The engagement ring caught my eye. Oh. God. What was I doing?
Walker set me down and began pushing his hand into my riding pants. Stop this Liza. Keith. Think about Keith.
But maybe I could have just one touch. I only needed one touch to sooth the ache.
His hand slipped into my panties and I let out whimper. I needed him to touch me just once more. His fingers moved across my sensitive skin until they finally found where I needed relief. I lifted my leg as Walker pushed two fingers inside of me and let out a moan. Then he stopped. He pulled his hand out and took a step back. I shook my head.
“Wait…what are you doing? Don’t stop!” I said.
“I need to know what you’re going to do, Liza, before we continue this.”
My head was spinning and I longed for his touch. My head slowly started to take control back from my heart.
I reached under my shirt and adjusted my bra. “This is what I mean. I lose all control when you’re around. I can’t tell you no.” I pushed him.
He was stunned. “What are you saying, Liza?”
I felt tears building in my eyes. “I’ve made a promise to someone, Walker. I’m wearing the ring he gave me.”
Walker pulled my necklace out from under my shirt. “What about this ring, Liza?”
I swallowed. My heart was breaking in two and I didn’t know what to do. “Walker, please. Please don’t do this to me. I’m begging you. What about Jessica?”
Walker dropped the ring and it fell against my chest. “I’m not with Jessica.”
I sucked in a breath of air. “Why?”
Walker backed away. “I broke up with her.”
I shook my head and looked into his eyes. “Walker, why?”
He began to walk out of the stall, but looked back at me to say, “I couldn’t be with her when I was in love with someone else.”
My mouth fell open and I stood there, frozen in place.
“You’d better get Tiny,” Walker said. “He’s starting to wander off.”
Walker left the barn. I tried to call to him, but all that came out were sobs. I fell to the ground and whispered his name over and over. It had happened again. I watched as the only man I’d ever truly loved walked away, leaving me alone and broken.
I JUMPED UP when Reed walked in. “Any sign of him?” I asked.
Reed shook his head. “No, sweetheart. Nothing.”
I sat back down as Courtney wrapped an arm around me. “Liza, I’m sure Walker is fine. We just need to stay calm.”
I nodded as Ava walked up and handed me a hot chocolate. I smiled weakly at her.
“I know how much you love hot chocolate so…” she trailed off.
Ava sat down on the sofa opposite of her mother and me. Her phone pinged and she grabbed it, quickly typing back to someone. She stood up and walked to the kitchen.
I took a sip of the hot chocolate and turned to Courtney. “I’m sorry, I’m the reason he left without telling anyone. This is all my fault.”
Courtney shook her head and gave me that sweet smile of hers. “No, don’t say that, Liza. Whatever happened between you and Walker is between you—”
“He’s okay.”
Reed, Courtney, and I all turned to Ava.