Page 6 of The Chances We Take

i don’t particularly care about what mikey looks like but ellison doesn’t need that kind of stress

Hey, at least if he got in a fight now, it’d be healed by the time the wedding rolls around

Isa

just keep them out of trouble ok?

I sent her the saluting emoji and put my phone in my back pocket right as Mikey tossed a cue stick at me, the sudden movement startling me.

“Hey, what the fuck, Michael? You almost hit me!” I caught it, but if he’d thrown it one second sooner, it would have hit me in the face.

“Pay attention and quit texting your woman, Lawson, and you wouldn’t have to worry about that.” He smirked.

“She’s not—” I started.

“You’re one to talk. You’re worse than some of the college girls in this bar constantly on their phones.” Colter laughed, interrupting my protests. “At least Reidhasa woman to text.”

“I haveplentyof women to text.” Mikey rolled his eyes as he started scrolling through his contacts, showing us just how many.

“Isabelle and I are just friends,” I grumbled at the same time. “Stop calling hermy woman.We don’t see each other like that.”

At least, she doesn’t.That much was clear. She’d said it herself.

But I didn’t necessarily blame her for not seeing me as more than a friend. How could she? We lived over a thousand miles away, and I wasn’t exactly trying to get into a long-distance relationship. Or really a relationship at all. I was more worried about making sure Colter and Ellison’s wedding went smoothly and everyone ended up happy.

That’s how it had always been. As long as the people I cared about were happy, I was happy.

No questions asked.

I also wasn’t about to push Isabelle away with my…feelings…for her. If she needed a friend, especially since Ellison was in Montana with us, then that’s what I’d be. I’d be the best damn friend there ever was if that was what it took to keep her in my life.

“Whatever you say, Lawson. Besides, I had no idea Isabelle was who you were texting.” Mikey raised his eyebrows for a split second but then focused his attention on putting in his quarters to play. “All right, boys. Rack ’em.”

CHAPTER THREE

reid

A YEAR AND A HALF AGO: THE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO, LAS VEGAS, NV

Viva Las Vegas, baby!” Mikey stretched out his arms like he was beholding the scenery as we walked through the MGM Grand. “God, I love this place!”

“Anyone want to trade me rooms?” I asked Jake and Hayden with a groan as I eyed Mikey and his theatrics.

“Nope.” Jake shook his head, and Hayden continued walking, acting like he didn’t hear me. I would usually be sharing a room with Colter, but since Ellison was with us, I got kicked to the curb and was forced to room with Mikey.

“Godspeed, man.” Colter saluted me as he pulled Ellison toward the elevators, both of them visibly amused.

As much as I loved that Colt and Ellie had found each other, it put me in a predicament. They ended up getting a suite with a bedroom and pullout couch so Ellison’s best friend didn’t have to pay for her own room. I guess I should have done that with Jake and Hayden, but apparently I wasn’t thinking straight.

“God help me is more like it,” I grumbled as I followed behind.

Mikey was gawking at every woman he deemedattractive and every single one of them smiled at him or blushed. I didn’t see the appeal, but something about a tattooed bull rider made all the ladies swoon. He was like a magnet for them, especially here.

Our room was on the twenty-first floor, and when we stepped out of the elevator, he took off. I walked down the hallway at a leisurely pace, in no rush.

“Fuck, man.” Mikey scratched his head as he opened the door to our room.

Uh-oh.

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