เข้าสู่ระบบThe third night felt heavier than the ones before. Rain still fell outside. The apartment stayed warm and quiet. Abigail and Flora had finished dinner and washed the dishes side by side. Their hands had brushed more than once under the running water. Neither of them had pulled away. Now they sat on the couch again. The television played low. Neither of them watched it. Flora wore another one of Abigail’s shirts. Soft blue this time. It hung loose on her shoulders. Abigail kept looking at the way the fabric moved when Flora breathed. “You’re quiet tonight,” Flora said. “Just thinking.” “About what?” “Nothing important.” Flora turned toward her. Their knees touched. “You’ve been different since I got here.” Abigail felt her shoulders tighten. “I’m fine.” “Are you?” Flora’s voice stayed soft, but something sharp sat under it. “Because it feels like you’re avoiding me sometimes.” “I’m not avoiding you.” “You barely looked at me at dinner.” Abigail set her glass down harder t
The next morning Abigail woke to the sound of her phone ringing. She reached for it with half-closed eyes. Flora’s name lit up the screen. “Hey,” Abigail said, her voice still rough from sleep. “My apartment is flooded.” Flora sounded tight and tired. “A pipe burst upstairs. Everything is soaked. The landlord says it will take days to fix.” Abigail sat up fast. “Come here. Stay with me.” “Are you sure?” “Yes. Pack what you can and come over.” An hour later Flora stood at the door with a duffel bag and a backpack. Her hair was messy. Her eyes looked red. Abigail pulled her inside and hugged her without thinking. The hug lasted longer than a normal one. Flora’s body felt warm against hers. When they stepped apart, both of them looked away for a second. “I only grabbed the important things,” Flora said. “Clothes. Laptop. Some toiletries.” “That’s fine. You can use whatever you need here.” Abigail showed her the spare drawers in the bedroom and the extra towels in the bathroom.
Abigail opened the door and smiled when she saw Flora standing there with a bottle of wine and a bag of chips. “You made it,” Abigail said. “Of course I made it. You texted me three times.” Flora stepped inside and kicked off her shoes. “Long week?” “The longest. Come in.” They had been best friends since the second week of college. Eight years later they still spent most Friday nights together when they could. Abigail lived in a small apartment on the third floor. The living room was warm and messy in a comfortable way. Soft lamps lit the space. A couch faced the window. Flora set the wine on the counter and opened the bag of chips. Abigail grabbed two glasses. They poured the red wine and carried everything to the couch. “Work was a nightmare,” Abigail said as she sat down. “My boss changed the deadline again.” Flora dropped onto the other end of the couch and tucked her legs under her. “I had three clients cancel on me. Then one of them yelled at me over the phone.” Abigail
Morning light filled the cabin. Anna packed her bag with slow hands. Clothes folded neat. Boots set by the door. The week was over. The rental car waited in the yard. Her chest felt tight. Every part of her wanted to stay. The city and the old life pulled the other way. She carried the bag outside. The ranch was quiet. Most guests had left the day before. Only the soft sound of horses in the pasture. She walked toward the stables. Ready to say goodbye even if the words hurt. Jaxon stood near the open doors. Two horses already saddled. Dusty and his black horse. He watched her come closer. His face was calm. His eyes were steady. “You packing to leave?” he asked. “That was the plan.” He stepped in front of her. Took the bag from her hand and set it down. “Change the plan. Stay. Ride with me for real. Not for a week. For as long as we want. Build something that lasts.” Anna looked at him. The open land behind him. The horses waiting. The man who had taken her body and her
The final full day of the retreat arrived clear and bright. Anna woke in her cabin with the weight of the week pressing on her. One more day. Then she was supposed to leave. The thought sat heavy in her chest. She dressed and walked to the barn. Jaxon stood waiting with two horses already saddled. Dusty and his black horse. No other guests around. “Group ride is canceled,” he said. “You and me today. I know a place.” Anna nodded. The words she wanted to say stayed quiet for now. She mounted and they rode out. The trail climbed higher than the ones they had taken before. The land opened into wide grass and scattered trees. The air grew cooler as they rose. They reached a high meadow by late morning. A hidden creek ran through the middle. Clear water. Smooth stones. Tall grass all around. No one else in sight. Only sky and land and the two of them. Jaxon swung down and helped her off Dusty. His hands stayed on her waist a moment longer than needed. Then he pulled a blanket f
Anna woke alone in her cabin the next morning. The bed still held the scent of Jaxon. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The night before stayed vivid in her mind. His mouth on her. The slow deep way he moved inside her. The way he held her after. She dressed and walked to the main house for breakfast. Jaxon was already there. Talking with a man she had not seen before. The stranger was older. Gray at the temples. He wore a clean hat and stood with the easy posture of someone who owned land. Jaxon looked up when she entered. His eyes held heat for a second. Then he turned back to the other man. “Anna, this is Cole Harlan. He runs the ranch next to mine.” Cole nodded. “Pleasure. Jax and I go back a long way.” They ate at the long table. Conversation stayed light at first. Weather. Cattle prices. Then Cole leaned back in his chair and looked at Jaxon. “Still keeping things short term I see. Some habits never change.” The words landed hard. Anna felt them in her chest. Jaxon







