CEO FALLS IN LOVE

that she would love to meet another girl, because everyone else didn't like horses and rodeos, just television and boys. Grace punched someone who called me "sick." It had been a month of classes and I was still recovering. Every now and then he would cough and seek air. Someone pushed me during class break. My friend approached the boy, who teased her by calling her a "pumpkin head" and saying that I was sick. I heard the punch - and the comments about it - but didn't see it, because I was hunched over in my seat, nervous and coughing.

When the director arrived, Grace showed me my condition and we were taken to the infirmary. My friend was never punished and that was one of my last respiratory crises. I didn't know anything about horses and rodeos, but Grace was hard to ignore and a loyal friend. My favorite subject was books. Between the two of us, we had fun and introduced new things to each other. One day, I picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone from Grandma's bookstore and took it to Grace, who was delighted and we started reading together, every day, after lunch. It was the first time I saw Jared Richards. We had been in the city for more than six months. My health improved and I enjoyed more time with my parents, because the small town allowed that. I loved spending afternoons with Grandma at the bookstore and Grace enjoyed reading with me when she didn't have to be at the farm, with her mother picking her up at dusk. One day, Miranda didn't come, but Grace's brother did. Jared was seventeen years old, with reddish brown hair and bright blue eyes. He had a kind expression, an easy smile, a hat too big for his head - which he learned, years later, belonged to his father who had died some time before - and dimples. He also had marks. Like cuts and bruises on the face that didn't match the sweetness of the red-haired boy with freckles. That outfit made twelve-year-old Abby uncomfortable and her cheeks red with embarrassment just laying eyes on it. It wasn't once, twice or three times. If Jared approached me, my heart would pound, my hands would sweat, and my skin would heat up. Just stuttering a "hi" was a victory for me. I only understood that reaction and those feelings many years later. From that time on, all I knew was the decision, very well hidden within me, to marry the cowboy. I decided this when I was twelve like someone deciding the color of a new dress, and I've never been able to let go of the idea. Abby Richards was the name I loved writing in notebooks when no one was looking. My married name. Take secret photos, save little memories. As I began to spend more and more time at Grace's house, I learned to relax around him, even though I was aware of this teenage love that filled my heart. At fifteen, Grace was in love with Colin Duke. And my friend was always one to talk and act too much, while I knew that the age difference between Jared and I was a big impediment to anything happening. Maybe upon coming of age, but at that moment, the cowboy was just what he always was. A dream. I was already trying a lot to survive school, find a future and hide in my ponytail, glasses and baggy clothes. My body was big. Compared to my best friend, I felt even worse. She was so thin and tall, like magazine models, whereas I had big breasts and ass, a wide waist and a short stature. We were two polar opposites in everything: personality, body, behavior... The closer I got to adulthood and my body developed, the more I realized my desire for Jared. The girls were crazy about the boys at school. I only had eyes for him. It was impossible to look away from the smile, from the sweaty muscles in the sun working with the horses. I was embarrassed to be caught in the act and became an expert at sneaking around the farm when no one was looking. The cowboy was still nice to me, distant and polite because he was just his younger sister's friend. And I remained as silent as on the first day. Somehow, the Richards decided I was just shy and started respecting my space. Jared entered the circuit when he turned eighteen. He rode horses, doing rope and drum trials. At twenty-one, he was already riding bulls. My heart sank every time I accompanied Miranda, Grace and Colin to watch. I hoped and prayed. He hit his head a few times, twisted a limb and was carried away, but he was never seriously injured. Jared made money, and the moment the farm started making a profit, he stopped participating in rodeos. They were intense years, in which Colin and Grace's brother did everything they could to make CJ work. While the oldest of the Richards attended the circuits to put more money into the business, the other cowboy studied at college, even after all the hours of work they had. - Jared is so handsome... so manly... - he heard in the school corridors of people who came to talk to