The Boy and His Ribbon (The Ribbon Duet, #1)(87)

A closeness blossomed between us, and I’d never felt so in-tune with her.

She was my angel, and I’d never forget what she did for me.

By the time Ren returned, smelling of earth with dirt under his nails, my secret was hidden, my newfound womanhood none of his business, and now, for the first time, Cassie and I shared a smile that spoke of our own special secrets.

She didn’t tell anyone I hadn’t gone to school, and the next day, instead of heading to her uni classes, she took the day off and grabbed me as I forced myself out of bed.

I was still sore but nowhere near as bad.

“Is Ren gone?” she asked, looking around the messy one bedroom.

I nodded, struggling to get up the energy to haul on my school uniform. “Yep.”

“Good. Get dressed in your joddies and boots. You’re not going to school today.”

“I’m not?”

“Nope.” She grinned with her hair plaited with a ribbon similar to the one I wore every day. “My mum let me have three days off school when I had my first period. She bought me flowers and cakes and told me turning into a woman was something to be celebrated even though I wanted to yank out my womb and never have another one.”

I giggled softly, standing in my pyjamas with one of the pads she’d given me between my achy legs. “Me, too.”

Her eyes warmed. “You don’t want me to tell anyone, so it’s come down to me. I know you don’t really like the mall, so we’re gonna go for an all-day ride. I have a hot water bottle for your tummy in my saddlebag and lots of painkillers. I’m sure you probably don’t feel like it, but the doctors always say exercise and endorphins help the pain.”

She was so full of life and friendship that I couldn’t say no.

I didn’t want to say no.

This was Cassie accepting me as a friend not just as a younger nuisance, and she wanted to spend all day with me.

Needless to say, I loved her for that too. She let me ride my favourite of her horses—black and white Domino—and she rode her newest warmblood cross called Mighty Mo.

Armed with salad sandwiches and a slice of strawberry sponge cake, we headed off and spent the day riding, chatting, and being two simple girls sharing each other’s company.

It was one of my favourite days, despite the lingering ache in my belly.

As we rode, propriety fell away, and we giggled at crude things, gossiped about people at her uni, and generally didn’t care about right or wrong.

As our bond deviated from polite conversation to openness, more complicated topics filled my head. There were so many things I wanted to ask her, but embarrassment kept me silent.

That was, until she asked if I wanted to gallop over a rolling meadow after our lunch by the forest edge, and we’d ended up racing each other. Hair streaming beneath helmets, hands clutching reins, and legs tight against saddles.

The adrenaline hit me, making me giddy and chatty. Nothing was better than a gallop. I felt free. Not trapped by age or expectation. I was just Della, and she was just Cassie, and for once, we were equals.

She laughed as we slowed to a walk, rubbing her large breasts with a grimace. “These girls have been handy in the romance department, but holy shit, they hurt when riding.”

I blushed a little, looking at my flat chest. “I don’t have that problem.”

She smirked, eyeing me. “Don’t worry. Now that your periods have started, your breasts will grow almost overnight.”

“Really?”

“Yup.” She nodded wisely. “I went from surfboard to D’s. My dad was horrified when Mum took me shopping, and I came back with bras bigger than hers.”

I laughed under my breath, picturing all the upcoming trials of my life. Bras and tampons and girly stuff that I didn’t want Ren knowing about.

We rode a bit more before I had the courage to ask. “Do the boys mind your…eh. When you’re on your period, um…”

She raised her eyebrow. “Spit it out. I won’t tell anyone, and you can’t shock me. You should know that by now.”

“Okay.” I sat taller in my saddle. “Do boys care about periods? Like when you kiss them and stuff?”

“You mean can you have sex while on your period?”

My face flared.

I didn’t know if that was what I meant, but I nodded so I didn’t look stupid.

“I guess. I mean, some do. It’s not exactly fun. But some boys aren’t squeamish. It’s natural, after all. Not our fault we bleed once a month.”

I pouted. “Once a month is too often.”

“I agree.” Cassie sighed. “It does get in the way of some things, but tampons are great if you want to go swimming and stuff. And to be fair, a boy will normally stay clear ’cause of your mood swings, not just the blood.”

“Does Ren stay clear of your mood swings?”

She laughed. “He seems to stay clear of me a lot these days.” The sad wisp in her voice made me wince, partly because I was glad he avoided her and partly because I pitied her, because once you’d been graced by Ren’s affection, it was hard to have it taken away.

“I do miss him, but I’m with Chip, and things are going well, so I guess I can’t be greedy.”

Greed.

That sneaky little sin again.

Questions exploded in my mind. Questions like ‘Am I greedy wanting things like what you have? What is it like? Is Ren a good kisser? How often did you do it?’