Page 36 of The Chances We Take

Isa

absultey nit

asultly not

ABSOLUTELY NOT

I don’t believe you

Isa

okay i may have had a few shots

tequila not whiskey

just to be clear

I tried typing out a response, but then my phone lit up with a photo of me and Isa together—the one she made me take with her earlier this year at the Houston Rodeo.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I waited atop my horse in the roping box.

Deep breaths, Reid,I repeated in my head.

Colter glanced over at me, waiting to see if I was ready. I nodded back at him, pushing down any last-minute nerves trying to surface.

He nodded, the signal for the chute to be opened, and the steer ran out in a straight shot. Colter and Bullet took off in a sprint, my horse, Phantom, following closely behind.

“We’ve got Colter Carson on the head,” the announcer bellowed in the background.

Colter caught the steer—a half-head—and dallied his rope as he turned the corner. I had started to swing my rope not too long before Colter threw his, so I was right on the steer’s heels and ready. I threw it, mentally cursing myself as I thought I might have been a split second too late.

Shit, shit, shit.

But, to my surprise, the rope wrapped around the steer’s hind legs, and I quickly pulled out the slack, making a legal catch.

“With that catch from Reid Lawson, that brings these Montana boys to a four-point-seven second time!”

Colter tipped his hat to me as he led the steer out of the alleyway at the end of the arena.

Once we had gotten out of the arena, I made a split-second decision to run up the stands.

“Hey, I’m going to go say hi to the girls.”

Colter gave me a weird look, but didn’t say anything, shrugging his shoulders.

I took the steps up to where I knew Isa and Ellison were sitting, two steps at a time.

“What are you doing up here?” Ellison asked, clearly surprised I’d come up.

“Thought I’d come say hi.” The real reason was I wanted to see Isabelle, but it didn’t seem like the best answer.

“Great run, by the way!” Isa smiled. “Hey, smile!” She had turned around so her back was facing me and had her phone up to take a selfie.

It caught me off guard, but I smiled anyway.

“Had to make sure I got a picture with the future three-time Houston Rodeo team roping champion.” She winked.

Later that night, she had sent the photo to me, and I immediately set it as her contact photo.

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