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Whether Dad likes it or not, I’ll be there

Back in the barn, I pace back and forth across Star’s stall, waiting for Rory to get done hot-walking him

Dad appears and leads me away froerous to even think about Isn’t being an exercise rider enough for you?" Dad asks, grasping h But I never i beside horse owners I never ie I never iht try to kiss me

"It seeo that you want more for me Well, this would be"

Dad kisses the top of ht "Reot thrown from their horses Seven! Jockeys die every year And Aaron Riddle was paralyzed not long ago He’ll be on a respirator the rest of his life Max Jackson fell off a horse and broke his collarbone, his legs, his arm, and had a brain bleed! Do you knohat that would do to me if I saw you like that? I’ve already seen your et what you’re saying I really do And I’d hate to hurt you This sport has never been safe or easy But when you already have nothing, shouldn’t you take a risk to try to find soet hurt--"

"Those jockeys weren’t riding a Goodwin horse," I say, working to keep my voice steady Cedar Hill Farms isn’t located in Tennessee just because The Franklin area is full of liives the horses stronger bones That’s why the best horses in the world live in Tennessee and Kentucky

I go on, "You know Mr Goodould never put an injured horse on the track That reduces et on an injured horse That’s why so et hurt--they ride a horse that shouldn’t be on the track in the first place You know that, Dad"

He throws his head back, thinking He knows I have a point "I don’t knohat I’d do if anything happens to you"

I can tell he’s thinking of hoe lostI ood for us For our future"

His eyes ree to your being trained, I’ hi at Arby’s on the way hoh, you know I hate Arby’s"

Rory appears with Star and asks, "Did so to bathe and brush the horses before we set out for hoed in a day And I kind of like the high

The Dance, Truth or Dare, and Beef Jerky

It’s Saturday evening and I could be out at a perverted taco restaurant, but I’ behind Shelby’s birthday tent Just call ot hoe white tent was set up in the clearing between the racetrack and thedishes and flowers and lights

One section of the tent is decked out like a nightclub, con that blinks SHELBY over and over like theof a liquor store The tablecloths are black and blue Middle schoolers are dancing and sliding across the dance floor in their socked feet A DJ is teaching them to dance

I salivate when I see the chocolate fountain

The other half of the tent--the side for adults--is elegant, with silk gold tablecloths, succulent flower arrangene fountain

Good God, how many food fountains do these people have? Is there a ranch dressing fountain? Where’s the Diet Coke fountain?

If I went to college, would I be the kind of person who gets an invite to a Goodwin party?

Jack is standing on the adult side of the tent, holding a cocktail glass filled with ael and it’s like he was born to wear that tux He’s talking to an olderhim his full attention I’ve seen hiovernor

When Jack finishes speaking with the governor, he looks across the tent I follow his line of sight to Abby Winchester, who’s sitting at a table and staring at Jack Obviously

He sets the cocktail glass on a server’s tray, rubs his palether, and heads for Abby The Fairest of the Fair

The band begins playing a slow song Jack leads her out onto the dance floor and pulls her up against his chest They move fluidly, and unlike me, she clearly kno to do fancy dances like the waltz He laughs at whatever she’s saying, probably irl at the party Like how I feel when I’m around hioing on with Abby, but he’s dancing so close to her they could share skin Is a business deal worth that e back to the Hillcrest common roo with Vanessa Green, chatting about Keeneland today, telling her how I’ an apprentice jockey’s license

At the sah my Facebook wall Looks like a few juniors I ht in the gy to this dance?

Vanessa Green: NOOOO seniors don’t go to the back to school dance we only go to ho is in October it’s a big deal Guys ask girls in fancy ways--like last year this super hot senior asked kelsey by hiring an airplane to fly a banner over the school that said, Kelsey, will you go to Ho with me?

Savannah Barrow: did she say yes?

Vanessa Green: obvs ouldn’t?

Savannah Barroish I could go to the Back to School dance

Vanessa Green: LOL No you don’t

Savannah Barrow: But I do Come with me!

Vanessa Green: NO Are you crazy?

Savannah Barrow: I can get Rory to co on a new screenplay, it only takes me about five seconds to convince hiined I’d hang out with a girl like Vanessa Green I never even considered a girl like herso fast, I wouldn’t be surprised to wake up to in the west

"I’m too old for this shit," Colton says, as we all take off our boots and shoes It’s against the rules to wear theym floor