Page 105 of The Only Seconds that Matter
“You don’t gotta tease me.”
“I do, actually.It’s my job.”Still smiling, she slouched back in her seat and perched an ankle on the knee of her opposite leg.“Can’t say I’m shocked.You coulda been more subtle about it.How long has it been a thing?”
“Couple weeks,” Johnny muttered, rubbing his boot on the grass.
“Really?Only a couple of weeks?”She turned to Victor.“Could have sworn you two have been fuckin’ for like six months now.You’re more sober than you’ve been in years with Victor around.And I love that he keeps you out of the worst of your usual trouble.Bisexuality could be the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Yeah, Vic’s a real hard ass.”Johnny shot a look at Victor laced with affection.
“Then you two are perfect for each other.”Sarah hoisted herself out of the lawn chair.“I’m gonna go refill up on some soda.”She reached out and patted Johnny on the cheek.“Be good while I’m gone.”
Johnny batted her away, and Sarah laughed before heading up the back porch steps and into the house.Johnny and Victor sat in silence for a few seconds before Victor reached out and touched Johnny’s arm.
“Thanks for telling her.”
“Wouldn’t have done it without some hard ass yellin’ at me about it.”Johnny gave him a crooked smile, and Victor resisted the urge to kiss him.
* * *
Two days later, Johnny brought Taylor by for a lesson on Midnight, who by this point seemed solid enough to start on the real show circuit, at least in trail or equitation classes.Taylor had also progressed more than most of Victor’s students did in the same time period.If the girl wanted to become a horse trainer, she certainly had the chops for it.Victor felt confident putting her on pretty much any horse in the barn, especially the medium-sized ponies that Victor looked ridiculous riding.However, her pony days could be limited—she was starting to shoot up, and if she took after the Stearns side of the family, she might end up taller than Victor.
Johnny stuck around during her lesson, and out of the corner of his eye, Victor saw him talking to Jade as she tacked up a horse in the aisle.He didn’t think about Johnny again until Taylor’s lesson was over and Jade entered the ring with a client’s off-the-track Thoroughbred.
Victor stepped through the gate separating the stalls from the arena.Johnny sat in one of the cheap plastic chairs set up there for spectators.
“How’d Taylor do?”Johnny asked.
“Same as usual.She’s a natural.She told me she wants to stick around and pick out some stalls.”
“Yeah, my sister told me that as long as I’m here and she ain’t a bother, she can stay as long as she wants.Within reason, ya know.”Johnny stood, briefly rocked back on his heels, like a kid with a secret.Victor wondered if he should ask.Turns out, he didn’t have to.Johnny supplied the information almost immediately.
“So, uh, I told Jade about us,” Johnny said.
Victor blinked, shocked.“That we’re together?
“Is that okay?”
“Of course.”Victor fought back a smile.“That’s great.I’m just—I’m surprised, that’s all.”
Johnny shrugged a shoulder.“I’d never told anyone before I told Sarah, and I guess it got me feelin’ brave.Felt good, ya know.To finally tell someone.I never thought it was that big of a deal.It ain’t like I make it my life or nothin’.But…” Johnny faltered, looking down at his feet.“Maybe I downplayed how much it meant or otherwise I wouldn’t feel this good tellin’ someone.”
Victor reached out and touched Johnny’s arm.“I get that.I’m proud of you.”
“You should probably tell her you’re transgender.”
Victor sucked in a breath.What a punch in the gut.“Yeah.I know.”
“She likes you a lot.As a boss and as a friend, I mean.She was real happy to hear we were together.”
Victor nodded.“I’m glad I found her.It’s hard to find good people out here in the sticks.”
Johnny ruffled Victor’s hair with a grin before wrapping a tight arm around his neck and dragging him in for a one-armed hug.“Big ole softies, both of us, huh?”
Victor snorted, even as his stomach flipped at the sudden proximity to Johnny’s chest.“That’s us.”
After they parted, Victor helped Taylor untack Midnight and then directed Taylor to a pitchfork and wheelbarrow.Johnny offered to do some weed whacking, so Victor pointed him to the shed where he kept his tools.After all this, Victor spotted Jade putting the Thoroughbred away and decided to pull off the whole Band-aid now.
“Hey,” he said, standing in the stall doorway as Jade pulled off the saddle and dumped it on the ground.
