Page 23 of Ace of Spades
A beat passes as she stares off into space, lost in her thoughts.
“I brought you a water and some ibuprofen for tomorrow morning,” I tell her, pointing to where I placed them on the nightstand. “I got you some crackers, too—you might want to eat a few before falling asleep.”
“What’s that?” she asks, reaching for my black felt hat that I had set on her nightstand while helping her get ready for bed.
“That would be a hat. How drunk are you exactly, Sorrels?”
“Not the hat,” she rolls her eyes, bringing the hat to her lap and pulling out the playing card peeking out of my hat band. “This.”
A smile tugs at my lips.
“It’s an Ace of Spades. My grandpa—my mom’s dad—gave it to her to give to me before he died. He was a bronc riderback in his day, long before I was born. He said he always kept it as a good luck charm when he rode, and I’ve been doing the same ever since. It’s what won me finals the last two years, and it’s what’s gonna win me finals this year,” I wink. “He stays with me in spirit, in a way. It’s like he’s there with me when I’m riding.”
“That’s sweet,” she says in a sleepy voice, handing me back the playing card and laying down, tucking herself into the covers and making herself into a little cocoon. Gypsy makes her way to the bed, making a few circles before curling herself up into a fluffy little ball at Hailey’s feet.
“Goodnight, Sorrels,” I tell her, pushing off of the bed.
“Wes?”
I stop in my tracks, the nickname on her lips doing things to me that I don’t care to admit. I don’t respond, waiting to see what she has to say.
“I still hate you,” she mumbles, her voice groggy.
I hold in a laugh, my lips curving into a smile.
“Ditto.”
Chapter 9
HAILEY
The Tri-County Spring Rodeo & Dance was an annual tradition the first weekend of every April, encompassing Cedar Creek, Canyon Springs, and River Valley—the three towns in the area. The rodeo took place that Thursday and Friday night, with a dance taking place Saturday evening for all of the WPRA competitors. It was more of a social event than anything, where interviews took place and everyone had the opportunity to network.
The event on Saturday night held a formal dinner and an auction, with the dance later in the evening—the one part of the event that had my stomach doing all sorts of flips as I thought about the fact that Weston would most likely be there.
He didn’t seem like the type for formal events, but this was an occasion that none of the competitors would want to miss, and given that it was being held in Cedar Creek’s new event center this year, I knew there was a good chance that the guys at the ranch wouldn’t want to pass it up.
I hadn’t spoken with Brad since the argument with Kelly during my birthday party, and I hadn’t planned on it—until he showed up on my doorstep with flowers the next day, wishing me a late birthday and formally inviting me to the Tri-County Dance, something I wasn’t able to turn down with both of my misparents watching excitedly.
I sit down on the edge of my bed, picking up my phone to re-read the text exchange between me and the one person that Ididwant to see tonight.
UNKNOWN:You alive this morning, Sorrels?
I had known exactly who it was when the text had come through the morning after my birthday party two weeks ago, and had mentally berated myself for the smile that the message had brought.
ME:No.
UNKNOWN:That’s unfortunate. You will be missed.
ME:You saying you’ll miss me, Langford? Funny, I would’ve thought you would be rejoiced.
UNKNOWN:It would be inconvenient to lose the target of my ire. Finding a new target would be too exhausting.
ME:Well, I would hate to inconvenience you. Give me a few hours to rise from the grave and I’ll be good as new.
UNKNOWN:Great. Let me know once you’re well again, I have a few questions regarding just what it is about my butt that makes it sonice.
I had been mortified as everything had come crashing back to me—nearly going full-blown girls-gone-wild in the arena, Weston carrying me like a sack of potatoes to my house, him holding my hair back as I puked my guts up, and yes—telling him he has a nice ass.
