"Ok?"
He shoved a hand across his mouth as he checked around us. "So, they're saying Tanner's gay - "
"He's not."
"That's not the question," he assured me. "What I'm wondering is why you, Ty, and everyone else is saying that, but Tanner isn't."
"Because they suspended him for being gay." I shuffled forward as the line moved. The whole time, Wes kept watching me, making it clear that wasn't enough. "If he says he's not, then he's saying being gay is something worth being suspended over. It'd be like saying he's innocent, when that's not a thing to be guilty of, Wes."
"Yeah," he agreed. "I had a feeling it was something like that. You think J.D. gets that?"
I couldn't stop the laugh, because J.D. definitely understood that. Hell, if the places had been reversed, J.D. would've become the most flaming queen ever - or something equally shocking - just to prove the point.
"I think," I said, dragging it out, "that J.D. is all in on this. Believe it or not, he's a good guy, and he judges people on how they act, not something stupid like that."
Wes just nodded. "Kinda what I figured, but with the media hovering around the entrance, I have a feeling your guys are going to get caught in the crossfire today."
And my guts clenched hard. Shit, he was right. They had tickets, so they'd come in that way with everyone else. No, wait. I'd make sure they didn't.
"I'll let them know to come around this side," I decided. "Thanks for thinking about it, Wes. I mean, J.D. saw them when he dropped me off, but yeah. If anyone ties Casey's death to Tanner being suspended, that's going to blow up."
"And we don't want that," Wes said, making it sound like he was agreeing with me.
But my head twitched as the idea hit me. "Or do we? I mean, if no one's riding because we want the real bullfighters back, then isn't this exactly the hill we should be dying on?"
"Only if we want empty vests," Wes countered. "And so you know, Cody, most of us don't have the luxuries you and J.D. get with yours."
"No, you don't," I agreed, already making plans.
Chapter 12
Jason Owens was my holdout.Austin, Eli, and Derek weren't even being told about the plan, but almost everyone else liked the idea except that new guy from America. He was a hothead who thought this might be a chance to move up a few rankings.
"Look," I told him, leaning over the kid's 5'8" frame, "Even if you do get a couple of points, it's unlikely to bump you up more than one spot."
"And I'm dead fucking last right now," Jason pointed out. "One spot is one place closer to staying on this tour next year. Fifteen gets me into finals where I have the chance to earn enough to actually compete."
His facts were all true, but not quite right. "And you have two and a half events until that. You won't make it. Just trust me, Jason."
"Fuck you, Ty. Maybe it's easy up there at the top, but down here, we're not scared of getting hurt."
"Casey Davisdied!" I hissed. "If that doesn't scare you, then fine. Ride."
The asshole just laughed in my face. "And if you think I'm not the only one who'll do it, you're dumber than you look. Trust me,half these guys are saying they'll play your game, but when their turn comes, they'll be getting points, not a big zero."
"Ty!"
The sound of that feminine voice made me forget all about this prick and his youthful ego. "Cody!" I called back, waving her over.
"Hey," she said, hurrying over to drop her gear beside mine. "So, I heard..." Her voice trailed off as she saw the new guy. "Cody Jennings," she told him, offering her hand.
Surprisingly, he took it. "Jason Owens. Heard you're the real deal."
"I am," she promised. "I'm also really hoping this strike works." And she looked at me. "Are we even warming our gear? Or are we just being belligerent?"
"No, we're playing this out," I explained. "The plan is to act like everything is normal until the riderless bulls start going out."
She nodded. "Good. I can do that."
