Only Friends

Just listening to Rosetta, Jay nods, envisioning all the changes. He'd known they worked on improvements all the time - it was a shame he missed out on all of that. Yes, it had been a while. "Yeah..." What could he say to that? 

"Well, I'll have fun seeing all the new stuff. I brought clothes for a few days - I hope you don't mind." 

The rest of the ride was as pleasant as it could be, with Jeff still back at the hospital. It wasn't bad though, and Jay did enjoy the time alone with his sister, even if conversation was kept to light matters.

Once pulling back into the ranch, Jay parks near the house. Getting out with Rosetta, he takes a long breath of the ranch air. That was one thing that didn't change. Glancing over by the barns, he thinks he sees Katie with some horses, and someone else. She was next on his agenda to see. But first...

"Where would you like me to throw my stuff?" His eyes had come back to Rosetta. "If you don't have a bunk open I can always sleep in the living room off the dining hall or something. I don't mind." 

"Sure." Hunter nods and gives the filly one last pat before turning. "I'll be back with a glass for ya." He thought he knew where he was going. He was pretty sure, anyway. And Mick had said it was alright. He did still feel just a bit awkward though, helping himself. But, he was here, and he was going to jump in with both feet.

Heading to the main building, he finds the kitchen again, although it's not empty.

Dylan had just poured his own glass of lemonade and was leaning back against the counter. Seeing Hunter, he looks up, cocking his head slightly. "Hey."

"Hi." Hunter aims for the fridge. "Any of that left?"

"Plenty. Becky always makes a ton 'cause she knows we drink it."

Hunter grins and finds the lemonade, setting it on the counter. "You're... Dylan, right?"

"Yup." They hadn't met officially, but Dylan had been told Hunter was here as a guest of Katie's. He studies Hunter as he finds the glasses and pours the two drinks. "You Katie's new boyfriend?"

Hunter's eyebrows shoot up and he gives Dylan a sidelong glance. "Who told you that?"

"Nobody." Dylan shrugs. "I know she broke up with Jason though, and as far as I know, she doesn't usually have other guys out here visiting." He downs the rest of his lemonade and sets the glass in the sink.

Hunter gives him a wry grin and shakes his head. "Well, I guess there's always a first for everything. Katie and I are... good friends."

"Ah." Dylan continues to study Hunter, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If you say so."

Hunter's brow furrows and he turns, setting his hands on his hips. "Now what's that suppose to mean?"

Dylan's mouth twitches and he shrugs. "Nothin. I'll see ya later."

Watching him go, Hunter smirks. "Yeah... later." Silly kid.

As he's walking back to Katie with the lemonade though, he can't help but think about the brief exchange with Dylan. The kid probably wasn't the only person who thought he and Katie were dating. But they weren't. They were only friends... right?

Garret returns a kiss to Victoria's lips, drinking in their last few moments. It would have to last until she could sneak away to see him again. His hand moves to cradle the side of her face and as she pulls back, his thumb continues to rest on her cheek. She hadn't really answered his question. 

"And you're my light," he whispers. Yet how discouraging, not being able to embrace whenever they wanted, let alone thing of a future. There was simply no hope. And a hopeless life was slowly becoming a miserable one. 

"Go before the doctor comes," he prompts. "I'll be okay." 

He swallows hard. "Thank you... for coming. I love you."