Riley was having the time of his life hanging out with some of the other kids, especially a cute little redhead who stared at him as if he were the hottest guy in the room. To a teenage girl, he probably was with those deep blue eyes and messy, almost black hair. Riley had a face that made teenage girls swoon along with being taller than most boys his age. Izzy saw Cooper in him especially in the way he smiled, how he walked, and in his profile. No wonder people thought Cooper was his dad.
Cooper was over halfway through his five-game road trip, and she missed him like crazy. Video sex was no substitute for the real man despite how much fun it was. The team had won their game tonight, winning two out of three so far, and she’d texted him a congratulations, but that was all she’d had time to do.
Party crashing was one thing, party planning was a whole different ball game. Despite the challenges, Tanner and the guests declared the party a resounding success. By the time the last guest left, it was too late to call Cooper. Izzy couldn’t wait to soak her tired body and aching feet in a nice warm bubble bath, but Emma approached her as Izzy and Riley left the building.
“Izz?” Emma seemed nervous.
“Yes?” Izzy couldn’t keep the weariness from her tone.
“Why don’t you and Riley come to our studio? You haven’t talked to Avery since—well, since…” Emma looked everywhere but at Izzy.
“I know how long it’s been. She can call me, too, you know?” Izzy tapped her toe impatiently on the sidewalk, more than ready to go home. She glanced at Riley who stood beside her in silence, while his keen gaze watched the two sisters and Izzy interact.
“I know, but you’re our big sister. It’d mean a lot if you went to her first.” Emma looked up at her with luminous blue eyes full of unshed tears. She’d always been the peacemaker in the family and hated conflict among the sisters.
Izzy opened her mouth to say no, tired of being the one to make concessions and extend the olive branch, but she couldn’t bring herself to break Emma’s heart. Her sisters were her world, and she’d do anything to keep that world together, even come begging at Avery’s door.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
Emma’s huge smile was reward enough for doing a little sisterly groveling.
A half-hour later, Izzy followed Emma into a gravel parking area in front of a large horse barn. Riley’s eyes widened as he took in everything. Walking down the barn aisle, he stared at each horse, leaving Izzy to suspect he’d never seen a horse up close and personal before. He didn’t touch any of them, just stared at each one as if in complete awe of the large animals.
Izzy didn’t much care for horses or the smell. She couldn’t fathom anyone quitting college to work in a barn. Even now, it angered her. Avery was throwing away her life, for what? Some broken bones and a job that didn’t pay benefits or have any job security. Riding horses was a hobby, not a profession.
As they mounted the stairs to the apartment, Izzy trailed behind Emma and Riley, holding back in the hope Emma would warn Avery she was here.
Izzy walked through the doorway and stared at the surprisingly tidy little apartment with its worn furniture complete with a black barn cat lounging in a ratty easy chair. The flooring was a wood-type laminate. A short hallway led to at least one bedroom and a bathroom. Sliding glass doors opened onto a small balcony. It was actually nicer than many of the apartments Izzy had rented over the years.
Avery stood across the room, wringing her hands and ignoring Izzy. Emma introduced Riley, who smiled shyly and studied the shelves of horse trophies on the plywood and concrete block bookcase.
“Wow, did you win all these?” Riley said to Avery in wonder.
Avery nodded. “I love horses. I’ve been showing horses since I was your age. I worked at barns after school to earn the money for lessons.”
“I’ve never seen a real horse until today,” Riley admitted.
“City boy,” Avery teased, and Riley blushed.
“I guess.”
Avery turned to Izzy. “What do you think of the place?”
“It’s nice. Especially for an apartment in a horse barn.” Izzy cringed at her disparaging words and was about to apologize, but Avery interrupted.
“That’s the problem, isn’t it? It’s in a horse barn.” Avery rounded on her sister, eyes blazing, hands fisted. Anger reflected in the tight stance of her body.
“You are a straight-A student. You could be anything. A doctor. A researcher. An engineer. Anything at all.”
“This is what I want to do. My grades are irrelevant.”
“You have the brains to do so much more than this,” Izzy countered.
Avery closed her eyes for a moment. When she spoke again, she was much calmer. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I expect you to accept my choices instead of criticizing and belittling me.”
“I’m not. I just don’t want you to make mistakes you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
“Seriously?” Avery rolled her eyes. “Guess what, Izz, this is my life. You do not get a vote. I’m done living the life everyone else expects of me. I’m living my life, my way. I love horses.”
“Just like Mom and Dad love music? At the expense of everyone and everything else in their lives?” Izzy propped her hands on her hips and stared down her sister. Her glare usually intimidated the twins and caused them to back down. Only it wasn’t working right now.
“Yes, just like that. Only I won’t make the mistake of having kids. This is what I want to do, what I’ve always wanted to do, with or without your approval.”
Izzy glanced over at Riley, knowing he was getting an earful. He kept his back to them as he studied the trophies, picking several up and reading the inscriptions. He paid more attention to her sister’s prizes than Izzy ever had. In fact, with a twinge of guilt, Izzy tried to remember if she’d ever attended one of her sister’s horse shows.