Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Juliet

I t feels like we have been here all night when really it has just been a couple of hours. The vet gave Billy a few bags of fluid. I didn't really understand what she said was in it, electrolytes and other things. She warned us that he could get worse afterwards and he did. About half an hour after she finished, he started biting and kicking at his stomach and sweat was dripping off him. Romeo grabbed the lead rope from me and walked him around while I admit I went into panic mode and cried my eyes out.

I can't believe how amazing Romeo has been. Emma popped in earlier and put her arm around me, giving me a hug but I was imagining how it would feel for him to be the one hugging me. I hate admitting Emma was right about him. He has been so wonderful, and I have no idea how I will ever repay him for what he has done tonight.

When my granddad rung me, I told him everything and he has offered to buy Billy back and pay the vet's bills, but I had to tell him no, well not yet anyway. There are things to sort at home first before that can happen. I haven't told granddad how bad it is, but I think he suspects. I put him on speaker phone so he could talk to Romeo, in the end he persuaded him to accept some money towards the livery for now.

"Are you okay?"

Romeo's voice pulls my back from my own thoughts.

"Tired. I've got so much going on, and I feel numb right now. I don't know how to thank you for today."

"I told you before you don't need to thank me. Billy needed help and I could give it. Can't believe I spent my day saving a horse, couple of months ago I was scared to even go near one."

"Will you ride him?"

"No. You'll be the riding him. You do understand I know nothing about horses so you're gonna have to help me. You're the one that knows all about his special diet, about getting the weight back on him. And once he is fit and healthy I don't have a clue about riding horses."

"You want me to still look after him?"

"I assumed you would want to…" Romeo looks at me with concern in his eyes.

"Yes. Yes, of course I do. I just thought… I don't know what I thought. I mean once you get a girlfriend, if you end up with someone from here, then they might not want you hanging around with me."

"There's only one person here I am interested in. I thought you worked that out?"

"Megan said…"

"I don't care what she said, she was rather upset when I made it crystal clear to her earlier that I wasn't interested. Look, today has been stressful, I don't want you making any decisions about anything, about you and me, right now."

"Me and you?" I couldn't quite believe my ears.

"I don't want you to agree to go out with me because you feel you have to. This with Billy is totally separate, if anything, my shrink would probably tell you that it is more to do with saving him because I couldn't save my mum. I liked you before he got ill. I just didn't think you like me."

"I didn't at first, I thought you were a total idiot. Emma has been your biggest cheerleader. She kept telling me I had you all wrong. I guess if anything I was the idiot."

"Nah! You were right I was a prat. I was angry at the world and didn't know how to tell anyone. My aunt bringing me up here annoyed the hell out of me at first but slowly it helped. I can't explain it. Sitting on a fence looking out over the hills made me feel closer to my mum again, I could believe in a better place with her looking down at me. It's helped let go of my anger and get closer to my aunt but more than that, look it will seem stupid to you but something about the horses helped."

"It's not stupid, they know, they understand us better than we understand ourselves at times. Take Billy here, he's been mistreated and neglected but he still knows when he can trust someone." I reach up and stroke Billy's neck. He looks tired, but his eyes are still bright. "Billy knew straight away he could trust you. He's a better judge of character than me."

I look away. It's true Billy, Emma, and so many others saw Romeo far more clearly than I had. I was judgemental and horrible to him. I feel my cheeks burn and look away, so he won't see the flush. Stupid that now I finally know I would like to get to know him better, that we are in a position where he won't ask me out.

I hear my name called from the entrance to the arena. Georgia is ready to run me home.

"I have to go, I'll come first thing, that way you can have a lie in if you're here late."

"I'll be here. And Juliet, don't worry I think everything will work out in the end."

He reached over and took my hand in his. A gentle squeeze and I was undone. The tears start streaming down my face again. Holding onto Billy with one hand the other arm reaches out and pulls me in against his chest. I can feel his breath warm against my scalp.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. I promise, and I don't make promises I can't keep, my mum taught me better than that. Now you go home and get some sleep. And please wipe those tears, you know if you go out there crying my aunt is gonna come back here and give me so much shit."

Despite the stress of the evening there is laughter in his voice, and I look up to see him smiling at me. I don't trust my voice, so I nod at him before turning and walking towards the exit. His aunt is parked across the entrance way, nervously I climb into the car. Is she going to be mad at me because of what happened? Will she blame me for him spending his money on Billy?

"Don't worry. Billy will be fine."

"Romeo, just said the same."

"Do you like him?"

"Who?"

"Don't play games with me? I know you're not that sort of girl to start off with. Romeo doesn't open up to many people. And I know, you're both young, it might not go anywhere, it might not last more than a few weeks or it might last forever. But do you like him?"

"Yes, I didn't at first, everyone told me how special he was, but it took tonight for me to really understand just how amazing he is."

"If you like him then you have my blessing, try not to break his heart and know if he breaks yours, I will kick his backside from here to hell and back. He's a good boy, he's had it tough, things won't always be easy, but I think the three of you will be a good match."

"The three of us?"

"You, Romeo, and Billy of course. It seems to me the pair of you own a horse together now."