Grace when they discovered that the man was her brother. I've seen this happen so many times. The girls tried to get close to Grace, and when they got Jared's number, they forgot about my friend. She pretended not to care, but she knew deep down she felt used. Mainly because she lived her own crusade of ignoring Colin Duke after the cowboy rejected her and broke her heart. And they both had a parade of women. They were the region's indomitable singles, the heartthrobs of Riverville, who made little ladies blush with just a smile. Colin was just a rumor. I once overheard a conversation between him and Jared about preferring the neighboring cities because he didn't attract the attention of the Riverville gossips, and that's why he was almost never caught with a woman. Grace's brother didn't seem to mind and starred in legendary stories. People swore they saw him naked and hanging from a window two blocks from the bookstore when a jealous husband almost caught him in the act. A relationship with two sisters at the same time. Using nicknames because he didn't remember the women's names. He had zero expectations, but it melted me to see him smile at me. I knew it wasn't special. He was like that with everyone. Same. However, there was no way to silence my heart, even though with me it was polite and distant, as if I were another younger sister, like Grace. He was a scoundrel. And I fell in love with him to the point that I no longer knew how to live without that feeling. And the only loyalty Jared had was to his own family and Colin. We finished school, and it was time to grow up and part ways. Grace earned a veterinary fellowship in Wisconsin, on the other side of the country. I went on to UCLA in California. I helped throw a surprise party where we danced and sang in the Richards living room one last time. My friend left the next morning, while I would stay in our small town for a few more weeks. When I got home, I cried, thinking that nothing would be the same as before, but I should get to know Grace Lynn better. She swore that she would be my best friend at eleven years old and not even many miles away would stop her. She texted me every day, made video calls, showed me around Wisconsin and

longer knew how to live without that feeling. And the only loyalty Jared had was to his own family and Colin. We finished school, and it was time to grow up and part ways. Grace earned a veterinary fellowship in Wisconsin, on the other side of the country. I went on to UCLA in California. I helped throw a surprise party where we danced and sang in the Richards living room one last time. My friend left the next morning, while I would stay in our small town for a few more weeks.

When I got home, I cried, thinking that nothing would be the same as before, but I should get to know Grace Lynn better. She swore that she would be my best friend at eleven years old and not even many miles away would stop her. She texted me every day, made video calls, showed me around Wisconsin and I took her to California. On one of our vacations together, we visited New York. After Grace left, I still lived in that limbo about the future, enjoying the weeks with my parents and grandmother in Riverville and not wanting to think about love, Jared and his women. I was leaving, away from Texas and away from the man I spent almost my entire adolescence in love with. But he wasn't the one who broke my heart. Another reason took a part of me without me expecting it. Three weeks after Grace left, I got up early in the morning to make my coffee. I dragged myself across the room, still scratching my eyes, when I saw the small figure on the floor. The hairs on my arms stood up, I faced the scene and ran towards it. There, curled up on the cold floor, Grandma was no longer breathing. I shook, screamed, tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation like I learned in school. The noise woke up my parents, and mom, upon seeing the scene, put her hand on her face and let out a scream that she would never forget. Grandma died during the night. She began to feel pain, got up to ask for help, but the heart attack prevented her from taking any more steps. She was sixty-seven years old, although she looked none of them. She was a sweet woman who cooked, ran her bookstore and was loved by the local people. It hurt me like few things: Grandma wasn't with me until we moved to Ohio, but she was a fundamental part of my life. From then on, everything went by like a haze, with the coroner, the funeral home, calling people. I only managed to cry a few hours later, in my room, when I heard Grace's voice over the phone. That's when I realized that certain things would never come back. How I needed my friend who, desperately, tried to calm me down, listening to my tears come out of my chest. We stayed there, holding the device until our fingers turned