“What are you thinking about,” I whisper a few minutes later, when our breathing and our heartrates have returned almost to normal. Kent has shifted himself to lay at my side, though I’m still on my back, one of his warm arms wrapped around me and pulling me close to his body.
Kent doesn’t say anything for a second, and then he gives a warm little laugh. “Nothing, Fay. I’m thinking about nothing. That’s sort of the point.”
“Is it?” I ask, turning my head fast towards him. Because I – I am thinking about everything. My thoughts are going wild right now – does that mean I did it wrong?
Oh my god.
Did I do it wrong?
Kent slowly opens his eyes a little and looks at me, his arm tightening to bring me closer. “Yes, Fay,” he whispers. “It’s supposed to be relaxing. Peaceful.”
“Oh,” I say, slowly, my face confused.
He smiles at me, amused, and I bite my lip a little, unable to help my little smile in return. It’s so rare to see Kent smile – it pleases me to be the one to make him do it, I realize.
“What,” he asks. “You’re not feeling relaxed?”
“No,” I whisper, my smile broadening. “I feel…kind of crazy.”
“What?” he asks, surprised and a little worried. His eyes open fully now. “What –“
“I mean,” I say eagerly, turning my body towards him. “Was it any good? Did I do it right? Did you – did you like it? Was I supposed to –“
“Fay,” Kent groans, laughing again and closing his eyes, a wider smile on his face now. He takes a deep breath, collecting his thoughts, and then he opens his eyes again to look at me seriously. I note, however, that he still has a little curve at the corners of his lips. “It was good if you enjoyed it. It’s not really about what I experienced – or it shouldn’t be, for you. That’s not what I want.”
“Why is there a blanket here?”
He turns to me, confused.
“Like,” I say, smiling at him, a little roguish. “Like, did you plan this? Did you put this blanket here just in case –“
He laughs now, a true, real laugh, and I smile to see him do it. “No, Fay,” he says, his eyes peacefully closed again and his face turned up to the ceiling. “I’m smooth, but I’m not that smooth. It’s probably one of the stable hands – sometimes someone has to stay with the horses all night, and one of them probably comes up here for some peace and quiet.”
“Oh,” I say, looking around and considering the place anew. Actually, I can see and understand that now – it’s quite nice up here. Peaceful, like Kent said.
I look at him again, though, biting my lip and trying to work up the courage to ask the real question on my mind. How was I the same girl who stood up to him downstairs in the stall? Where was she now when I need her?
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