Page 72 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

He scratches at his arm as he leaves the waiting room, and I trail behind him.

“Skill which you didn’t have, but they appreciated all your hearts.”

Last night, I drew at least a dozen different hearts with our initials in them on his cast. He just let me and said nothing; well, he didn’t like my incredibly hung stick man with a caption claiming bull riders swing to the left, but he watched and passed me coloured markers when I asked.

“I couldn’t let you get your cast off without signing it. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Sign it and make the person wearing it feel special? I couldn’t let you go in there with a dirty, unmarked cast.”

Griff stops in the hallway of the busy hospital, his blue eyes welling with an emotion he’s only recently shown me.

“You make me feel special every minute of every day, Jamie.”

A woman bustles by and brushes against me with an apology, and I reach for his hand.

“Let’s get out of here.” Once outside in the summer sun, I stop Griff and kiss him softly. “Youarespecial, Griff. Never stop believing that.”

“Myboys!”

My mom rushes to us before we’re even in the house and hugs Griff, then me. The scent of cinnamon lingers when I lean down for the hug and squeeze her back a little longer, knowing she probably made Griff’s favourite strudel.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, Mrs. Carr.”

My mom takes Griff’s hands in hers. She’s so damn tiny next to us. It’s like she’s a kid and her small hands are lost in Griff’s giant ones. “You can call me Viv, or if you’re comfortable, call me Mom.”

Griff sucks in a breath and I watch as my mom and the man I love share a truly special moment. “For now, I’m good with Viv, but…one day I’d like to call you Mom.”

My mom squeezes his arm and smiles, beaming her sweetness at Griff. “I’m okay with that, but don’t get angry with me if I call you son. That’s just going to slip out, and I won’t apologize.”

“I won’t.”

Mom tilts her head to the living room. “Everyone else is in there. Go have a seat, and I’ll join you both in a few.”

Mom bustles off, and Griff wipes at his eyes. “Should have warned me your mom would make me almost cry.”

“I didn’t know.” Tugging on his hand to bring him in for a hug, I whisper, “There’s no shame in crying when you find something that’s missing, babe.”

After slipping off our shoes, I lead Griff to the living room where my dad and sister sit watching last year’s National Final Rodeo on TV.

“Hey, guys. Getting in the mood for Kissing Ridge rodeo next week?”

Dad stands and shakes our hands. He’s always been more reserved than my mom, who hugs complete strangers, but he smiles when he takes Griff’s hand and holds on a little longer, squeezing his other shoulder before releasing it.

My sister pats the seat on the couch next to her for Griff and sticks out her tongue at me. Griff takes the seat with a smile, and I settle into the armchair next to Dad.

“I guess you could say that. We’re looking forward to it, that’s for sure. Are you two ready?” My dad glances between us, and I reply first.

“I am. It’s been a fantastic year. One of my highest point years ever, and after next week’s rodeo, as long as I stay on and have a qualified ride, I should get to nationals.”

My dad hums and nods with a smile.

“What about you, Griff? Will you be working the Kissing Ridge Rodeo, or will you be watching?”

Griff turns away from my sister with a smile. “Oh, I’ll be working. If all goes well, it will be the first rodeo my dad will be at watching. No way I’m turning down the job.”

“Jamieson told me he was in the rehab facility. Is it going well?”

Griff shifts with a sigh, and his gaze darts to mine. “The counsellors have said yes, and I spoke to him last week. He sounded positive, but I’ll see for myself tomorrow.”

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