Page 74 of Downpour

“My roommate, Nick.”

Ray’s face contorted.

I knew should keep walking and head into the restaurant, but Nick would follow, and I would be cornered. I turned. “Hey.”

Nick looked us both up and down. Two of my other roommates were with him. “Who’s this?”

“Ray,” I said.

Nick’s gaze turned to Ray. “Right… The loaded rodeo star with that ranch job…”

I cleared my throat. “Ray, these are some of my roommates, Nick, Chandler, and Devin.”

Ray didn’t say a word.

Chandler’s beady eyes turned to the truck. “Nice ride.” There was something unsettling about the way he looked at Ray’s truck.

“You owe me rent,” Nick said.

“I moved my stuff out, and I already paid you for this month.”

“Well, until we get someone else in the house, it’s still on you.”

“I was subletting.”

“Still on you, Stacey. Pay up.”

My stomach dropped, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. I hated dealing with Nick, and I didn’t want Ray to see this.

A hand slid into mine, and I looked down at Ray. But he was looking at Nick.

“Get fucked,” he said, keeping a tight grip on my hand as he turned and guided his wheelchair with one hand into the restaurant.

18

RAY

My adrenaline was still pumping after lunch and the ride back to the ranch. Brooke was shaken, and I hated that with every fiber of my being.

The old me would have clocked that punk-ass kid across the face the minute he looked at Brooke. A little sidewalk brawl was fun now and then.

The man I was now couldn’t. I was tempted to punch him in the balls, but I didn’t.

Brooke was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

I made sure the doors were locked before wheeling into the living room. Something about the run-in on the sidewalk just didn’t sit right with me. Those kids knew too much about me. I didn’t like it.

I was used to people knowing shit about my life—especially around here.

I grew up in Temple, then went off and made a name for myself on the rodeo circuit. My accident was nationwide news for a week. When I finally woke up in the hospital, it ran the gamut of media outlets for three more weeks. I turned downinterview requests by the dozen, even though I probably should have cashed in on them.

I never minded being famous, but I hated being infamous.

It wasn’t absurd to think that Brooke’s roommates followed the story of my accident, but I didn’t think that’s what was going on.

“You okay?” I asked as I made a neat turn around the corner of the sectional couch.

Brooke’s eyes barely lifted from her phone. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

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