Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“We’ll see,” I answer noncommittally.
He looks at me intently, like he’s trying to decide what to say. At the end he just shrugs. “For what it’s worth, I don’t regret last night at all, and no matter what happens today, I want to see you again.”
Emotion clogs my throat and clouds my vision. Dammit. I’m not usually so fragile. I want to blame the lack of sleep, but I know there’s more to it than that.
A lot more.
I’d gone into the evening expecting a fun hookup, something to dust the cobwebs off my nonexistent love life and give me a jump start on the social life my friends insist I need. But now it feels like so much more. In the short time I’ve known them, not even twenty-four hours at this point, these men had shown me a life I hadn’t imagined in years. It wasn’t about a fancy house or prestigious job. It was about building a solid life with people who believed in you, who saw you and loved you just as you were. Who built you up and didn’t allow you to sabotage yourself into not reaching your full potential.
That’s what they had done for me in just a few hours. Yet still, I was pretty certain that despite what Levi said, this was really only meant to be a fling. There for a good time, not a long time. And surprisingly, I’m mostly okay with that. I can move on from this and use what they had taught me to get what I want out of life with someone else.
But there is something I need to do first. I need to give them just a small portion of what they had given me. And I need to find someone to switch shifts with me so I can go to the rodeo this evening.
Giving Levi a kiss on the cheek, I thank him before using the restroom quickly, and running my fingers through my bed-mussed hair. When it’s done, I grab Tripp’s forgotten oatmeal and make my way out front, sitting down on the picnic table outside their trailer. I push the bowl into Tripp’s hands, then without waiting for him to acknowledge me, I go inside to text a few of my co-workers and get ready for my day.
Chapter Eight
Levi
This whole thing was Tripp’s idea. All of it. From coming to Blue River to compete, to possibly settling down here. From asking Marci out to breaking our rules to spend the night with her. Every move we made was directed by him and now that it’s the morning of the rodeo and he’s broken all of his pre-competition rituals, he’s mad at himself and taking it out on us.
I’m not going to stand for it. I almost always let him take the lead in all things, but not this time. When Marci goes inside to freshen up, I take the oatmeal from his hands and put it on the steps beside us. He’s just staring at it anyway.
He looks up at me with a scowl.
“Knock it off,” I tell him.
“I messed it up.”
I roll my eyes. I've gone along with his little quirks for years and yeah, they’ve served us well, but steak dinners and loaded breakfasts are not the end-all be-all of a successful competition.
“No, I don’t think you have yet,” I tell him. “But if you don’t knock it off, you’re going to.”
He shakes his head. “Everything is all wrong. There’s no way we can win now. Which means we can’t stay. And of course, now I really want to.”
I’ve never seen him quite this stubbornly obtuse, and I don’t love it.
“Life isn’t a game,” I say, smacking his shoulder. “You don’t have to earn the things you want all the time. A steak isn't a reward for a five-mile run, and if we want to stay in Blue River and see where this thing with Marci goes, we can. Even if we don’t win.”
I can tell he’s not convinced, even if he wants to be. And that’s okay. I’m sure enough for the both of us.
I’m sure about Blue River. I’m sure about Marci and I’m sure that Tripp is the best damn bull rider in the west, even without a full night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast. All I have to do is make sure he doesn’t get in his own way,
“Come on,” I say, standing and offering my hand. “That’s enough of this little pissy fit. You made your choices, and now you have to stand on them, come what may.”
“I know, I know,” he grumbles. “I just…” He trails off, then looks at me and grins. “Since when are you so bossy?”
“I can be when I need to,” I tell him. “And don’t you forget it.”
He’s scared. I see it. But he takes my hand, and lets himself be pulled to standing. And just when I’m about to let go, he pulls me in for a tight hug. “Thank you,” he mumbles into my neck. “I know you’re right. I just…”