Page 54 of Rough Ride

“I bet Eli and Johnny can outlast you,” I teased.

“Damn, darlin’. You tryin’ to stir up some shit tonight?” Eli asked.

“You’ll see who can last the longest in two weeks,” Sawyer said. “Bull riding is the final rodeo event.”

“You don’t want to give me and all the other lovely ladies here a sneak preview?” I asked.

“Listen, darlin’,” Eli said, leaning close. “LeBron James doesn’t show up to pick-up games at the park and destroy all the amateurs.”

“In this analogy, which of us is LeBron?” Johnny asked.

“I’m LeBron.” Eli looked at both of them, then at me. “I thought it was obvious I’m LeBron. Right?”

“Sure you are, buddy,” Johnny said, clapping him on the shoulder.

“LeBron who?” Sawyer asked.

Eli’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend like you have no idea who LeBron James is.”

Sawyer’s face was blank. “Sounds vaguely familiar.”

While they argued, an idea came to me. I probably shouldn’t have antagonized them any more than I already had, but I was feeling feisty tonight.

“Tell you what,” I said. “If the three of you take Whiplash Willie here for a ride, then whoever lasts the longest can take me out on a date.”

Sawyer tried not to react, but his eyes widened just enough to satisfy me. Eli’s mouth hung open, and Johnny blinked.

“I’ve already taken you out on a date,” Johnny pointed out.

“Then if you win,” I replied, “you’ll be cock-blocking Eli.”

Johnny smiled slowly. “Nowthat’sa prize worth fighting for.”

24

Sophie

The thing about mechanical bulls was that they were usuallymucheasier than the real thing. Even when turned up to the highest setting, your average mechanical bull couldn’t come close to replicating the randomness of a living, breathing bull who was trying its damnedest to knock you off its back.

But the two bulls at Billy Bob’s, Whistling Willie and Bully Ray Cyrus, were professional-grade. Their difficulty setting could be cranked up to levels that were downright dangerous for most people.

Johnny, Eli, and Sawyer weren’t most people, though.

There was a dedicated attendant monitoring the bull riding area. He spent most of his evenings convincing customers that no, they couldn’t handle the bull at the highest setting. Sometimes when a particularly cocky man got in the ring, he had to lie to them and pretend like he was turning the difficulty setting way up.

But when he saw Johnny approach the gate, he gave him a once-over and nodded. “How high?”

Eli came up behind him and wrapped an arm around Johnny’s shoulder. “Crank her up as high as high goes, partner. We’re measurin’ dicks tonight.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was enjoying the competition. I normally hated it when men vied for my attention, but these guys? I didn’t mind it one bit.

“You coming?” I asked Sawyer, who was still leaning up against the wall.

“Pass,” he replied. “Children’s games are for children.”

Eli rolled his eyes and leaned close to me to whisper: “Guess he’s afraid of havinghisdick measured.” He winked, then smacked Johnny on the back. “You first. Show us how it’s done, Johnny boy.”

The crowd in the room could sense that something exciting was about to happen, and had begun to crowd around the chest-high fence that separated the bull riding area from the rest of the room. The bachelorette party was returning from the bar, each of them holding an espresso martini while they gathered near the ring.

---