Chapter 27
Nathan's POV
I was already tired of everything.
The noise, the people, the pretending.
I wanted the day to end already.
Jasmine had started talking about racing a few minutes ago, going on about having a bet.
Kieran crushed the cigarette beneath his shoe while leaning against the fence lazily.
Zane stood beside me.
He kissed my forehead lightly.
"I'll be right back, babe," he said with a grin. "Daddy's about to win some money."
"Daddy ain't winning shit," Jasmine shot back immediately, already holding the reins of her horse.
Zane gasped dramatically.
"The disrespect."
I smiled faintly.
"Hey guys."
I turned. Melissa.
What was she doing here?
"Hi," Zane said. "Thought you left already."
"I was going to," she replied smoothly, "but I decided to stay longer."
Her eyes briefly flickered toward Kieran.
Who didn't even look at her.
His attention remained on his horse.
Melissa sat beside me instead.
"Hey,"
I smiled politely.
"Come on," Jasmine said impatiently, "let's get this race started already."
One of the stable staff walked over to help her fasten her helmet properly.
"What are you guys doing?" Melissa asked.
"We're racing," Jasmine answered proudly. "You wanna join?"
"Jas," Zane started laughing.
"Sure," Melissa answered immediately.
Of course she did.
Jasmine snapped her fingers toward one of the staff.
"Get her a horse."
Then her eyes landed on me.
"What about you, Nathan?"
"Leave him alone," Zane said casually. "He doesn't know how to ride."
"Oh." Jasmine shrugged. "Too bad."
"I can."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Everyone looked at me.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"I mean… Kieran taught me this morning."
I could feel his gaze on me now.
Zane moved slightly closer.
"You sure?" he asked quietly. "You don't have to. Plus all he taught you was just basic riding."
"Basic riding is different from racing," Melissa added carefully.
I knew she probably meant no harm.
But something about the way she said it irritated me.
Like she didn't think I could do it.
"I can race," I said stubbornly.
Silence.
Then Kieran finally spoke while climbing onto his horse.
"If he says he can, let him."
Everyone looked at him.
Then Jasmine grinned widely.
"Well then. It's settled then."
She pointed dramatically toward the stables.
"Get Nathan a horse!"
I forced a smile.
But deep down—
I was already regretting this decision.
-----
Nathan's POV
The moment I got on the horse again, regret settled deep in my chest.
This was a terrible idea.
The staff helped tighten the straps properly before handing me the reins again.
"You good?" Zane asked from his horse beside mine.
I nodded forcing a smile.
He looked completely natural up there— they all did.
Meanwhile my heart was beating like crazy.
Jasmine adjusted her gloves dramatically.
"Alright people!" she shouted. "Winner gets fifty grand!"
Melissa blinked.
"Alright." She shouted.
A stable hand rode forward slightly, raising his arm.
"On my count!"
The horses shifted restlessly beneath us.
I tightened my grip unconsciously.
Beside me, Kieran glanced over.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"Relax your hands."
He reached over slightly, adjusting my grip on the reins.
I looked up— and noticed Zane watching us from his horse.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Well damn," he said jokingly. "Look at you acting like an actual big brother."
Jasmine laughed.
"It's kinda cute."
Kieran didn't reply, just removed his hand and rode his horse forward.
I looked away quickly, suddenly aware of how close he had been.
The stable hand raised his voice.
"Three!"
My stomach tightened.
"Two!"
Wind brushed against my face.
"One!"
Then—
we took off.
The sudden speed nearly stole the breath from my lungs.
Hooves thundered against the ground violently.
For a second panic hit me.
But then I remembered what Kieran told me earlier.
Move with the horse.
Not against it.
Slowly—
I found rhythm.
The wind whipped through my hair as we raced down the trail.
Jasmine was ahead screaming excitedly like a maniac.
Zane wasn't far behind her laughing.
Melissa stayed closer to the center looking far more focused.
I concentrated on not falling.
Kieran glanced toward me briefly.
I looked forward trying to concentrate.
The trail curved deeper around the hills.
The stable was farther behind now.
Trees surrounded us more thickly.
Then thunder cracked across the sky.
The sound was so loud my entire body jerked.
The horses reacted instantly.
Melissa cursed.
Jasmine shouted something ahead.
My horse suddenly reared violently beneath me.
Fear exploded through my chest.
I lost grip of the reins.
"Hey—!"
The horse panicked completely.
Everything blurred.
Then suddenly—
I was falling.
The world spun violently as I hit the slope hard.
Pain shot through my body.
I rolled down the hill uncontrollably, branches scratching against my skin painfully.
Then finally—
I crashed hard at the bottom.
For a second I couldn't breathe.
My head spun violently.
Somewhere above—
I heard frantic shouting.
Then hooves.
My horse bolted away.
I looked up just in time to see it disappearing back toward the trail.
Without me.
My vision blurred.