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)
After a few minutes and some more low whispers she leaves.
“No.” Levi’s voice rings out loud, clear and determined.
Surprise has my eyes popping open. I stare up at him in confusion, my brows furrowing as I try to figure out what he’s even saying no to.
“No?” I repeat dumbly.
“No.” His voice carries through the small room, even stronger now. “No, I’m not going to let you be a dumbass because your stubborn pride is in the way.”
I’m stunned. He never speaks to me that way. It’s not a hard and fast rule, we don’t have many of those, but there’s always been an understanding, and he never ever has.
My inner Daddy screams and I growl. “Boy.”
He interrupts me before I can get out another word. “No, I’m not going to let you railroad me into doing what I know isn’t best for you. No, I’m not going to let your stupid little bets and games keep me from what I want, from what I know is best for us. No.”
Am I stunned into submission or just too tired to put up a fight?
Neither, I realize as emotion rolls through me in waves. I’m so damn relieved. He’s doing what I can’t. And I love him for it, even more than I already did.
“Okay,” I hum, too tired to keep up the charade of fighting him.
It’s his turn to be surprised, but he recovers quickly with a decisive nod. “We’re staying in Blue River. Indefinitely. And when you’re out of here, as soon as you’re out of here, we’re going to get Marci and we’re going to make her ours. Because I love her, Tripp, and she loves us. I know she does.”
“She’s not here,” I mumble. Not because I don’t believe him, but because I’m hurt and I don’t want to get my hopes up.
“You were kind of a dick,” he reminds me. “And you got hurt. You scared her. She was white as a sheet when you fell. She could barely stand. You don’t have that kind of reaction about someone you don’t care about.” He pauses, then sighs. “I don’t think she realized you were a bull rider. She seemed off once she did. I’m guessing she wasn’t thrilled by the risk factor. And then, you got hurt and her worst fears came true. She probably thinks she’s not cut out for this life.”
“Well, we are,” I grumble even as a fresh pain slices down my arm, knocking me speechless. The meds can’t start working fast enough.
Levi’s face goes blank. His lips purse like he’s thinking hard. My stomach drops like I can read his mind.
“We don’t have to be,” he says.
Everything I think I know about myself is called into question with that one statement. Because while I get where he’s coming from, I don’t know anything else. I’ve been doing rodeo since I was a kid. Who am I if I’m not riding?
“There’s jobs here,” Levi continues. And our trailer is paid for. There’s plenty of RV lots and campgrounds we can stay at for not much money. We can sublet out our apartment.”
It’s a lot to think about. Too much. And yet, the way Levi is looking at me, I feel like I might lose him if I don’t agree.
He steps forward. “You scared me. I thought I lost you. I could have. And I don’t ever want to experience that again, Tripp. And I want Marci. Enough to pull rank on this. So let me tell you what’s going to happen.”
My breath hitches with the gravity of the moment. I love him so much for taking control, for saving me from myself. My chest swells with pride. For our entire lives and careers, he’s let me take the lead. I didn’t even know he had it in him.
“Continue,” I whisper thickly. The bright lights are killing me and I want so much to watch while he lays it out, but I can’t. “I’m gonna shut my eyes. But I’m here. I’m listening.”
He nods acknowledgment and I squeeze my eyes closed, blocking the harsh lights of the room. At least the pain meds are starting to kick in.
“We’re going to stay in Blue River,” Levi starts. “For at least a year. I’m going to find a job, and you’re going to work on recovering. You’ll do whatever the doctors say, no arguments. No balking, no thinking you know better. No more silly superstitious bets with yourself.”
“Okay.” My voice is stronger than it’s been since my eyes opened. I know he’s right.
“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t win,” he continues as if he still needs to convince me. I let him talk because he obviously has things he needs to say. “We don’t have to earn the right to take control of our life, to play it out the way we think will make us happy.”