When in doubt, rotate

https://i.imgur.com/HGz0Nysl.png
As long as they keep to the reality it didn't really matter that they couldn't really stay away from one another....right? Umber seemed to think so asking if he could consider her his girlfriend, it can't get any more serious than that he is well aware he is, however temporarily, the other she tried to tell herself this was messed up. However, it wasn't because she was still technically married it was because she hadn't ended it and if she never did he should move on with someone who knew for sure. That wasn't wrong but it was, she was pretty sure but she agreed, not so much because he was the only one that gave her heart a little flutter of deceitful stuck-up butterflies but because her wife couldn't. She couldn't really remember when it went wrong, she was mostly a housewife Kemi didn't want her help too much so she didn't get stressed out but she couldn't help but think it had been too late for that thought.

Maybe that made this better....maybe. :*
https://i.imgur.com/5bkVYjnl.png
When she finally willed herself away from Umber she took Gideon for his next competition he didn't place but she wasn't surprised he had been a bit skittish while they were training. She found another horse, the first she ever adopted and decided to take him Gideon accepted him easily enough, now for the rest of the family. She paused knowing she was thinking of Umber too and tried to remind herself he just needed a place to stay for a few days...he was clearly just starved for affection it wasn't that he was actually falling for her...because that could so be the truth ;)

The new colt is named Moon Pie, it'll be a nice distraction for her.
https://i.imgur.com/9UsolSzl.png
Sometimes they take a moment for the easiest animal they own.

"You know Hammy.....this is getting hard for me." he only got a squeak in return but he did seem to be listening.

"I can't just stay here and hide from my problems, I just...I used to make fun of the guys that excused their behavior because of having a taste of the good life in whatever form it came....but I get it now and it is addictive.."

Hammy squeaked again giving his nose a nuzzle, he found himself chuckling most of the animals were generally the same...maybe being around her mellowed them out too.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence pal." he made sure to give him an extra treat.
https://i.imgur.com/85qYVkll.png
After a little flirting and no call from Scarlet Kemi asked Umber if he'd join her for a Valentine's dinner, she wasn't sure if it mattered if she would call and hang up it was a sign she was sure. One, she didn't want to think about.
"Umber I wanted to thank you for all the help."

"Please, I'm no stranger to offering up something for room and board, I'm happy to help."

She shook her head.

"And I know you work hard...it's a lot."

He supposed, but it was a welcome change.

"Listen I think I might need a break tomorrow..." he said suddenly, wishing it didn't have to follow her thanks.

"Of course."

"I just uh, it is time I speak to my....wife, check in with my kid he probably didn't even notice I wasn't there."

She paused remembering he had mentioned the boy before during one of their late-night talks.

"What do you think will happen?"

"...It's not going to go well." he hadn't gotten a call from either of them, just then he wondered what poison she was spreading to his son, feeling over-stimulated for a moment he reached to hold her hand. Taking peace there as she squeezed back he didn't want to be what he thought was weak and he couldn't really tell her how much her support affected him.

Part of her wanted to ask if he knew he was coming back or not but it seemed in poor taste, she felt awful but she was kind of hoping he would come back to her and she would not say so. This was getting complicated where it shouldn't have, this is all we'll ever have, repeat, this is all we'll ever have.

She just had to remind herself of that.
https://i.imgur.com/2Z7inLhl.png
His son was happy to see him but he could feel all his peace melting away as soon as he let him go, his wife was home and making a beeline for him.
https://i.imgur.com/0gvwejUl.png
"What the watcher above do you think you're doing here?! I want you off my property!"

"Wait..uh not in front of..."

"No! You didn't care about him when you were with your new little friend, you don't care now."

He grit his teeth.

"It doesn't work that way he knows I love him and I show it how I can"

"So I should feel like a princess seeing you with someone else? Amazing."

"J..."

"I'm calling the cops, you better be gone before they can get here."

"ma..."

"Hush! And go to bed!!"

https://i.imgur.com/65pVFhdl.png
He quietly did as he was told, Umber had stepped in to grab a few things and found his wife laughing at him.

"You know...I kind of feel sorry for that girl, she doesn't know the trash she just helped me take out."

He didn't say a word, knowing he deserved some of her anger most of the time he didn't.

"And don't even think about coming to see my son."

"You can't keep us apart."

"He might be yours, it would be weird," she said with a cackle as she turned on her heel to head to the kitchen as if she didn't just shatter his world.
https://i.imgur.com/rhzSlrPl.png
It wasn't true.
https://i.imgur.com/3mUORIFl.png
It couldn't be.
https://i.imgur.com/SuEODqBl.png
More broken than he'd felt in a while he could only think of one thing to settle his nerves...it was a fool's fantasy he was sure she couldn't care about him, but it seemed until he could work out what he needed to...it wasn't exactly simple dramatics to say she was all he had.

His son was his...someone loved him...that had to be true, right?


(Hmmmm and made myself sad..)