It's Complicated

Chapter Twenty-Two

The following Friday, Dani and I both have the day off so we decide to go shopping. We obviously decide to start at our favourite tack store, which is where we are now. I had briefly considered inviting Isabelle, but decided against it. It's been a while since Dani and I had hung out, just the two of us. The moment we met up at Mosley's for pre-shopping lattes, I knew I had made the right decision.

"What do you think of these?" She asks, holding up a pair of light tan riding breeches with pale blue accents and stitching. I nod appreciatively, but don't bother to ask how much. This trip, for me at least, is strictly window shopping. We have another horse show coming up in about a week's time and I've been saving all of my money up for that.

"They're nice. Would look good on you." And I'm not lying there. They would look good on her slight figure. Basically everything looks good on her. If she wasn't one of my best friends then I might actually be jealous. She looks them over for another moment more before draping them over her arm to try on.

"You know I can spot you money if you find anything you like." She says, for the second or third time, as I look through the racks of clothes. I smile and once again shake my head 'no'. She already offered to pay for lunch, and I had only just barely agreed when she insisted that we could keep it cheap at the food court in the mall.

   "I know, Dani, and I love you for it, but it's okay. Honestly. I don't really need anything anyway." She rolls her eyes.

   "Since when has that ever stopped anyone in the past?" I laugh along with her, but let the subject drop. I've always hated it when people try to spend their money on me.

We continue around the store, and I almost take Dani up on her offer when I find a beautiful navy blue saddle pad and bonnet set that would simply look stunning on Starr, but I control myself. Barely. Dani almost looks like she's going to grab it anyway, but she stops with a look from me. When we finally get to the back corner with the changing rooms, she thrusts her purse into my empty arms and steps into one. I take a seat in a nearby armchair and settle in to wait for her to finish.

A minute or two later, the door flies open, revealing her in the same breeches she had shown me earlier. I was right. She does look absolutely stunning in them.

   "If you were thinking of buying those, then you definitely have too! Those look beautiful on you!" Dani blushes at my praise, smoothing her hands over her hips.

   "I thought they'd look good paired with a white polo for shows." I nod, mentally picturing the combination.

   "Yeah." I agree. "Or maybe a pale blue if it matches. Use the same colour saddle pad as your shirt. You're lucky you have a black horse that looks good in basically everything."

Dani laughs as she nods her agreement. She disappears back into the change room. She doesn't come out to show me anything else, so I sit quietly for another fifteen or so minutes. Once the door opens again, I get to my feet. She's holding her armful of clothes and looks indecisive.

   "I want it all, but it just seems like a lot of money." I can definitely relate to that problem. I follow her back out to the racks where she pulled most of her clothes from. She places the tan breeches aside, then sorts through the few other pants she has. Looking between all of them, she finally decides on another pair of dark coffee coloured ones. Next, she moves to the shirt rack, putting all but a navy blue polo back. She looks back over her much smaller armful now and nods with a smile.

   "You ready to go?" She asks. I'm about to nod when I remember that it's about time for me to worm Starr again.

   "Yeah, just one sec." I lead the way over to the shelf of equine health products, grabbing a QuestPlus off the shelf.