"Uh..." He looked over at Tanner. "Didn't really make no plans. I just figured that when I win Friday night, I'll say something about my boyfriend."
"And you should mention me by name," Tanner said.
"Only if you're kissing on Cody before that," Isaac told him. "Otherwise, she'll get shit for this."
"Not a problem," Tanner assured him. "Figured I might be a little less bro-like with J.D. too."
"At the event?" I asked.
Tanner tilted his head in some kind of shrug-thing. "All week."
"From now on," J.D. clarified. "And I'm good with pissin' off some cowboys, Tanner. Might get kinda handsy with 'your' girl too."
"Works for me," Tanner agreed. "It's her you have to ask about that."
"And I've said a million times that I'm good with it," I told them.
"Ok," Jorge said, waving us down. "So this's going to be out there. And Casey? How is everyone handling that?"
"Yeah, Casey," Tanner said. "Guys, I jumped the rail. No one's said shit to me about it."
"I figured that'd get you fired when I saw it," Isaac told him. "Then again, the cameras moved on real fucking fast."
"They knew he was dead," Jorge said. "Shit, I was pretty sure when I saw him flopping."
"And that," J.D. pointed out, "might be part of the reason you got to come back. If Casey's family is suing? I mean, Cody gave them enough on the news."
"Here's hoping," I said. "Theyshouldget something, because that was nothing but bullshit!"
"But," J.D. said, "we need to talk to Ty. He's been handling this strike. Jake too. Renato and Djalu are involved, but I don't think it's as much as Jake and Ty."
"About what?" Jorge wanted to know.
"Everything," J.D. said.
Which made me pull out my phone. "How about now?"
"Huh?" Tanner asked.
I lifted my phone above the table, wobbling it to show what I meant. "I have their numbers. I'm pretty sure Ty's here. I could probably convince him to come use that chair."
"Do it," J.D. told me.
"And see where Jake is," Jorge suggested. "Pretty sure Renato's with his woman right now."
"Yeah, Hannah's about ready to pop," Isaac agreed. "That should leave Dado organizing the Brazilians."
"And Jake would have his number," I said. "He has everyone's, just to make sure the rookies can afford to keep showing up if they're not riding."
"A fund," J.D. explained. "And yeah, Cody and I were gonna help with it, but ain't no one asked yet."
"So let's make this a party," Tanner said. "I mean, J.D., are you good with us telling him we're coming back? Or is that a shitty idea?"
"Naw," J.D. assured him. "It's Ty. He's a dumb shit sometimes, but he won't fuck you on that. He knows how companies get. Might help him with this cause too."
So I bent my head and started typing. The message was short, sweet, and to the point.
Cody:
