Page 71 of Mountain Time
“Alright. I’ll try to get a birthday win for you.” I tip my hat back, wrap my hand around her waist, and lean in toward her.
She meets me halfway for a kiss. “Good luck, you got this.” She pulls away, winks, and heads for the grandstands with Jessie.
Trey slaps me on the shoulder. “Come on, Romeo. Let’s go spur a couple bulls.”
Chapter 33
Kacey
There are people everywhere as we make our way to the closest drink stand and get in line. I heard someone say it’s sold out all four nights.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell him this is your birthday trip. We do this every year. He looked so hurt,” Jessie chastises me.
I sigh, looking down at my boots on the blacktop. “I thought about it. I just didn’t want to put any extra pressure on him. I know Knox, he’d want to do something special, but he doesn’t have time right now. I don’t want him to lose sleep just so he can get a little more time with me or make a big deal of it.” I look up and find Jessie watching me. “This is his busiest time of year, he’s tired and sore. I don’t want anything to get in the way of his goals.”
“I can understand that. From what you’ve told me, he hasn’t had supportive partners in the past. He’s lucky to have you.” Jessie loops her arm through mine and leans her head on my shoulder. “Ya know, he looks at you like you’re a DisneyPrincess.” She sighs dramatically. “I want a man to look at me like that someday.”
“You’ll find that. I’m sure of it.” I give her arm a squeeze.
We had just grabbed our drinks—Jessie ordered two for each of us so we don’t have to go back for a while—when my phone vibrates.
Knox
It looks pretty packed out there. Those passes don’t have assigned seats, but there are bleachers back here you can sit in. Go to the walk-through gate on the east side and you’ll see them.
Kacey
Okay, thanks.
I turn to Jessie. “Looks like we’re rolling VIP tonight. We can use these passes to get to a set of bleachers in the back.”
She holds both drinks up in the air and hoots. “Fuck yeah. Let’s get out of this crowd. I hate people.”
We find the gate easily, show the security guard our passes and he lets us right through. We are seated in the small bleachers; they’re front row seats right next to the roping boxes. We have a good view of the bucking chutes as well.
“These are awesome seats,” Jessie comments before taking a drink of her beer. Her hands—always covered in rings—catch on the arena lights.
I watch her look around like she’s looking for someone. “Yeah, they are. So, you want to tell me what that silent thing between you and Trey was about?”
Her head whips back around to face me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she huffs.
I scoff. “Yeah, sure. Your stare down with serious eye contact wasnothing.”
She shifts in her seat and takes another drink before fessing up. “Okay, fine. He’s extremely attractive. One hundred percent my type. Happy?”
I nod. “And?” I draw out the word.
“You could’ve warned me. Don’t think I didn’t hear your comment about dominance, asshole.” She squints her eyes at me. “He might be pretty, but he’s a player. I could tell just by watching him walk up. Besides, I’m not interested in dating a bull rider. I’m a nurse, I see enough torn-up bodies at work. I don’t need one at home.”
I don’t need her to remind me of the dangers of this sport. It’s all I can think about every time Knox climbs into the chute. I have to remind myself to breathe, release the white-knuckle grip I have my fists in, and trust that he’s a professional, takes every precaution he can, and he knows what he’s doing.
He’s going to be fine.Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself, and hopefully someday I can believe it.
I glance at the chutes, then look down. My stomach turns. “Right.”
She immediately turns and grabs my arm. “I’m sorry, you know I didn’t mean Knox. I don’t even mean it like that at all,” she rushes to say. “I just don’t need more to worry about in my life. I can barely take care of myself and Gran.”
I squeeze her knee. “It’s okay, I know what you mean. And you’re right, they get hurt. It’s more of a question of how bad, not when.”
