With a final stroke of her hand over my head, she leaves the bathroom. I unplug the curling iron and stare at my reflection for a minute. It’s only been a few days since I’ve gotten back, but I’d be lying if I hadn’t admitted to myself that I look happier. Even just slightly.
Being surrounded by my family has always had that effect on me. I’ve slept more than I have in years, I think, and the lack of blue beneath my eyes proves it. Ash was right about my figure, though. I’ve lost a lot of weight the last few months, with all the stress and anxiety making my depression flare up again. Mycheeks aren’t round anymore, and I know my tits have shrunk a size or two.
Sucking in a breath, I turn from the mirror, not wanting to see anything else.
I bouncemy leg and glance down at the cowboy on the back of a bucking bull. He’s gripping onto his rope like it’s the last thing keeping him alive. Which could very well be true.
I take a sip of my beer and use my thumb to swipe away a bead of sweat from my forehead. It’s sweltering today, and sitting out in the sun for hours has made me both sticky and thirsty. I was right about my hair too. By the time we got to Lethbridge and found a seat at the rodeo, the curls had fallen, and I knew I couldn’t lift my hat even once without exposing the mess beneath it.
The two women flanking me don’t share the same predicament. Lacey’s hair is too short, with perfectly styled bangs that don’t stick to the sheen on her forehead, and Millie’s a modern-day princess. I bet her sweat smells like sunshine and rainbows and she wakes up with her blonde hair frizz-free. She’s the only person here in high heels, and I had to force myself not to ask her why the fuck she was wearing them so she didn’t immediately write me off as an enemy.
She chews on her popcorn with her glossy lips perfectly closed, staring out at the show with the tiniest hint of intrigue. When she notices me watching, she swallows and flushes.
“Have you ever been to one of these before?” I ask her.
“No. Shade’s mentioned going before, though.”
I still my leg and nod, watching as the rider jumps off the bull, stumbling but not falling. “Shade’s not much of the rodeo type.”
She laughs lightly. “You’re right. How well do you know him?”
“He was more my brother’s friend than mine, but we ran in the same circle. I haven’t seen him in twelve years.” It feels like an understatement, but admitting anything more isn’t appealing to me right now.
“He’s the same, but now he’s totally down bad for Millie. You should come to one of the book club meetings. We hold them at their place,” Lacey says, voice bubbly.
I blink. “Book club meetings?”
“We started them with your mom,” she clarifies.
My throat tightens. “Right. She didn’t mention anything.”
“Are you in Oak Point for good?” Millie asks, her mouth in a permanent dainty smile.
“I haven’t decided yet. Maybe.”
Lacey pats my legs. “Come to the next meeting! They’re so fun. Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of reading, you’ll have a good time.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say, knowing there’s a slim chance of that happening.
Millie moves the conversation along, her attention alternating between the final bull rider and the group of us. “What do you do for work, if it’s okay for me to ask?”
“You can ask whatever you want to. I just might not answer all the questions.” I take another sip of my beer before setting it down between my boots. “I’m a horse groomer.”
“Do you work on horseshoes? Like in those videos online I’m always seeing?”
My brow twitches as I tug on a loose string from the leg of my shorts. “A farrier? No. I tried that once and didn’t like it. Something about digging into a horse’s hoof unsettles me.”
“They can’t feel it, can they?” Lacey asks.
“No. But if you’ve seen an infection and the pus that comes out of one, you’ll never want to watch another one of those videos.”
Millie tenses, shifting on the metal bleacher. “Yeah, I’ll pass on that.”
“What do you do for work?” I ask her, turning the attention from me.
“Oh, I work with Shade at the studio. He’s apprenticing me.”
“Like, you do tattoos?”
