Page 17 of From the Ashes
Chapter 9
Walker
“C’mon, DeVille. If I have to spend one more night cooped up with your grumpy ass, I’m going to stick a pitchfork in my eye.” Jonas is going stir crazy after driving three days straight to get to North Carolina on time. We checked into the arena, but the competition doesn’t start for two more days. “I need to interact with someone other than you before I lose my goddamn mind,” he finishes.
“Are you suggesting I’m not good company?” I force the sarcastic question out. I’m tired of him nagging me while I’m trying to pretend like everything is fine. I’ve been riding the edge of a knife ever since we crossed the state line.
“Normally, you’re my favorite person,” Jonas answers. “But since signing up for this rodeo, I’ve wanted to choke you out multiple times a day.”
I roll my eyes. He’s being a little dramatic, if you ask me.
“Whatever. Where are we going?”
He grins at my reluctant agreement to come out with him.
“Research indicates?—”
“And byresearch,you meanGoogle,” I cut himoff.
“Well, duh. Did you think I phoned a friend? I don’t know anyone who lives here.Anyway,as I was saying…research indicates there’s a lake with a few bars looking out over the water and the marina.”
“Sounds good,” I mumble unenthusiastically.
Jonas rakes his gaze over my current ensemble. “But you’re going to have to change.”
“Why? What’s wrong with this outfit?”
“Well, for starters, it’s not anoutfit.It’spajamas, Walker.And these places look nice. Dress the part. You’re a champion bronc rider, for fuck’s sake. You could get laid by four different women in one night in places like these.”
That’s not a great argument since I don’t want to get laid by awomanat all, but Jonas doesn’t know that.
“Pick somewhere else then. I’m sore and tired and I don’t want to fight my way into my jeans just to grab some shitty whiskey.”
“Fuck, you’re a pain in my ass, you know that?” Jonas snaps.
I just shrug. I’m not trying to be difficult, but my nerves are shot. I just want to stay inside the camper, get through my ride, and get the hell out of here. There’s been increasing pressure in my chest since we checked in at the arena. I’m trying to meet Jonas in the middle by agreeing to go out, but I don’t want some swanky lakeside bar where the drinks cost twenty bucks and the dress code doesn’t allow joggers and a t-shirt.
He types away on his phone and sighs when he says, “Okay, a couple streets back from the lake there’s a dive bar called Tomahawk. It has a rating of two-and-a-half stars. Does that suit you and your sweats, your Highness?”
Two-and-a-half stars probably means it’s a little sketchier than I was after, but I don’t want to push my luck by asking him to find yet another bar. Besides, it being a shittybar means there’s a higher likelihood that the man I’m trying to avoid won’t be there.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t tried to keep tabs on Phoenix over the years. I know he lives in this town, but that’s about it. Once a rodeo star leaves the circuit, the fanfare dies down pretty quickly. Much to my dismay, all I found on social media were fan accounts, and I’m not interested in what others think of the man I’ve craved since I was sixteen.
Ironically, the night we were together, Phoenix had expressed his disappointment over the lack of information about me, and now I’m the one left with nothing to go on.
“Sounds perfect,” I tell Jonas. “Let’s go.”
I’m workingon my second whiskey and Coke—I had the bartender add the Coke because the whiskey was so fucking awful, it shouldn’t have even been considered for the lowest shelf—when a guy plops down on the barstool next to me and calls the waitress over by name.
“Wendy!” he shouts.
“Hey, Hud. Who’re here with? You want the usual?” the bartender replies.
I listen intently to the exchange for no reason other than I’m bored and the guy is kinda cute.
“The whole gang’s here,” the guy replies, obviously a regular. “We took the table in the corner. Cassie’s in town. Would you mind sending someone over when you can?”
“It’s just me tonight since it’s a Tuesday. I’ll come grab your orders in just a sec,” the bartender replies with a warm smile.
