Page 51 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

“I love you, too, Dad. We’ll talk soon.”

Ending the call, I puff a large breath and run a hand over my face. Even my parents are easy on me. Except for the fights about bull riding and school, they’ve been amazing. I’ve lived an almost charmed life. That should make me happy, but I feel like a complete jackass for not being more aware of the people in my life.

Not caring what time it is because I know he’s likely awake, I call the one person who will never, ever whitewash his words to me.

“Jamieson, the sun isn’t up yet. What the hell are you calling me for?”

Despite the weight on my chest, my lips turn up, and I smile.

“Good morning to you as well, Hunter. Listen, I have a question that can’t wait, and I know you’ll be honest with me.”

“Go on.”

“Am I a self-centered asshole?”

He doesn’t even pause before he answers. “I wouldn’t call you an asshole. You’re a nice guy who rarely thinks of how his actions affect others.”

“Well, that’s…not as bad as I thought it might be. At least I’m not an asshole.”

“Why are you calling me to ask this?”

“Because I trust you to be blunt and honest, and I needed to hear it.”

Hunter sighs. “Listen, I know I’m not the easiest person to talk to about stuff, but if you need anything, Jamieson, you can ask.”

“Thanks, but I just did. There’s been a lot of…self-discovery, let’s say, over the past ten days. I wanted to confirm that before moving on.”

“I’m assuming you didn’t think Griff would tell you the truth.”

“God no. He’s…too loyal for that.”

“How’s his arm? You both doing okay?”

“Yeah, yeah…there was, um, a change in post rodeo celebration last night and—”

“For fuck’s sake, Jamieson, please don’t tell me about any of your bed partners. Normally, I’d want to hear it, but it’s too early for me to concentrate on that.”

I can’t help the bark of laughter that peals out, and a man in a suit peers over at me from the check-in desk. There’s humour in Hunter’s voice, and I smile even as I realize I kind of miss him out here with us.

“I was going to say I miss you, but with a crappy attitude like that, I’m not.”

“But didn’t you just admit that?”

Hunter chuckles over the phone as I admit internally that it’s exactly what I did.

Damn it!

“Oh, I think I’m losing my cell signal.” I make some scratchy noises and jumble words over the sound of Hunter’s laughter. “Bye!”

I settle back in the chair and tap my phone on my thigh.

Hunter confirmed my suspicions that I’ve not given the right things my attention and while it stings, I have the chance to make it better. Mend a lot of fences, as the saying goes.

Right now, my focus is on Griff. I can’t shake this bone-deep longing to do right by him.

After stopping at the hotel café, I juggle a bag and a tray of drinks back to our room.

It’s still dark inside the room, so I catch the door with my foot and ease it closed as quietly as I can, but the wrinkling of the paper takeout bag sounds like gunshots in the silent room.

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