Page 37 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

“I’m notmost guys, Griff. There are far too many other ways to have an orgasm. It’s not a deal breaker.” My body leans into his, and I circle my arms around him as he hugs me back. “And I like messy.”

“I’ve seen you eat. I know.”

Jamieson pinches my ass. “Asshole.”

But we laugh as we strip down to our boxers, and he holds the covers up for me. He doesn’t hesitate and pulls me against his chest, being careful to make sure my arm has support.

For the first time in years, I fall asleep quickly.

twelve

Jamieson

During the night, Griff and I changed positions, and he had his cast arm over my chest and a leg thrown over mine.

I’ve never felt so at ease sleeping before. Even with the scratch of the plaster against my chest, and a warm body pressed against mine. He just felt right being there, and I don’t want to speculate too much, but I think Griff has needed someone for a very long time.

Maybe I have, too. If I’m being honest, there’s been a lot about my life I’ve shoved aside just to pursue bull riding. I created a rift with my father when I refused to interview for teaching jobs after I got my degree. My sister and mom get it. But Dad…not so much. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps, and instead of trying to understand his point of view, I made it all about what I wanted.

I should have paid more attention to Griff and noticed more than what was on the surface. Maybe he wouldn’t be hurting so much if I had.

My bladder screams at me to get up, and I shuffle Griff gently off me.

“Jamie?” he mutters, and I set his arm on a pillow.

“Go back to sleep. I’ll find us coffee and be back.”

Griff mumbles something and squeezes the pillow next to him as I pad softly to the washroom. After washing up, I grope in the dark for a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and quietly let myself out.

The sun is barely awake yet, just enough glow to tell you it’s early. My phone says it’s not too early to get coffee at the farmhouse, though, and that’s what I plan to do. But I detour towards the field beside the barn first.

Intent on watching the rest of the sunrise, I’m surprised to find a man leaning on the fence with a mug in his hand, staring at the horizon. He turns when he hears me, and even in the low morning light, the intensity of his blue eyes catches me off guard.

“Morning. You must be Marko’s friend staying in the loft.”

“Hey.” I offer a hand to shake. “I am. Jamieson. Nice to meet you.”

“Alec,” he offers and turns back to the field. “What brings you out here so early?”

Settling next to him, I watch a little bird swoop after a fly before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. “Honestly? I was going to search for coffee at the main house, but I came here to think instead.”

Alec sips from his mug. “It’s a great place to think.”

We stand together quietly. Just two strangers watching the sunrise, and I think of Griff. All the memories, how we kissed, how I felt when he showed up with that black eye, and finally, his eyes last night…so sad and lost. Completely at odds with the sometimes grumpy but one hundred percent confident best friend I know and love.

“Can I ask you something?”

Alec turns to me, mug still in hand and his hair still mussed from sleep.

“Go for it.”

“Have you ever known someone your whole life and thought you knew them, but then one day something changed and everything shifted? What you felt all this time was maybe not what you thought it was?”

Alec’s answering smile is as breathtaking as the sunrise.

“I think I can confidently say yes to that. Most of it, anyway.” He drains his coffee mug and frowns. “You sound like you need to get something off your chest. You’re welcome to join me on the porch if you’d like. I’ll get you a coffee.” He gestures to the smaller house to the side of us. “My husband is sleeping late, or I’d invite you in. He owns a restaurant in town, and last night was a long one. I don’t want to wake him up.”

Something warms inside my chest about that, and I follow him without a second thought. When we reach the porch, he turns.

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