Damien is my only current sponsor, which I’m not really sure counts. I have plenty of cash from my trust fund, but I always hate using my daddy’s money. It feels obscene to use something I didn’t earn. Plus, I know how much my parents disapprove of my career choice. Maybe if I was using it to invest in real-estate, like they wanted me to, I wouldn’t feel so guilty.
My travel partner has no issue getting sponsors. Lately, he’s been having to turn them down. His social media surely helps,but his performances alone have people knocking down his inbox.
Reid slows down as we enter the Jackson Valley. We’re almost there.
The Tetons tower above the bright green pastures. They’re stark against the blue sky. I’ve never seen such imposing mountains. Granted, I’ve never been much of a mountaineer, unlike Damien and Delaney. They love hiking and climbing as high as humans can possibly go.
Hozier is blasting through Willa’s speakers, and the afternoon sun is pouring in the windows. I want to scream. It feels so damn good to be out in the open like this, I can finally breathe.
Apparently, Reid agrees, as his hand floats out his window. As I roll mine down, I can hear his music drifting behind. I’m grateful for the wind, even if it does smell faintly of cow manure.
I wish he and I were in the same van—listening to the same music and sharing the same air. I’m so close to him yet somehow still so far. It’s just like when we were kids and I’d watch him racing down hills with Damien and Parker while I tried to fit in with the girls. He’s always right there, but never quite where I need him.
The open road ends sooner than I want it to. We slow to a painful standstill as we arrive in downtown Jackson. There are hundreds of tourists in cheap cowboy hats moseying across the street. An iconic arch of antlers sits to our left. At least three influencers are waiting to pose in front of it.
I’m not sure where Reid is leading us.
He said he knew where we’d stay while we were here, but he wouldn’t tell me where it was. I like knowing every little detail of every little thing. I’m doing my best to trust Reid, but now that I’m actually here, the lack of control is making me sick.
I hope there are girls around. Maybe Chloe will be here. Ineed something to force me to finally apologize—it’s been two years too long.
There aren’t many of us in the circuit, but we’re mostly friendly with each other. Blair is kind of a bitch, but she typically books hotels anyways. I’m acquaintances with some of the other girls, but I don’t need to be best friends with any of them. I feel less awkward when I’m not the only girl at a campsite.
Reid does his best to make sure nothing happens to me, but it’s always hard being around so many men.
Most of them are pretty respectful and generally treat me as if I’m one of the guys, but there are always hidden weirdos that reveal themselves after a few beers or a blunt. I only participated in a few competitions last year, but somehow, I still managed to run into a creep. There was this one dude who tried to grope me during a bonfire when no one was looking.
He thought he’d get away with it, but I kicked him in the balls.
Then, I drug him by his collar in front of the fire to tell everyone he was a piece of shit. Thankfully, they believed me. I never actually saw Reid punch the dude, but he had a bruised fist in the morning. Without shame, I let myself daydream about Reid punching that scumbag. There’s something sexy about a man fighting for his girl. Even if I’m not actually his girl.
I’ve been reading too many romance books lately because every time Reid does something even slightly possessive, I start daydreaming. Apparently, I have drifted off into the depths of my head again—I almost miss Reid turning a corner into an unsuspecting parking lot.
It’s filled with school buses on one side, and a bunch of white water rafts piled high. There are probably five other vans parked between the buses. I can’t believe he brought me to a boat yard…
I definitely should have been the one to pick the campsite.
There are a bunch of guys walking around half naked. They must have just gotten off the river, because they all have damp, shaggy hair. I roll my windows back up because it smells faintly of rotten fish.
Damn, I shouldn’t have trusted Reid. I don’t see a single feminine entity. This place looks like a home for lost boys. Some perpetual neverland filled with dopamine addicts and freelancers. My thumb scrolls until it settles on his contact. The profile picture always makes me smile. It’s him with Josie on his shoulders, and he looks so at peace.
“Reid.”
“Yes, Addie?”
He pauses like he knows exactly what I’m going to say. I don’t even care if I sound high-maintenance. I don’t want to sleep in a swampy boat yard.
“We can’t sleep here.”
“We can.”
“Okay—we can, but I don’t want to.”
“It’s just a few nights, Addie. It’ll be fine. There’s even a kitchen we can use.”
Forgetting he can’t see, I raise my eyebrows. He laughs softly on the other end, like he knows exactly what my face looks like.
Reid pulls into a spot and ushers me to park next to him. I park closer than I should have and I’m forced to shimmy out ofthe van. He leans up against Willa with his arms crossed and his head thrown back.
