"I don't know what I can do. I do know we're here because of Cody. She caught the eye of the company, so she will come first. That means the best way to get my help is to go through her first."
So Jake flicked a finger at Cody. "Give me your number too. I'll get you mine."
Cody rambled off her number, and Jake sent her a quick text back. Next, he got Wes's, although I had a feeling that was just to make the guy feel like he wasn't being excluded.
But that feeling? The one that had made me feel like an imposter? It was still there, but softer, quieter. I just couldn't shake the nagging of it, though.
"What happens if J.D. comes out at Nashville?" I asked, unsure of who would have the answer.
"To you?" Wes asked.
"Mr. Merrill will fire me," I breathed.
"Let him try," