Read Online Andy Squared by Jennifer Lavoie - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t get caught up in the drama like Charlie, Andrea, and Sarah did. He was confident in his own skin.
    The two of them made their way out to the barn and both were excited to see a light flurry had begun. The truck with the trailer no longer stood in the driveway.
    â€œThere was someone out here with your uncle before. Who was that?”
    â€œOh, the vet. He came out to take a look at one of the boarded horses. Uncle Kyle must have gone with him to his office. Come on.”
    Inside the barn, the heaters worked hard to keep it warm and comfortable. Andrew found it easy to forget the cold outside as he and Ryder prepared the horses for a ride.
    Andrew remembered a lot from earlier in the week and did most of it on his own. Ryder checked to make sure Andrew had secured the saddle.
    â€œI’m impressed,” Ryder commented, nodding as he walked around Magpie. “Most don’t remember everything after just one go.”
    Pleased with himself, Andrew led Magpie to the barn door and pushed it open only to stop in his tracks. Next to him the mare snorted softly and pulled back, stamping her foot against the barn floor.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Move,” Ryder said, coming up behind him. Cobalt nosed his shoulder and pushed him forward.
    â€œWe’re heading out in that?” Andrew pointed at the thick wall of flakes that fell from the sky, completely whiting out the landscape. The fence to one of the fields could not be seen though it stood only a few yards away from the barn. The trees did not seem to exist anymore. Nothing existed farther than two feet beyond the barn. No sound, no object. Nothing.
    â€œWhat the hell,” Ryder groaned. “It wasn’t snowing like this ten minutes ago. That’s too much to ride in.”
    â€œMaybe it’ll pass? We can wait in here, right?”
    Ryder seemed to consider, and finally nodded. “Yeah, we can wait it out. Those are big flakes. That means it won’t last too long, right? That’s what my aunt said.”
    Andrew nodded. “Sometimes.”
    The two of them put the horses back in their stalls to wait it out. Andrew pushed himself up on the half door of Magpie’s stall and leaned against the wall, his legs resting along the top of the low door. Ryder leaned against it, resting his chin on his arms. Magpie slowly chewed on some of her hay, regarding them with her big brown eyes.
    â€œDanielle called me the other day. While I was here,” Andrew finally said, holding up a piece of hay and twirling it between his fingers.
    â€œOh? What did she want? I thought she broke up with you.”
    â€œShe did. She apologized and wanted to hang out today.”
    â€œBut you’re here.”
    â€œYeah. I’m here.”
    Ryder looked up at him. Andrew shredded a piece of hay and picked another off his jeans and began to worry at that one as well. “Didn’t want to hang out with her?”
    â€œNo. I sort of made plans with you, didn’t I?”
    â€œAs I recall, you said you’d think about it. That your dad might need you.”
    Andrew lifted a hand and gestured vaguely. “Well, he didn’t, so I’m here. Besides. I didn’t really like her. She was on the way to being as needy as Cynthia, I could tell. Better to end it now and not have to deal with the drama later.”
    â€œSo who do you have in mind now?”
    Silence filled the air as Andrew pondered that question. After what seemed like an eternity waiting, he felt Ryder shift his gaze up to him. Who do I have in mind? Who do I have in mind? Is there anyone left? That question made him cringe.
    â€œNo one,” he said finally, feeling confused at his own words. “I hadn’t even given it thought.”
    â€œMaybe you need to take some time off from the serial dating. Just hang with the guys, yeah?”
    â€œMaybe.” Andrew thought about it, and the idea of not having to meet anyone’s expectations