Page 84 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

“I am. You know my parents come up for it every year, and it’s sort of tradition for them to watch me. I’ll probably enter thisrodeo until I physically can’t anymore.” He elbows my side. “Plus, Riley loves watching me, and there’s no downside to that.”

“No, I don’t suppose there is.”

A few stragglers enter the signing tent and momentarily distract us from the conversation. Both of us engage with the kids a little longer since there’s no line up and I like to think that adds an extra thrill to their rodeo experience.

“So…” Jackson begins. His voice carries both a smile and a question, and I know what he’s asking.

“Yep.” I nod and hope it implies I’m happy, and answers the silent question on Jackson’s face.

“Griff is a great guy. He loves you more than you might realize.”

Three months ago, I would have agreed, but not anymore.

“Oh, I realize. I’m sorry it took so long, is all. I guess I’m more of a pretty face than a scholar.”

Jackson scoffs. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Sometimes it’s harder to pick out the obvious because it’s too good to be true.”

Damn, if that doesn’t sum it all up for me the best way possible. “Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to have my best friend in love with me.”

Jackson wants to say more, but his gaze shifts to the tent entrance, and when I follow his line of sight, my heart dances.

“Oh, thank god you’re still here.”

Griff rushes over, still dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and not at all ready for a rodeo. Which makes sense, since he was with his dad and getting him settled.

“Hey, babe.” I press a quick kiss to his lips and grab his hand. “Is your dad settled in okay?”

Griff turns to Jackson with a laugh. “Oh, yeah. Riley was on it, along with Jackson’s mom.” Griff’s voice softens. “He’s good. We had a nice walk and…I’m optimistic.”

Jackson squeezes Griff’s shoulder before he leaves us. “Good luck tonight, you two. If you need us to help with anything you make sure you ask. That goes for both of you. Riley and I will be happy to lend a hand.” With another pat to my shoulder, Jackson excuses himself to saddle his horse for tonight.

The tent clears out and staff bustle around cleaning up for the autograph session that comes after the events. I usually do both signing sessions, but this year I passed on the evening session because of the man in front of me and his father.

“Riley said you wanted me to meet you here. Is everything okay? We usually do our pre-event routine after we’re dressed.”

Griff’s brows furrow as his kind blue eyes roam my face, and I realize my mistake.

“Ahh, shit. I’m sorry to have worried you. It’s nothing…I…I just wanted to see you before we go back to all the pre-rodeo bustle.” I rest my hands on his hips and press my forehead to his. “I also wanted to ask you how it went with your dad and have a bit of privacy to do it.”

Griff sighs, and his hands slide around my waist, hooking his fingers into my belt loops.

“It was something I didn’t know I missed. Just walking and eating cotton candy. We shared a bonding moment, I think, and then he was angry for a bit. Nothing we couldn’t work out, but the emotions were everywhere.”

My thumb sneaks under his shirt and rubs small circles across his hip bone.

“And you’re doing okay? I know that’s not a great word, but…do you need to talk about anything?”

Music blasts from the speakers as the pre-rodeo entertainment, which is a clown telling off-colour jokes, starts. I know we don’t have a lot of time left before we need to get to work. This feels like a moment I needed too, not just for Griff, but for me. I need him to know he’s my priority.

Griff ducks his head, pulling us just a step closer. Our chests touch, and he pauses a few breaths before leveling me with the warm gaze I misread for almost ten years. I’m not sure how I didn’t see beyond the affection Griff holds there. Maybe I just never wanted someone to look at me like that until now. Now I don’t want it from anyone else.

“We have some difficult times ahead with my dad. If you’re still in this with me, there will be tears.Lotsof tears.” Griff’s lips tilt in a lopsided grin as his fingers grip my belt loops tighter. “So if you want to change your mind, you’ll have to tell me before we go any further.”

His tone suggests a joke. Maybe an unserious attempt to give me an out because of all his insecurities, but there’s no way I’ll ever let him down.

“I’m not changing my mind.” Closing my eyes, I inhale a soft breath and rest my forehead against his. “I can wipe your tears and hold you when it gets too much. I don’t want you to do this alone, and I want to be the one you turn to when it’s hard.”

“I might have to stay away from some rodeo jobs,” he whispers, and I know that was hard for him to say. He might have fallen into this career by accident, but he’s grown to enjoy it, mostly. Now that I know his heart was with me more than the job, it’s easier forme to hear those words and accept I might not always have him at events with me. “You’ll have to go without me sometimes.”

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