Andy Squared by Jennifer Lavoie Read Free Book Online

Ryder said as they pulled up to his house.
    She had been upset, but okay with changing the date until Andrew had slipped up and mentioned that it was Ryder’s house he was going to, not home to take care of Andrea. And that’s when she lost it. “I guess I deserved it, though. I promised her, and then I broke the promise to hang out with you,” Andrew lamented. “But worse, I lied about it at first.”
    â€œYou lied? Fatal mistake.”
    â€œI guess.” He parked the truck and sat there with his hand draped over the steering wheel, staring out the window. “Girls can be so…I don’t know—”
    â€œAnnoying? Frustrating? Fickle? Conceited? Confusing? All of the above?” Ryder started, ticking off descriptions on his fingers. Andrew glanced at him and rolled his eyes. At least one of them appeared to be having fun with this. Andrew continued to brood, taking in the Kensingtons’ farm. The lights were on in the barn, and in the house the kitchen light shone brightly through the curtains. From the chimney a light plume of smoke rose over the buildings.
    â€œWhy are you so broken up over it? It didn’t seem like you really liked her that much.”
    â€œI didn’t. But”—Andrew felt sheepish—“I haven’t gotten laid in weeks.”
    Ryder shook his head and climbed out of the vehicle. “Oh, poor you. Come on.”
    The snow from the last storm crunched lightly underfoot as they walked to the barn. Dumping their bags on a table in the corner, they walked down the row of stalls to find Kyle Kensington mucking out one of them. He didn’t notice them for a minute and continued to work in silence.
    â€œHey, Uncle Kyle,” Ryder said. The man started and whipped around, breathing a sigh of relief.
    â€œRyder! You scared me, son. Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
    â€œSorry, but we weren’t really that quiet.”
    â€œNo matter. Hello, Andrew.”
    â€œHi, Mr. Kensington.”
    â€œI brought Andrew over to ride. He’s never been before,” Ryder said, walking to one of the stalls and scratching the cheek of the horse inside.
    â€œAll right. Be careful. And take Magpie. She hasn’t been exercised yet.” Finishing up with the stall, Ryder’s uncle put some new hay down and disappeared with the wheelbarrow out the door.
    Magpie was a black-and-white mare. Her head and back were a dark, nearly blue black, and her chest, shoulder and barrel were a snowy white. She greeted them at the door of her stall and leaned over, lipping Ryder’s palm for a nonexistent treat. Ryder chuckled softly.
    â€œSorry, Magpie. I don’t have anything just yet. Andy, this is Magpie. Magpie, Andy.”
    Andrew felt a little foolish talking to the horse. But Ryder was doing it, so what the heck? “Uh, hello.”
    â€œIt’s okay to talk to a horse. They can understand you. I talk to Cobalt all the time,” he added for reassurance. Andrew nodded. “All right, let’s get you set up.” Grabbing the lead rope tacked up outside the stall, Ryder clipped it onto her halter, opened the door, and led her out.
    â€œDon’t I need something to sit on?” Andrew asked, looking at the horse skeptically. Ryder laughed at him as he tied the mare up to ropes between the stalls. “What’s that for?”
    â€œWe’ll get you a saddle in a second. This is to keep her in place while we get her ready. After we ride, we’ll groom them. But right now, before we go, I like to give the horses a quick brush before I put the saddle on, and then I check the hooves.”
    â€œOh, but…” Andrew indicated the ropes.
    â€œIf we don’t tie them up on both sides and you’re working here,” Ryder said as he stood between the horse and one wall, “the horse can lean against you and push you into the wall. Especially if you’re giving them a good