"From someone I thought was a friend," J.D. mumbled.
"Thought you didn't have many of those," Tanner pointed out. "So, Ty had his head up his ass again?"
"Weren't Ty," J.D. grumbled.
But Ty reached our side at that moment and heard his name. "What'd I do? I mean, besides kissing the shit out of Jake?"
Which made Tanner chuckle. "Pretty much that," he said, saving J.D.'s pride. "And why did you kiss Jake, anyway?"
"Well, he kinda kissed me," Ty corrected, sounding oddly smug about it. "Oh, and you know that's gonna be on all the press. First you two, now us two? Maybe we'll even get some others into it. Gustavo and Renato were talking about making a scene tomorrow at the opening ceremony."
"No," J.D. said.
Which made Ty stop hard. "What? But then they can't just single you out."
"And they know it's bullshit," J.D. said. "Look, I appreciate it and all, and I know you two are helping how you can, but naw. Ty, that shit? It's gonna ruin the PBR. Gonna chase off the fans, they won't get the joke, and it'll become a big gay thing. Next thing you know, someone will want us to wear drag when riding. Just naw."
"Yeah, but J.D..." Ty tried. "They can't fuck up all of our scores!"
"They can," he said. "I also ain't got nothin' to lose, and you do. Jake really does."
"What do I?" Jake asked, moving in behind me to join the conversation.
"You got a whole fuckin' career ahead of ya," J.D. repeated. "Look. It's real sweet that you're doing this. And I get it. I ain't pissed or nothing, but I'm the one who needs to burn it down. I'm the one who needs to make it clear I'm as much a man as everyone else."
"No," Ty said, "you don't."
"I'm with him," I said, pointed at Ty. "J.D., you shouldn't have to prove you're manly enough! I mean, how can I keep up with that? I'llneverbe a man."
"Oh."
"And this shit?" Jake said. "It's bullshit. We're done with bullshit, J.D. I don't care if these guys approve of where you stick your dick or not. That's not the point!"
"What is?" I asked. "Because to me, that's kinda the point."
"Cody," Tanner said, "the point is that fair is pretty cut and dry. If the judging isn't fair, then it's pointless to even try."
"And kissing each other ain't gonna clear that up," J.D. told them. "All it's gonna do is muddy the waters. It'll make this about gay, and leave the shit against Cody out of it. Naw, whatwe need to be pushing for is our private lives being our own, and our scores being fair."
"Now that," Jake said, "I can get behind." Then he leaned in a little closer to my ear. "And you still wanted to talk?"
I bit my lower lip and turned to see him better, but before I could answer, J.D. took over. "She does. Kinda why we're here, because I knew you'd wanna, and I knew she'd wanna, and I know Ty fucked up when she tried that."
Right on cue, Ty groaned. "Yeah, I did. Also, don't ever pick a fight with Tanner. He'll win."
"Noted," Jake said.
But Tanner reached over and caught my hand. "Hey? If you can get a ride back, I'm gonna get him home, make sure he takes his meds..."
"I think my room key's in your truck," I told him. "I left it in my gear bag."
So Tanner pulled his out. "Put that in your pocket."
"And we're leaving?" J.D. asked.
Tanner made a point of running his eyes over J.D. "Yeah. You need to be spoiled. I need a long soak in a real tub, and that room has two of them."
J.D. just nodded, then turned to Jake. "Shoot your shot. I dare ya." Then he looked at Ty. "If she says no, you bring her ass home or I'll cut your balls off."
