Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

We watched the Sisterwood Cup, and then the Maiden Stakes, and Nathan
won six pounds on a small each-way bet. Will declined to bet. He watched each
race, but he was silent, his head retracted into the high collar of his jacket. I
thought perhaps he had been indoors so long that it was bound to all feel a little
weird for him, and I decided I was simply not going to acknowledge it.
‘I think that’s your race, the Hempworth Cup,’ Nathan said, glancing up at the
screen. ‘Who did you say your money was on? Man Oh Man?’ He grinned. ‘I
never knew how much more fun betting is when you’re actually watching the
horses.’
‘You know, I didn’t tell you this, but I’ve never been racing before either,’ I
told Nathan.
‘You’re kidding me.’
‘I’ve never even been on a horse. My mum is terrified of them. Wouldn’t even
take me to the stables.’
‘My sister’s got two, just outside Christchurch. She treats them like babies.
All her money goes on them.’ He shrugged. ‘And she isn’t even going to eat
them at the end of it.’
Will’s voice filtered up towards us. ‘So how many races will it take to ensure
we’ve fulfilled your long-held ambitions?’
‘Don’t be grumpy. They say you should try everything once,’ I said.
‘I think horse racing falls into the “except incest and morris dancing”
category.’
‘You’re the one always telling me to widen my horizons. You’re loving it,’ I
said. ‘And don’t pretend otherwise.’
And then they were off. Man Oh Man was in purple silks with a yellow
diamond. I watched him flatten out around the white rail, the horse’s head
extended, the jockey’s legs pumping, arms flailing backwards and forwards up
the horse’s neck.
‘Go on, mate!’ Nathan had got into it, despite himself. His fists were clenched,
his eyes fixed on the blurred group of animals speeding around the far side of the
track.
‘Go on, Man Oh Man!’ I yelled. ‘We’ve got a steak dinner riding on you!’ I
watched him vainly trying to make ground, his nostrils dilated, his ears back
against his head. My own heart lurched into my mouth. And then, as they