Page 24 of Titus

The chute opens. The calf flies out and the moment he reaches the advantage point, I’m out. I’m focused on the calf and tying him down. I become deaf to the crowd and blind to the large numbers on the timer. I’m counting in my own head.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.Hands up!

As soon as my hands are up, my hearing returns and the crowd is going wild. They are on their feet screaming. My eyes find the timer and I fall on my knees when I see it. Eight point five nine. Not only did I win, I beat my time and set a new personal record.

I hurriedly hop back on Phoenix and ride back into the box. Quinn and Lab rush in before I can dismount. They are both screaming and I want to scream my damn self.I fucking did it!

I can’t forget about Phoenix. When I finally dismount, I pat her face, kiss the top of her head, then give her the well-deserved victory carrot. Quinn jumps on me and I wrap my arms around her. I carry her out of the box. She’s still screaming and congratulating me.

“Baby! Baby! Oh my god! Oh my god! Eight point five nine. You did it. Eight point five nine. I’m so proud of you.” She grabs the sides of my face and peppers a thousand kisses all over my face. “You gotta go! They’re calling you,” she says before leaping out of my arms.

She’s right though. I need to get my buckle and check.I won!

She walks with me to the gate and when I walk out on the dirt, she screams like crazy. I’m already on a high but her excitement elevates me even more. Having her here for this moment makes it even better.

The presentation is quick but amazing. Doing something I love and excelling is a feeling everyone should experience. It’s wild and I love every minute of this shit. Seeing and hearing people cheer for me, seeing my name on the jumbotron, and holding my buckle and check are surreal. I’m legit floating as I walk back.

I step to the gate and just smile at Quinn. Her pretty ass is still cheering. I lean in and kiss her lips.

“Ms. Jaxson, you are cheering too much for me. People may be watching. I’m not the only person on the Jaxson Boot team,” I tease and she laughs.

Then she leans in closer and with her eyes trained on me, she says, “But you are the only one I’ve fallen for, cowboy.”

EPILOGUE

Epilogue…

About eight and a half months later

The light sneaking in through the partially closed curtains in the sunken living room pulls me out of my sleep. Normally, I’m up before six but after last night, I’m worn out and in no hurry to get out of bed. Besides being tired, I don’t want to interrupt her sleep either.

Yesterday, we arrived in Vegas right after noon and were on go. Not only are we here for Quinn to handle her Jaxson Boots duties but we are also here because I made it. After earning a few more buckles in Houston, Texas, Perry, Georgia, and North Fort Myers, Florida, I ranked up with my lucky charm right by my side. I’m number eleven and therefore eligible to compete in The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The NFR officially kicked off last night with the Annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala. Lab, Rini, and my moms wereattending the gala with us. My lady, Quinn, made the impossible happen and if I hadn’t already fallen in love with her sexy ass, I definitely would have when my mom told me she was coming to Vegas. She still hasn’t gathered the strength to be in the actual arena when I compete but she will be here and that’s a huge ass step.

After the gala, we came back here to The Venetian, our home for the next nine days. My moms called it and went to her room for the night but the rest of us showered and changed for the Downtown Hoedown. The cowboys are in town and the Fremont Street Experience downtown hosted the official kickoff party. We didn’t make it back here until almost three.

“Baby, what time is it?” Quinn groans.

“I don’t know and I don’t know where my watch or cell is.”

“The remote. Under the pillow,” she utters.

I reach under my pillows and find the remote. I power it on and immediately hit mute. It’s later than I thought.

“Ten fifteen.”

“Oh no,” she groans again. “We have team pictures at noon. God, why?”

Her head lifts then drops back down on my chest. “What time is Phoenix arriving?”

“Transport said one. Practice rounds are today after two and tomorrow morning. So after the pictures, just come back here and rest while I’m at the arena. Last night was already too much. I didn’t want you out there in the first place,” I say and my words cause her to give me her full attention.

Her head lifts again but this time, she doesn’t drop it back down. Instead, she folds her arms under her chin then glares at me. “I’m not handicapped or debilitated,” she says sternly.

“But you are carrying my child,” I respond, just as stern, if not more.

“I’m barely pregnant. I’m only four and a half weeks and you want me on bedrest.”

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