"Babe?" J.D. asked, proving he'd followed me and heard most of that.
"Three hundred thousand," I told him. "That's what the PBR will make from all those fines. That's more than ticket sales, isn't it?"
"I honestly dunno," he said. "So, we're payin' em all?"
"I think I might be putting my Deviant sponsorship toward this, J.D. Because this shit? It's wrong. It's also the sort of fightsomeonehas to have, and the price tag is going to prevent most of these guys from even trying."
"Yeah, but not even we can pay this forever," he pointed out.
"And that's how they're going to win," I realized. "Dammit!"
Chapter 75
The men all headed out.There wasn't a solution to be found here, and this talk would be a lot easier with a beer in hand, so they stripped off their gear and headed out. J.D. and I stuck around, waiting for Tanner to get done with the award ceremony, so Jake and Ty decided to wait too. Just to make sure Austin didn't make a second attempt, they said.
Derek had won. I was "sure" the judges hadn't given him better scores or anything. No, they wouldneverdo something like that! But what surprised me was to see Eli hadn't gotten a score either. When I asked, Ty said the guy didn't ride. Not that he was bucked off, but he hadn't even ridden.
"And he wasn't there when Austin jumped us," J.D. said.
But that didn't make sense. He could've won. He could've earned some money, because I was pretty sure he wasn't on our side, so could this be some kind of trick? Yeah, and that was another thing I hadn't even thought about. Some of these guys could end up fucking us all over for their own benefit.
In other words, the chances of this crap actually working out? Not fucking likely.
We still had to try, though. We had to dosomething, because if it wasn't me, it would be J.D. And if it wasn't him, thenwho'd be next? I didn't doubt at all that Mr. Merrill would find someone else he could easily hate - because that asshole clearly thought this was working for him.
That, or he just got off on the power trip.
But when Tanner was finally done, we headed over to the bar to meet up with everyone else. He sent a text, making sure the other bullfighters would join us. I told Rhaven where to meet us. And while we drove, we filled him in on all the bullshit he'd missed behind the chutes.
We arrived to find Rhaven and Braden waiting by the door. He had on a t-shirt and combat boots. She was wearing her version of "goth country." It consisted of very short shorts, a long-sleeve tee tight enough to count as "painted on" and a pair of cowgirl boots. All of it was black, and damn, was it working for her.
"You look good," I said as we reached the pair. "Should've said something. I would've gotten you a real belt buckle to finish the look."
"Hell," J.D. said. "I've got a few spares. I'll send one home with you, because the other guy?" He looked at Braden and lifted a brow. "Yeah, he needs to see that look at least once."
"Already sent him pics," Braden promised.
"I bet," Tanner said, moving to get the door. Then he held it open wide. "Ladies first."
So I hooked my arm in Rhaven's and towed her in with me. She'd made it clear she was worried to be in a place like this, so I was going to make itveryclear she was here with me.
Inside, the music was loud enough to be heard, but not so loud it smothered conversations. Over by the bar, at least six cowboys were leaning in, holding up their hands for another drink. But in the far back corner? Jake stood up.
"Cody!" he called. Then, "Rhaven?! Hey, come!"
"Ok, feeling a bit better about this," Rhaven told me.
I flashed her a grin. "Trust me, you're fine." But I pulled her to a halt. "Hey! Y'all!" It took a moment, but the bull riders paused, turning to find me in the sea of people. "This? Rhaven here is my Deviant Games representative. She came out tonight with her boyfriend..." I turned to indicate the very massive wall of muscle she was dating. "...to get a little taste of our lifestyle. Rumor has it she might still have a few sponsorships to offer, so be nice!"
"Rhaven!" Jorge called out. "Hey, Braden too!"
"Get those two a drink," Isaac called out. "Put it on J.D.'s tab!"
"I'm good with that," J.D. said.
"Shit," Braden said around a chuckle. "No, lemme start a tab. Babe? Go sit."
So I took Rhaven over to Jake's table. Tanner followed, with J.D. and Braden following once they got their tabs set up. But Ty made his way over too, pulling a chair with him. When he turned it around backwards and sat down beside me - and across from Rhaven - Braden lifted a brow.
