Page 20 of Beating Heart
“Are you having the usual today?”
“Yes, please.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the little bag with the cookies I’d baked last night. “I made you my latest. Shortbread with raspberry jam.”
“Ahhhh… I swear, I’m going to have to come over so you can teach me some of these recipes,” Demi said, as she started making my iced mocha latte, before wrapping up a blueberry muffin and handing it to me. We both shared an appreciation for tasty pastries. Baking had always been my outlet. Before I’d gone to college, I’d been torn between pursuing a career in medicine or owning a bakery. My brothers used to find it hilarious that I was so conflicted between two very different careers. But in the end, I realized that medicine was my passion, and baking was my happy place.
“These should be illegal; they’re so good,” I said.
“I heard that, and I’m hoping that means you brought me a treat, too,” Peyton said as she came hurrying out from the kitchen. “Am I getting praise for my blueberry muffins?”
I chuckled, and Demi gaped at her. “Your blueberry muffins?”
“What? I helped make those.”
“You pulled them out of the oven,” Demi said over her laughter.
“Hey, they would have burned if I hadn’t been there, and then you’d be eating a burnt muffin, right?” Peyton smiled at me as I handed her the little white bag with a few shortbread cookies inside.
“Well, it’s absolute perfection.” I broke off another piece of the muffin and popped it into my mouth. They were both gushing about my cookies after they took the first bite and groaned, and we all laughed at how invested we were in our baked goods.
“And this is for Winnie,” Demi said, coming around the counter. She’d had my dog try some pup treats this week, as she thought Winnie would be a perfect guinea pig.
“You won’t get any argument there. This girl loves a treat.” I watched as she gently took it from Demi and devoured it as we all laughed.
Demi made her way around the counter to wash her hands before turning around and handing me my iced coffee. “So, you’re seeing Cutler today, right?”
I chuckled. I knew from what she’d shared that they were all really close, but they definitely seemed to be very involved in Cutler’s life. I was happy for him. He was a sweet kid, and I was thrilled to see how much love surrounded him.
“Yes. It’s just a follow-up to see how the new inhaler is working and how he’s feeling. He told you he was coming to see me?”
“Yes. We ride together on Saturdays. He loves it.”
“Ride?”
“Oh, horses,” she said with a laugh.
“My girl is a horse girl through and through. She’s got a barn full of them.” Peyton shrugged.
“I have two horses, not a barn full.” Demi chuckled, and it was easy to see how close these two were. “How about you? Do you ride?”
I sighed. It had been a while since I’d been on a horse. “Yes. I grew up riding. We have a ranch back in Rosewood River, and I used to ride all the time when I was younger.”
“You have to come ride with us next weekend. I’ve even got this one riding now,” she said, flicking her thumb at Peyton.
“Yes. But that’s only because I have major FOMO.”
“FOMO?” I asked, my gaze moving between them.
“Fear of missing out,” they said at the exact same time over a fit of laughter.
“Yes. I hate to miss a good time, and Demi, Ruby, and Saylor ride with Cutler on the weekends, so I had no choice but to join in. Demi’s parents and grandparents have a bunch of horses, so there’s plenty for everyone.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun.” I took a sip of my coffee.
“So, you’ll ride with us next weekend?” Demi placed her hands together like she was praying, and I chuckled. I was only going to be here for a short time, and making friends was not the plan, but it was almost impossible not to be drawn to these two.
“Sure. It’s been a while. But I’ll give it a try.”
“You’ll have to come to Whiskey Falls with us, too,” Peyton said as she clapped her hands together. “We’re going on Friday night. Come meet us for some beers and country music night.”