white, into the early hours of the morning, until we fell into a tired sleep. I woke up with a start, a few minutes later and without saying a word, I lay down between my father and mother, looking for comfort that I hadn't sought since we moved to Texas. My mother hugged me and played with my hair until I fell asleep. I then woke up to the most difficult day of my life. Wearing a simple black dress and holding hands with my mother, we went to the cemetery. From afar and somewhat numb, I watched people pay their respects and greet us with nods of the head and small touches on the arm. In the distance I saw Miranda arrive with Colin and Jared and run towards me. She hugged me, as expansive and welcoming as her daughter, whispering in my ear that Grace couldn't come back because of the money. I knew things at CJ were told. The business was beginning to flourish, however my best friend was on a course before university, and even with a full scholarship, she had expenses that could suffocate the family for a few years. I wanted Grace to be there, but it wasn't always possible. I stayed there, between Miranda and my mother, until the coffin came down and I said goodbye with affection, throwing dirt on her tombstone. I would miss you so much. The night before, my grandmother laughed and talked to me, wished me a good night and did not see the dawn of a new day. The world was unfair. Still amidst the confusion, we went home, where people appeared with food and started telling stories about my grandmother. We lived on the second floor of the bookstore. The house was small, but the residents of the small town made an effort to be there. I understood, but I still felt suffocated. I was never popular, I never liked crowds. And all the stories about Zooey Anderson were bittersweet. I knew all that about my grandmother, but I refused to recognize that she would no longer be there. So I ran away, getting up from the room full of people and sitting on the stairs at the entrance of the house, running away from that small memorial. As much as I wanted to appreciate people's gestures, I wanted to be alone at that moment, without the laughter, the hugs and everything else. There was a small balcony that faced the street, where I spent too many moments with my grandmother and now watched the main road of Riverville alone. - How are you? - I heard the voice next to me, thick and velvety. He knew his owner well. Jared took off his hat, combing his reddish hair with his fingers, and analyzed me before sitting next to me and awkwardly adding: - You know the question isn't like that, of course you're not well after today. . but you're well? I laughed at his expression and looked at him. He seemed worried, analyzing me so deeply. I rarely saw him like that. - How else could it be? She was so important to me, Jared..." "I'm so sorry, little one. - Thanks. It's good to know they loved my grandmother. - It gets easier with time, but it never completely heals. I lost my father very early and I wish I had a few more minutes back with him all the time. - I'm sorry, Jared... I wasn't here, but I'm really sorry. - It's the cycle of life, Abby. - I know, but... - I hesitated, my voice breaking as I added: - At the same time, I don't want to conform. I wanted more from my grandmother. She was so happy about college, wanting to visit me in California... -he said and put his hand on my knee to give it a little squeeze. I noticed electricity rise in my body and energy flow, as if I were more alive just by feeling him touch me. Jared looked at his hand and immediately removed it, almost as if the touch was inappropriate. I nervously adjusted myself, avoiding the cowboy's gaze. - I know it will, but things shouldn't change so quickly. Grace is gone... now her. Who will welcome me when I come on vacation? Make a cake? Hugging and smelling like... sweets... - Breathing hitched for a few seconds and Jared pulled me towards him, squeezing me against his chest. The tears fell thick and painful like the night before, fogging up my glasses as I felt the tearing pain in my chest. The man gently ran his fingers through my dark hair, holding me tight, as if he were my anchor in the midst of the storm. That lasted whole minutes. I needed the hug and the warm body. Of the affection that surrounded me and gave me strength, as if after that outburst, peace had finally begun to inf

the calm after the storm. - I know you can't believe it now, but the pain is less. When my father died, I felt the same way as you did," he confessed in my ear, almost in a whisper, as he hugged me, without looking at me. - I didn't want to cry, I wanted to be strong for my mother and Grace, but only God knows how I felt being alone. It's good to get this weight off your chest, it's good to cry. But do you know what's better? Remember all the moments you spent with her. - I know...

