Page 23 of Highest Bidder
Letting out a breath, I look at the dirt between my boots. “And I kinda told her that I don’t want her around a guy like him.” I wince.
His eyes widen, and he drops a rock from his palm, making it land with a thump in the dirt. “Well, that was dumb.”
I nod. “Yeah. I know.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” he asks, as if I already have the answer.
I glare at him. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be sitting here trying to figure it out with your sorry ass.”
“Come on,” JT nudges, “it’s not that hard.”
I grunt, unable to shake the haze that’s crept into my head.
“Dude, how did you approach women before Hunter?” he asks, picking up a stick and chopping at the dirt with it.
“It’s not as easy as you think,” I huff out. “I want to ask her out so we can at least get to know each other outside of the auction.”
“Well, definitely don’t ask her out right now. She would shoot you down faster than she can sell a car.” He smirks, pulls out a pocket knife, and starts whittling notches into the stick. “You and I both know that’s pretty damn fast.” JT points the knife at me.
“You are absolutely no help.”Seriously, what kind of pep talk is this?
“Bro, just say you’re sorry. Be friendly. Continue to show her the real you. Then you can ask her out.”
“Since when do you have all the answers for relationships?” I turn to him and grab the stick out of his hand, feeling the smooth wood against my hand before tossing it back at him. “I don’t see you with a steady girlfriend.”
Honestly, neither of us has had many serious relationships. I know he had one before coming to my high school, but it ended because he had to move. He doesn’t talk much about it. I know it’s a sore subject. But since then, we’ve both been single.
“Yeah. I know. It’s easier said than done sometimes,” he says and stares off into the distance.
“Do you ever hear fromher?” I ask.
His head whips around in fake confusion. “Hunter? I talk to her every day at work.” He gives a light laugh before going back to carving, and I know he’s trying to avoid my question.
“No, not Hunter.” I keep pressing.
“We aren’t talking abouther,so let’s keep talking about how royally fucked up your life is.” He glares at me, and I know this is as serious as he gets. He likes to keep things fun and easy, but sometimes he becomes a different person. His past changed him. Not necessarily for the worst, but not really for the better either.
“I know. I’m here if you want to talk.”
He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Jesus, way to turn it around on me,” he says, then nods over his shoulder. “You ready to head back, or do you want to keep talking about how you are going to fix it with Hunter? We could also paint each other’s nails while we’re at it.”
“I’m good.” I slap my knees before standing up to stretch out my back. “Let’s get these horses home and fed.”
We mount our horses and start our slow ride back to his house. JT and I never rush the ride back because there is nowhere else we’d rather be than on these trails listening to the crickets and frogs as they sing the world to sleep. As we make our way back, my mind wanders, and it settles back on that petite face with the button nose and sparkling eyes. I allow myself the luxury of imagining myself riding these trails, with Hunter riding behind me, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist. We are riding next to JT, with a smile on his face and a woman whose face I can't see sitting behind him on our way to the creek. We're happy.
“I guess now would be a good time to tell you I got Hunter hired at the Ocala Stockyard, and she starts tomorrow.” JT's voice invades my musings and the scene I was imagining fades in the dust Sunshine kicks up in front of me.
Shaking myself to clear my mind, JT disappears through the trees. What did he just say? I thought I had till Tuesday to at least work up the nerve to talk to her. Now I’m seeing her tomorrow at my favorite auction?Fuck me.
14
HUNTER
I flickon my blinker and turn into the Ocala Stockyard. JT got me in at a cattle auction, saying they could use another auctioneer as backup. After putting out feelers trying to get hired at one, this opportunity fell into my lap. I won’t be the main auctioneer, but I’m getting my foot in the door. Unlike my first day at the car auction, I don’t have any nerves going into this one.
The other night’s disaster can’t even put a damper on my mood. I know I overreacted with James since everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it just confirmed we aren’t compatible. He dropped me off at home and gave me a hug. He tried to convince me it was just a bump we could get through, but I don’t think it’s a hill worth climbing. I’d rather find someone who sweeps me off my feet, a man who will understand my passions and hopefully have similar ones. I had a whole movie to think about it, and I feel good about my decision. Jess was elated when I came inside and told her. I caught her spying on us through the front window.
I pull into a parking space and get out. I dressed in my favorite jeans and brown boots, finishing the look with a black tank top and green flannel button up. My sleeves are rolled right below my elbows since it’s a warmer day. Peering into my side mirror, Imake sure there isn’t anything in my teeth. My curls twist around each other as they wind their way down my back.
