Patrice, who was now shivering so hard he was vibrating, raised an eyebrow while taking in his surroundings. “So I take it that part of our romantic date involved the outdoors.” I groaned and he pointed at the barn longingly. “Maybe it’s warmer in there?”

I sighed and nodded as I grabbed the saddlebags I’d prepared with some snacks and spiked hot cocoa for us to drink at some point during our snowy trail ride.

“Yeah, but it’s going to be a challenge being on a horse in this weather.” I grimaced again as we stepped into the less cold, but not nearly warm enough barn. The weather outlook had been good, but around here a squall could hit at any time.

“Horse?” Patrice asked, sounding more than a little freaked out.

Fuck, maybe Patrice didn’t like horses.

I put down the bags on the floor and turned to find him looking a little spooked and still shivering. It was still freezing even inside the barn and he was looking around the stable like he expected a wild horse to break free from one of the stalls and trample us to death.

“So I take it you’re not a fan of horseback riding?” I asked, and watched him stiffen with every word.

“I’ve never ridden a horse before.” He shrugged and tried to smile, but I could tell he was embarrassed. “It’s not like there’s a big riding scene in the South Bronx you know?”

I couldn’t tell if the humor in his voice was real or if it was just his way of trying to not make me feel like a jackass. Why did I assume that Patrice would be up to gallivanting on a horse in the snow like we were in a fucking Disney movie?

“Hey, what’s all that glaring about?” Patrice’s light tone went a long way to make me feel less like a clueless moron. “It’s a little cold, but we can still have a good afternoon.” Now he was talking to me like I was a hurt kitten.

I exhaled through my nose as I stiffly returned his embrace. The only thing that was keeping me from being completely flustered was the fact that Patrice seemed to think that my utter failure was adorably funny.

I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling so big his eyes were crinkling, and I could see his molars. “Why are you smiling? You’re usually somewhere between solemn and full-on annoyed. But me bringing you out here to freeze your balls off on my pretentious faux date has you downright giddy.” I huffed as he laughed again. “What the fuck, Patrice?” I could not for the life of me avoid sounding like a whiny baby.