- You were loved. A beloved granddaughter. You loved her. That's what matters. I lifted my head, which until then had been buried in Jared's chest. I didn't break our hug, realizing how close I was to him. I smiled through tears and took off my fogged glasses, trying to clean them on my dress. "Jared, thank you," I sighed. - Who knew you would have such wise words. - A scoundrel like me also has a heart - he joked with one of his sideways smiles. - But seriously, when you need it, look for me. - It's... it's okay... - I replied and looked at the two of us, suddenly becoming aware of our position. - Jared... I... I need... to... go up... and... - Abby... just one thing - he asked, interrupting me. Our eyes met, Jared had fire there. I've never seen him like that before. The man stared at my lips and then placed his mouth on mine. It was a slow, sweet kiss, with desire, discovering the curves. His tongue crept into mine and they dueled, before his hand cupped my cheek, pulling me tightly closer. The spell broke and Jared backed away, as if he wanted to get away as quickly as possible, standing up as if he needed to put space between the two of us. - Jared... - I tried to say, almost as if I was mouthing his name without understanding what just happened. - No - he stopped me once again. - I... I'm sorry about that. The cowboy gave me a deep look and shook his head, as if he wanted to say more but couldn't. He didn't want to. The vulnerable expression disappeared from his face, being replaced by another one of the naughty smiles that I knew so well, as if the kiss had never happened. Jared took my glasses out of my hands and slowly wiped them on his shirt, analyzing the lenses before carefully placing them on my face and asking, "Do you want me to take you upstairs?" I can stay by your side. "It's okay, Jared. You helped me a lot. The man was silent, reaching out his hand to me, and intertwined our fingers. I felt the damn shock once again. We both ignored the feeling and advanced up the stairs. Jared went to my parents and offered his condolences, then left me sitting next to them and walked away. He hovered over me for the rest of the day, always an arm's length away, wanting to help in any way necessary. The man made me eat, gave me a glass of juice, took me away from the local gossips and took me out for air a few times. Always silent and respectful, like the Jared he knew, not the cowboy who stole a kiss before regretting it. The man's words came back to me every now and then. The best comfort I could have received that day. The hours passed, people began to leave the house and the cowboy approached, placed a kiss on my forehead and murmured once again that everything would be okay. I hugged his waist, pressing my fingers against him, and just nodded, accepting the affection. As it all began, he left. I saw him around town over the next few days, a few distant waves, a few shy smiles. And nothing like the man he was that day, without even getting closer. I stayed in Riverville for two more weeks, trying to survive the grief and prepare for the next chapter of my life. Grace called me every day, worried about me, hearing about my days at the bookstore and telling me about the start of school. Soon it would be my turn. The morning of my departure, as my dad was organizing my things in the car, Jared appeared, staring at me from across the street. I thought he would give me another one of his waves from a distance, so I walked across and stopped a few meters away from him, before greeting him. - Hi stranger. - You're strange - he replied with a smile. - With Grace at the farm, you were there every week. It took seven years for the two of you to suddenly be silent. - If you complain any more, your sister will come chatting... She can always call you. - I know, I miss her... - he confessed in a whisper. - Me too, but she's so happy. "I know," he replied. - Mom said you were leaving and I came to say goodbye. She said she came to visit yesterday. I didn't know it would be so fast. - Same? - It's obvious, little one... You're my step sister. - You went through one and now you're sending the other to college? - I replied, trying to drown out the real question I wanted to ask. That kiss is not one you give to a sister. - Yes, about the thing from the other day... - he said and took off his hat, running his hands through his hair and playing with the brim, as if looking for words to explain. - I... well... - About the kiss? - I questioned in a more serious tone while the man remained without looking at me, just shaking his head gently. - Yes. That was the moment, it shouldn't happen. I was trying to comfort you and I went too far. - It's okay, Jared. It was a strange day," I cut him off, reaching out to him. Jared squeezed her tightly, almost in agony, and I found his attitude strange. - Need to go. See you around. - You're still going to do great things - he declared with a sincere smile. - And you too, but please don't kill yourself on top of a bull. - I'll stay alive for when you get back, Abby Rose. - I really hope... with all my heart - I concluded with a smile and threw myself into his arms. Jared was unresponsive as I held him tighter, smelling him around me. The cowboy's hands pulled me with the same urgency, holding me in that position as I whispered, "Goodbye, Jared. I took a step back, separating us, and he just nodded once again, as if to say hello. I turned as I waved, back to my father and the car that would take me to California. From the corner of my eye, I watched Jared walk away. It was the last image I had of him for the next few years. The UCLA Campus was sunny, in the heart of Los Angeles, and surrounded by buildings. A middle ground between my childhood in Ohio and my teenage years in Texas. I missed the horizon line, the dry smell of grass and the warm air. I was a cowgirl at heart and kept me as Texan as possible in a place like this. I could have sworn I even picked up a slight accent from all those years in Riverville. I cured my asthma in my early years and I never worried about it again, I haven't had a single attack since the move. There in California, it was another girl arriving in a new city without any baggage behind her, even though this time I didn't have my best friend. For years, the redhead was my faithful knight. No one ignored Grace Lynn, and as a result, no one paid much attention to her brown-haired best friend with thick-rimmed glasses. We were a perfect pair. Classes started, I made some friends, but none as impactful as Grace and her desire to be my soul sister. I talked to her and my parents religiously, but I didn't even hear from the other residents of Riverville - Jared included. I took my time to get to know the place and, three months after my arrival, I was at my first party