“Gabriella,” she corrects.
“Gabriella.”I swallow the annoyance that’s been slowly rising throughout the course of this conversation.“I appreciate your interest in my love life, but at this time, I’m not taking any applications.I’m here for one thing, and one thing only—to win this competition and get on with my life.”
“You really think you’re going to win, mate?”Clay perks up, turning his body to better face me.“There’s a hundred people here, the best of the best in all of the country, and you think you’re better than them?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Clay nods slowly in understanding, his eyebrows following the jump before settling back into place.
“Well, I hope you’re wrong.”He smiles.“Because if I win, I’m going to use the purse money to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend.We’ve been together since high school.Always my biggest supporter.”
“Girlfriend?!”Gabriella and I say at the exact same time.
“What was all that with Tate?”I ask, genuinely confused.
“I’m pretty sure all that stuff with Tate was you and Tate, not me and Tate.”He laughs.
“Annnd we’re back,” I say with a groan and an eye roll.“Earlier, at the bar, you saw Tate and said, ‘I’m going to go try and make a friend.’”
“Yeah, so?I did.I like Tate, but I don’t like Tate.Not like you like Tate.”He tosses a tiny wink at Gabriella which she eats up.
“YES!SEE!”she yells, vindication highlighting her features.She’s practically glowing.
“Y’all are like children.I’m going to bed.”
“I love when you say y’all.You’re like a real-life cowboy,” Clay says and it hits.My mouth splits into a smile that I don’t dare contain.
“That’s what they say.”
Chapter 9
Levi
You know the old saying, “Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.”? Well, I am officially proposing a change: “Nothing good happens before 8 a.m.”
I have gotten up, showered, and been in an Uber before 4:40 a.m.every day this week, and there is always traffic.Now, I’m not dense.LA is known for its traffic, amongst other things, but this silly boy from the sticks assumed that meant during the day, not the wee hours of the morning.
