Page 11 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

His eyes flash in anger. A sharp turn from the softness a moment ago. “Because I don’t want you to look at me with pity like you are now, okay?”

“It’s not pity. I just want to help you.”

Griff hangs his head again. “I’m sorry. I know you do. It’s just…I’m almost thirty years old and I shouldn’t put myself in these positions, but…”

Griff shrugs and trails off, but I know. He never talks about his relationships much, but this one set off alarms I should have paid more attention to.

“Just tell me he’s out of the picture now, please?”

“Oh yeah. You don’t need to fight for me, Jamie. The trash took itself out.”

Griff wants me to let it drop, but I can’t.

“I will kick this fucker’s ass into the next province if he even gets close enough to breathe on you again.” Reaching out, I gently brush my fingers across the bruise on his face. It takes a lot to make me angry, but this mark on my best friend’s face has turned my normally sunny demeanor dark. “You should report this, Griff. He assaulted you.”

Griff closes his eyes and shakes his head slightly. “I can’t, Jamie. I don’t…I’m not bringing this up with the police and…” He sighs. “I just don’t want to, okay? Please let it drop.” He whispers.

Saying no to Griff is hard, but if that’s what he wants, then I’ll give that to him.

“Come on. Let’s get into this shindig.” Hooking my arm through his, I pull him along to the house and choose to let the heaviness of whatever happened slide. He knows if he needed me, all he’d have to do is call and I’d be there faster than The Flash. I have to believe he’d call if he truly needed me.

“I’ll warn you now, Riley’s friend Gabe is manning the grill, and I already saw a wall of flames, so we might be stuck with salads tonight.”

Griff groans and laughs, and I know he’s okay. He squeezes my arm through his, and when his gaze catches mine, I read the silent message. We’ve always connected non-verbally, and that hasn’t changed.

Thank you.

“My mom and dad are here. Even Kara came.”

“Maybe I should ask her if she has that good makeup with her.”

“It’s my sister. What do you think? She never leaves the house without a bag as big as a carry-on suitcase, and I bet she has makeup.”

Jackson notices us walking up the driveway and, bless him, he doesn’t even flinch when he notices Griff’s bruised-up face.

“Hey, buddy! Glad you could make it, but I’ll warn you now. The burgers look like hockey pucks, and the lawyer boy needs to stay away from the grill.” Jackson makes a disgusted face, and Griff’s laugh rings out, further easing my anxiety.

Jackson’s dog, Tramp, trots over to Griff and waits. Tail wagging and ears perked.

“I can’t believe you keep coming back for this.” He reaches into his pocket and unwraps a peanut-butter-filled pretzel from a small piece of plastic wrap. “You know, I have to remember to keep buying these things just for you now. I hope you’re happy.”

Tramp barks and sits as Griff offers him the treat with a fond smile.

“If I need to pay you for all the peanut-butter pretzels you’re buying, let me know.” Jackson chuckles as the dog gulps his treat and runs back to the yard to keep playing.

“I’ll consider it even since you feed me occasionally.”

“Deal.” Jackson motions to the backyard. “Join us when you’re ready.”

Griff takes a deep breath and stares after Jackson before turning to smile at me.

“Let’s kick off your season then, Jamie.”

The smile almost reaches his eyes, but I let it go and nod before hugging him once again.

“Let’s do it.”

“Griff! Do you have, like, a cup of noodles or anything I can eat before we go?”

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