Needy - Kelsea Ballerini

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CHARLIE

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I hear Colt talking to someone in the kitchen when I step out of the bathroom, finally ready for the day. I wore a green crisis cross cami dress and brown boots. I never wore regular shoes anymore as my collection of cowgirl boots had expanded across the entire closet wall, which was Colt's fault. He was the one supporting my addiction.

I curled my hair into beach waves, took one last look in the mirror, and stepped out into the hall, rounding into the kitchen. I squeal when I see my best friend and Knox talking to Colt at the island table. Brooke stands, grinning, when she sees me, "Happy birthday, Char!" She wraps me in a hug, squeezing the life from me.

I said hello to Knox before making a pancake plate and sitting on the barstool beside him. "So what are we doing today?" I ask, stuffing a mouthful of pancakes in my mouth.

"Well, whenever Julia and Willow get here, I plan to start drinking," Brooke says, grinning ear to ear.

I perk up at her words, "They're coming too?" All my best friends under one roof again? This day is going to be perfect.

"Of course! Did you even notice we don't have our child with us?"

"No, actually, I didn't," I laugh, "Why'd you leave her?"

She stands and starts to dance, shaking her butt, "So we can par-tay!" Lucky perks up at her, his tail wagging so fast he could fly away.

I turn towards Knox, "Did you see Colt's new Mustang?"

His eyes dart towards Colt before looking at me, "No, he didn't tell me he was buyin' another."

Colt shrugged, "spur of the moment. She's gonna be a lesson horse."

Brooke gasps, "Wait, can I ride her?" She grabs Knox's arm, "please, Knox?"

He looks back to Colt, "ask him, not me."

She reaches across the table and grabs his hand, "Please, Colt." She stuck out her bottom lip, "Knox only buys psycho horses I could never ride."

"Aren't you in a dress?" Colt narrows his eyes at her, "but I don't care, go ahead. Someone's gotta get on her sometime."

She cheers, "Yay!" She turns towards me, "Can I borrow some shorts? I don't want Colt seeing my ass."

He snorts, "Not that I'd look. I've got enough ass to look at already."

Knox clears his throat, "anyways."

"Go ahead, they're in the middle right drawer. Pick whatever. We will go catch Seven for you." I stand up from the table, wash my dishes, and set them in the sink.

I follow the boys out to the barn. "Seven, huh?" Knox asks.

Colt chuckles, "Actually, major coincidence, which Is why I had to bring her home."

"She fits right in," he mutters as he stares into the pasture where the horses graze atop the hill.

Colt whistles, earning all of the horse's attention. I hear one nicker before all four gallop down the hill to see what the fuss is about. They probably wanted a snack.

I walk into the barn tack room to grab Seven's halter and four carrots from the small fridge we installed for snacks. The horses stuck their heads over the fence, nickering once again as they saw the orange stick in my hands.

I hand each of them one, sliding the halter over Seven's head. She doesn't pick a fight and try to run as she seems interested in all the humans standing there. Her ears perked forward as I held my hand under her nose for her to sniff. I rub my hand down her face, tracing her unique markings, "good girl."

I unlock the gate, bringing her out of the paddock as Knox walks around to check her out, "She's pretty. She do anything?"

"Used to be a cow pony before the guy retired her and gave her to his kid. He outgrew her, and she's been reproducin' cuttin' horses ever since," Colt tells him as he runs his hand down her spine. He picks up each of her hooves, picking out the dirt to ensure no injuries had occurred the past day. "Seems like she settled in nicely. The others play nice. They sometimes gang up on the red one since she's a bitch."

"You get on her yet?" Knox asks, looking at Ember galloping back towards the hill, bucking and kicking in the air.

Colt chuckles, "I've been desensitizing her in the round pen. She's a fuckin' bitch. Maybe you can help me with a few things when the girls run off." He nods, smacking him on the shoulder.

Colt goes into the tack room to saddle up Seven. He throws the pad and saddles on, looking for my friend, "Brooke, you want a bridle, or are we leading you?"

She rolled her eyes, putting her hands on her hips, "I'm not a child! Put a bridle on," she wined.

Colt smirks before retreating into the tack room for the bridle. He slips it on Seven, who already seems bored of the humans, ready to return to the field. He checks the girth before jumping up and swinging his leg over Seven. "What are you doing?" I ask him, confused.

He clicks his tongue for her to walk, "Well, I've never ridden her. Only took the guy's word for it. Lemme check her out real quick." My eyes widened at the fact he saw her and threw her in the trailer without a second glance.

Another car rolls down the driveway. Willow and Julia. I run to meet them in the driveway, screaming as they open the car doors, "My besties!"

They run to hug me and simultaneously say, "Happy birthday!"

Julia looks over to the arena, "what's going on?" Colt was trying out Seven's gears in the arena.

"Brooke wanted to ride."

Julia gasps, "can I ride too?" Instead of the dresses the rest of us wore, she wore booty shorts and a flowery v-neck tank top, showing off her breasts.

I shrug, "of course. Colt is just making sure she's not crazy. He picked her up yesterday."

"Her colors are beautiful," Willow says, walking towards the arena.

We follow her, "do you want to ride too?"

She immediately shakes her head, "No thanks." Willow wasn't a fan of horses. She liked to watch from afar, like at the rodeos. She was scared at how large they were, which is understandable. For someone who lives in Idaho, you'd think she'd ride a horse to the grocery store.

Colt canters her around the ring for a few more laps before patting her neck and jumping off. He walks to the fence where Brooke stands, handing her the reins, "all yours." Brooke climbs over the fence, patting Seven on the neck. She turns to Colt, confused. Colt looks at Knox, "Help her. I can't teach beginners," he laughs.

"I thought you were a riding teacher in Wyoming?" Julia asks, confused.

"I taught bull riding. Big difference. Knox's mom is an instructor, so he knows what to do."

We watch Knox take Brooke's trembling foot to hoist her in the saddle. She grabs on the horn, scared shitless, "Oh god," she cries.

We all laugh, "Brooke, the hard part is done. Stick your feet in the stirrups and grab the reins," Knox instructs her.

I bite my lip to hide my amused smile. I can't believe she hadn't gotten on a horse before and lived at a farm for almost a year. I lean against Colt's arm as Knox leads Brooke around the arena. "Brooke, put on your big girl panties and take the reins!" I shout across the arena.

"Fine! Give me the reins, Knox." He hands her the reins, and Seven immediately stops as he lets go. "Why did she stop?" Brooke cries.

"Tighten the reins and softly kick her," Knox tells her. His voice was calm and steady like he was used to this. I know Colt would already be aggravated because he was my riding instructor.

Brooke follows Knox's instructions, and Seven obeys when she kicks. "She moving!"

"Don't forget to steer," Knox tells her as she heads straight for us. Brooke opens her rein, yanking for Seven to turn. Never mind Knox having patience; Seven was a saint. Her ears were relaxed as Brooke weaved her around the arena, bouncing all over her back without a care in the world.

Brooke led her over to where Knox stood, ready to dismount. He helps her off as Julia yells, "Knox, got time for one more?"