Andy Squared by Jennifer Lavoie Page B

the two of them got the horses tied, removed the riding gear, and put it away. From the tack room, Ryder pulled out two buckets of grooming supplies and handed Magpie’s to Andrew. Ryder showed him what to do with Cobalt first, then the mare. Ryder’s hand covered Andrew’s over the currycomb, guiding him into firm but gentle strokes to brush the horse. He barely heard Ryder’s instructions, though; his mind was lost in thought. When Ryder released his hand, Andrew stopped brushing and stood there, staring at Magpie’s flank.
    Why had his body reacted like that to Ryder? Or before, in the barn, when Ryder brushed against him. It had felt warm and comfortable, but Andrew knew he shouldn’t feel like that. Danielle and Cynthia were warm and comfortable. And soft. Ryder was not soft.
    â€œAndy? You all right, man?”
    Distantly he heard his name and turned to face Ryder, then blinked back to the present. “Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Maybe a little tired. But I had fun.”
    â€œGlad you enjoyed it. You should come over Saturday if you’re not busy.”
    â€œI don’t know…my dad might need me,” Andrew hedged, unable to shake the feeling that things were suddenly different between the two of them. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it was…something. Maybe he didn’t want to know.
    â€œWell, if he doesn’t need you, then. We can spend the day out riding. I can show you how to trot. You seem comfortable enough in the saddle. By the way, how do your legs feel?”
    â€œThey’re all right. My ass is a little sore.”
    Ryder smirked and gave Magpie a sugar cube from his pocket. “Wait until you start to trot. It’s really going to be sore then,” he said, leaning against the wall and staring at him with one eyebrow raised.
    That same strange feeling spiraled through Andrew. Scowling, he threw the brush at Ryder. “Shut up about my sore ass already.”

    *

    â€œDanielle called.”
    Andrew looked up at Andrea and then down at his math book again. The numbers swam uselessly on the page, taunting him as he tried to wrangle them into some sort of equation.
    â€œShe said to tell you she’s sorry, she didn’t mean it, and would like to hang out on Saturday. She’s free.”
    â€œShe told you all that? Seriously?”
    â€œActually she told Mom all that. Not me.”
    â€œMom? That’s a little much.”
    â€œYeah, well, Mom wants to know why you didn’t tell her you were having girl trouble again. I’m wondering the same thing, actually. Why didn’t you tell me? You know I wouldn’t have told Mom.”
    â€œBecause it’s none of her business. And I guess I just didn’t think it was that important.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    â€œAs if you’d want some guy talking to Mom about you. I didn’t like Danielle that much, anyway.”
    â€œThat’s what you said about Cynthia,” Andrea teased from her desk. Andrew crumpled a piece of paper and chucked it at her head, but it fell short and dropped onto the carpet in the middle of the room. “You’re going to say that about every girl that breaks up with you. Face it. You suck at relationships.”
    â€œLike you’re any better, Andrea,” he said in response. She stuck out her tongue over her shoulder.
    â€œSo, are you going to call her back?”
    â€œNo, I’ve got plans on Saturday.”
    â€œWhat plans? You didn’t tell me about this.”
    â€œIt just came up. Ryder’s teaching me how to ride a horse. That’s where I went after school today.”
    â€œBet you’re going to fall off,” Andrea said, sipping from a mug of hot chocolate.
    â€œShut the hell up. I didn’t fall, actually.” At least, not off a horse. “You’re the impulsive one who’d fall off.”
    Andrea flipped him off as she went back to her homework. A few