Page 29 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

As we leave Curtis in the shop, we walk along the sidewalk towards the diner. With it only a few blocks away, we leave the truck and enjoy the chance to stretch and experience this cute little town.

“I wasn’t totally listening, but did Curtis say something about the place we’re staying at not having a coffeemaker?”

Jamieson laughs and bumps his shoulder into mine. “Figures that’s the only part you remember. But yes, he said that. But we can go to the main house after 5 A.M. and get coffee or we can just go to the coffee shop across the street from the tattoo place. They’re open 7 days a week and are amazing. I stopped in when I was here last.”

“You know I need time to wake up in the morning, so whatever works best.”

“Griff…” From the corner of my eye, Jamieson chews at his lips and my shoulders tense at what he wants to say. “That drawing you liked…it uh…”

Jamieson stops walking and forces me to meet his gaze. “That night we fought before my ride, and I didn’t want to listen to you about Homewrecker, you remember?”

“It’s hard to forget, Jamie.”

We fought for real for the first time—ever. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to listen to me, but more because I was still hurting over what had happened the night before. I said things in the heat of the moment that I wasn’t proud of, but they carried a lot of truth I wasn’t sure Jamieson picked up on. Maybe I was wrong.

“I’m sorry. You’re the most important person in my life, Griff. I never meant to hurt you, and when I saw you looking at that drawing so closely…I think I get it.”

My mouth runs dry, and I look into my best friend’s eyes. The same hurt when I threw those mean words at him sits there, but also, there’s something new. Maybe he understands after all.

“It’s not my business what you do with your private life, Jamie. I was out of line that night, and I still regret what I said.”

Jamieson was sucking face with a pretty girl in the corner while the boyfriend watched. He claimed to be cool with it, but I recognized the look on his face. The jealousy. The wish that she’d give him the same attention. Perhaps the girl was clueless and really loved the man like she claimed, and was only looking for something exciting. A roll with a cowboy is on every girl’s bucket list, it seems.

But the way Jamieson had so flippantly ignored my request to let this one go and told me to get over it ignited the latent anger I wasn’t aware was close to erupting. He dismissed me and the other man’s feelings in such an uncharacteristic way I lashed out.

“You need to watch yourself, Jamie! People’s hearts are real and breathe. Just because it seems like a good idea to you doesn’t mean others aren’t getting hurt. You’re such a self-centred prick!”

“Oh, fuck off, Griff, with all your righteous bullshit. You’re just pissed that you aren’t getting laid. Why don’t you find someone for yourself for once and just leave me alone?” he sneered through the haze of alcohol. “Oh, that’s right. Nobody is ever good enough for you. I forgot.”

Hewasright and didn’t even know it was him I measured everyone against. Even in that moment, when he was the ugliest I’d ever seen him, I knew I could never not love him.

Jamieson sighs and rubs a hand across his belly, drawing me out of my sad memory.

“Not to be an asshole and change the subject, but I really need to eat.” His lips tilt in thatcute half smile.

“It’s fine. We never did clear the air properly that night. This is good.” I cock my head towards the diner. “But let’s get you fed before you reach that cranky stage.”

Jamieson’s laughter lightens my heart, and he slings his arm around my shoulders like he always does when we go anywhere.

“You know me the best, Griff.”

He chatters on about the diner and stuff Curtis told him, but I nod and half listen. I’m still stuck on that damn drawing and wondering if Jamie really gets it at all.

By the time we make it to the ranch, our bellies full of home-cooked food and bags of far too many snacks from the grocery store, the sun has dipped behind the trees. A bright moon illuminates the ranch’s yard, and we park in front of the equipment barn as directed.

A sign above the small door on the barn says,Loft Entrance, and after grabbing a few bags each, we take the single flight of wooden stairs to the top. Jamieson doesn’t use the key, it’s always open. The key is for us to lock up when we go out. Part of what Curtis was telling Jamieson was that the ranch was safe and we don’t need to lock up unless we want to.

He steps in and sets his bags on the kitchen island right in front of us and I flick on the light switch. It’s a gorgeous open spaceabove a barn. Renovated to be modern but rustic at the same time. Obviously, a bathroom needed to be installed and instead of a wood burning heat source, an electric fireplace sits in the seating area.

“Where’s the…oh.”

After setting my bags on the counter and walking towards the couches, there’s an alcove that serves as the bedroom. With one bed.

Jamieson brushes past me and flicks on the lamp on one side of the bed.

“Looks like we’re snuggling, Griff. It’s a king, though. If I roll around too much, you should be fine on your side.”

Jamieson states it all matter of fact, like we’ve had sleepovers and shared beds our whole lives.

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