Page 20 of From the Ashes
“Nerves get the best of everybody at times,” I say in defense of Walker. His coach rubs me the wrong way with his insult. He should protect his rider at all costs, not throw him under the bus. And hedefinitelyshouldn’t be talking about his weaknesses with strangers. For all this guy knows, I’m going to take that information straight to Jackson White’s team. “Haven’t seen him choke yet,” I add bitterly.Except that one time on my cock,my brain supplies unhelpfully. I swear, that organ is a fucking menace. “I’m sure he’ll be fine as soon as that shoot opens,” I finish out loud. Before I can say more, Cassie appears at my side.
“Hey, everything okay? I saw that guy tear out of here.” She looks menacingly back and forth between me andJonaslike she’s ready to throw down if needed.
“Yeah, Cass. All good, but I think I’m gonna head home,” I declare, having lost all interest in the basket of chili cheese fries I was about to add to our order when I came over here.
“Home? We haven’t even gotten our drinks yet,” she argues, eyeing me suspiciously. “And there’s another table of giggling twenty-somethings vying for your attention.”
I remember Knox’s words and I briefly consider trying to take one of the girls home, but it’s too much. It’s all too much. Especially now.
Walker was barely a man when we met…
My brain snags on the wordmanbefore I can finish the thought.He’s certainly filled out over the last severalyears and grown a few inches. But his eyes…they didn’t look any less haunted than the first night we met.
I haven’t been okay in eight years.
His words linger in my mind as my heart gets caught in a vice.
As soon asI get out of the shower, I’m already sweating. Hell, I think I was sweatinginthe shower. The humidity is ten thousand percent today thanks to the thunderstorm that rolled through overnight, making my pastures a sopping wet mess.
I’ve got to load the last of the animals up and take them over to the arena this morning. It feels weird not being at the fire station on a Wednesday, and I’m trying like hell to blame my heartburn on being out of my routine thanks to Cassie’s visit.
But I’m not fooling myself.
I may not see him, but he’ll be there and that’s enough to kick my reflux into high gear.
His ride is tomorrow, which means today he’ll most likely be walking the route he’ll take tomorrow night, checking his equipment, and waiting on my broncs to show up so he can check them out before he rides.
I call Cassie to see if she wants to tag along since the rodeo washerbrilliant idea in the first place. It could be fun to give her a behind-the-scenes tour, not to mention, I could use the buffer in case Idobump into Walker again, since I clearly can’t be trusted around him.
I set the phone on speaker and put it on the bathroomcounter so I can shave and get dressed, killing multiple birds with one stone.
“I’d love to go if you can wait a couple hours? Knox and I are running some errands.”
“You’re withKnox?” I don’t mean for it to sound so accusatory, but it does.
Cassie laughs into the phone. “Yeah, why does that shock you? He’s fun to hang out with.”
My jerk of surprise almost knocks the phone into the toilet.
“Cass, Knoxy is a lot of things. Smart,greatat construction, a good boat captain, reliable, responsible, you get the picture. But what Knox isnot, isfun.”
“I heard that, you asshole,” Knox grumbles in the background.
“I rest my case,” I deadpan.
Cassie laughs harder. “Well, he’s not fun aroundyoubecause he’s too busy keeping you out of trouble.”
“And I suppose he’s fun aroundyoubecause he’s getting youintoit?” I reply.
It’s meant to be a joke, but they both grow quiet on the other end of the line and I don’t want to spend too much time thinking about what Knox may or may not be doing with one of our closest friends.
Clearing my throat, I try to end the awkwardness by ending the call. “Okay, well, you guys have fun. I have to get these animals to the arena because the riders are allowed to assess their draw and the late add-ons are already at a disadvantage.”
“I’ll pretend I know what that means,” Cassie says. “You coming to dinner at Dylan and Jake’s tonight?”
Shit. I’d forgotten about dinner. I love Cassie and I’d do anything for her, but I need some time away from her questions and from Dylan and Jake’s sappy love fest. At least untilWalker DeVille gets in his truck and gets the hell out of my town.
“I’ll let you know,” I say, trying to set myself up with an out. “It’ll depend on what time I get done at the arena.”
