The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the sprawling backyard of the safe house. The tension from the past week had slowly dissipated, and things were beginning to feel normal again—or at least as normal as life could get after everything that had happened. Jade and Mia had spent the past few days lounging, catching up on their favorite shows, and trying to find joy in the mundane.
But today was different.
Milan had surprised them earlier that morning with a special delivery: a sleek, chestnut-colored horse with a white streak down its nose. It stood proudly in the backyard, its ears twitching as it surveyed its new surroundings.
“You bought a horse?” Jade asked, her tone equal parts disbelief and amusement as she stared at the magnificent animal.
Milan crossed his arms, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I thought you two could use a distraction. Something to get you out of the house and into the fresh air.”
Mia’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she clapped her hands together. “This is amazing! I’ve always wanted to try horseback riding.”
Jade, on the other hand, looked skeptical. “You’re assuming we know what we’re doing. I’ve never been near a horse, let alone on one.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Thiago chimed in, leaning against the porch railing with a grin. “Besides, it’s not like you’re going far. Just the backyard. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“That’s exactly what people say before something goes terribly wrong,” Jade muttered, eyeing the horse warily.
Enzo, who had been quietly observing, chuckled. “Relax. It’s a trained horse. It’s not going to throw you off unless you do something stupid.”
“Comforting,” Jade replied dryly, but Mia was already grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the horse.
The horse, whom Mia had decided to name “Romeo,” stood patiently as one of Milan’s men showed them how to saddle up and mount. Mia volunteered to go first, her excitement outweighing any nerves she might have felt.
“This doesn’t look so hard,” she said confidently, placing her foot in the stirrup and swinging her leg over the horse’s back.
Romeo shifted slightly, causing Mia to wobble. “Okay, maybe it’s a little harder than it looks,” she admitted, gripping the reins tightly.
Jade snorted, crossing her arms. “You look like a kid on one of those coin-operated rides outside a grocery store.”
“Shut up and get on,” Mia shot back, sticking out her tongue.
Jade sighed but stepped forward, placing her foot in the stirrup. With some effort—and a lot less grace than she hoped—she managed to climb onto the horse behind Mia. Romeo snorted, tossing his head as if to say he wasn’t thrilled about carrying two riders.
“This feels… weird,” Jade said, holding onto Mia for balance.
“Stop squirming,” Mia said, trying to adjust the reins. “You’re going to make us fall.”
“I’m not squirming! The horse is moving!” Jade protested.
From the porch, Thiago and Enzo burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the show. Milan, ever the composed one, simply shook his head with a faint smile.
“Lean forward a bit,” Milan called out. “You’re sitting too far back. You’ll make Romeo uncomfortable.”
Jade muttered something under her breath but did as she was told. “This was your idea,” she grumbled to Mia.
“Lighten up,” Mia said with a grin. “This is fun!”
“Fun for you,” Jade retorted. “I feel like I’m going to fall off any second.”
With the help of Milan’s men, Romeo was guided into a slow walk around the yard. Mia giggled as they bounced gently with each step, while Jade clung to her for dear life.
“You’re supposed to enjoy it, not look like you’re about to die,” Mia teased, glancing over her shoulder at Jade.
“I’ll enjoy it when I’m back on solid ground,” Jade replied, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into Mia’s shoulder.
The horse suddenly stopped, causing both women to lurch forward. Mia let out a startled squeal, and Jade tightened her grip. From the porch, Thiago doubled over in laughter.
“I don’t think Romeo’s a fan of you two,” Enzo said, smirking.
“Maybe he doesn’t like passengers who complain,” Thiago added, earning another round of laughs.
“Very funny,” Jade called out, her sarcasm evident. She slid off the horse the moment it came to a halt, stumbling slightly as her feet hit the ground. “I’m done. Have fun, Mia.”
“Oh, come on,” Mia protested, but Jade was already retreating to the safety of the porch.
Milan approached, his calm presence reassuring. “It wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Jade shot him a look but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “It was… interesting. But I think I’ll leave the riding to Mia.”
Mia, still on the horse, waved enthusiastically. “More for me! Romeo and I are going to be best friends.”
Thiago leaned closer to Jade, his grin mischievous. “I think we should get you on again tomorrow. Practice makes perfect.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Jade replied, rolling her eyes.