (hence the reason I did it) but he could care less.

Well, at least I didn't have to walk.

Wyatt opens the door to school and I see Stacy talking with one of her friends. When she sees us she smiles and waves.

It wasn't one of her bitchy smiles it was a genuine smile.

What is going on today?

Today is Wyatt's last riding lesson before the endurance ride Saturday. We're going on a trail ride.

I thought it would be cute to have a little picnic date.

Tyler had to give me a ride home from school because Wyatt had to pick his mom up from work.

After I change into riding clothes I drive to the barn.

Wyatt texted and said he was going to be late so I went ahead and got the horses ready.

I just finished clinching up Sammy's girth when I see Wyatt walk into the barn.

"I'm so sorry I'm late Kate. Mom's car wouldn't start and I have to get someone to tow it home and was this whole thing. Anyway, Izzy gave me a ride so I could leave my car with Mom."

Izzy is going on a ride as well but she is under strict orders not to follow us.

"It's no problem, Wyatt," I say smiling.

Wyatt abruptly pulls me into a hug.

I giggle, "Wyatt, we have to go!"

We set off into the woods. About thirty minutes later we ride into a small meadow with a huge tree in the middle.

I glance at Wyatt to see him looking around with an amazed expression.

"Wow, Kate this place is beautiful," Wyatt says still amazed.

I jump off Ripley and Wyatt looks at me confused.

I grin. "I must have forgotten to tell you. Being the good girlfriend I am I brought some snacks for a picnic date."

Wyatt rolls his eyes as he hops off Sammy.

We tie them to the tree.

I hand Wyatt the bag I had tied to my saddle.
"Open it and see what's inside."

Wyatt opens it and his eyes widen. "Kate, you got me doughnuts!"

I laugh. "They're just gas station doughnuts I didn't have time to go to Dunkin' Donuts."

Wyatt smiles and wraps me in a hug. "You really are the best girlfriend."

I lay my head on his chest and we stay like that for a few moments.

I walk to the trunk of the tree and pull myself up onto a low-hanging branch.

"What are you doing?" Wyatt exclaims.

I keep climbing up the tree. "Izzy keeps a blanket hidden up here for when we come."

I throw the blanket down and climb down the tree.

"Is that dried bird crap?" Wyatt asks.

"Probably. Luckily the leaves are pretty thick in that certain spot so it doesn't get wet. I told her it was stupid to leave a blanket in a tree."

"She told me we always forget a blanket so might as well leave one here."

By the time I reach the bottom, Wyatt has the blanket spread out and is eating his doughnuts.

"You want a bite?" Wyatt asks with sprinkles falling off his lips.

I shake my head. "No, I have my dessert right here." I pull a brownie wrapped in plastic wrap out of the bag. "A gas station brownie."

Something about gas station food is amazing.

We continue to eat in silence.

I put our trash back into the bag and I feel arms snake around my waist. Wyatt pulls me onto his lap.

"Wyatt, what are you doing?" My voice comes out shaky.

"Taking Instagram photos, silly," Wyatt says. I can feel his breath against the back of my head.

Oh yeah. Why else would he pull me onto his lap? Get a grip, Katie!

We both take tons of pictures. I shift my weight to move but Wyatt pulls me against his chest.

I take a deep breath to relax. It's just Wyatt, Katie calm down. I think to myself.

We sit like that for a while talking about nonsense, till Wyatt checks the time on his watch.

"We probably should get going," Wyatt says quietly.

I just nod my head.

Getting up is the last thing I want to do.

We clean up our mess then head back. I take a different trail so we would come out to a big field.

Wyatt needed to work on galloping and conserving the horse's energy.

When Ripley sees the field his neck tenses and he starts walking faster. Izzy and I gallop here all the time.

I stop Ripley and Wyatt stops beside us. "You ready to run, cowboy?"

Wyatt takes a shaky breath. "I guess so."

I give him a reassuring smile. "It'll be okay, it's no different from what you worked on Thursday.

In his last lesson, he worked on shorting and lengthening his canter stride.

"On the other side of the hill is a fence with an opening. The first person the ride through it wins." I say.

Wyatt smirks. "What does the winner get?"

I think for a moment. "They get to decide whose house we hang out at afterward."

Wyatt tilts his head. "We're hanging out after?"

I feel my cheeks heat. "If you want to"

"I would love to."

I smile. "Ready, set, go!" I yell.

Wyatt kicks Sammy and he takes off. Ripley leaps forward already knowing what we're doing.

One thing I didn't tell Wyatt is that Ripley is the most competitive horse I've ever met. He always wins whenever we race other horses.

I pull on my reins to slow Ripley down. He throws his head, mad that I'm not letting him full-out gallop.

Sammy keeps an even pace, but I know if I let Ripley go he won't slow back down; using all his energy.

We run over the hill and I see the fence in the distance.

We're still behind Wyatt and Ripley hates it.

"Wait just a little longer," I tell Ripley.

Whenever we go on a trail ride, he always has to be in the front.

Unlike me, he's a leader, not a follower.

I notice Sammy take a deep breath and I take that as my sign to let Ripley go.

I release my reins and Ripley's ears perk in response.

Ripley takes off. I can hear his hooves slamming against the ground as we pass Wyatt.

I hear him yell, "What the hell?"

When you are going this fast, you feel like you're flying.

Ripley flies through the gate and I slow him to a walk.

I glance behind us to see Wyatt trot Sammy through.

"What in the world was that?" Wyatt asks out of breath.

"I told you to not let Sammy go that fast in the beginning," I say nonchalantly.

Wyatt rolls his eyes. "No, your horse is just part cheetah."

Once we arrive at the barn we untack the horse and rise them off. I put ice boots on their legs since they galloped a lot.

While the horses cool down I quiz Wyatt on horsey things.

"What's this called and what is it used for?" I ask, holding up a sweat scraper. You use them to scrape water off horses when they're wet.

"Katie Baby, it's a sweat scraper. You have asked every question you can ask."

Wyatt puts his hands on my shoulders. "Stop worrying it going to be okay."

I stare into his eyes. He learned everything so fast I'm scared we are going to get to the show and he won't remember anything.

Something in his eyes calms my heart and gives me hope. "Okay, let's get these horses put away."

Wyatt helps me put the horses away and fed for the night.

"Since I won the race I think we should hang out at my house," I tell Wyatt as I back my truck out of the parking lot.

Wyatt smirks. "Isn't Derek on a date with Ava?"

"Yes?"

"Is Tyler going to be there?"

It takes everything in me not to glance at Wyatt. "No."

I risk a peek and he's shaking his head with an amused smile.

This is the first time I've had a guy at my house without anyone at home.

I stop at a stop sign before I turn into our neighborhood. Suddenly my truck makes a loud noise and turns off.

"Shit! No, no, no Roster." I yell.

Great, my truck breaks down four minutes away from my house.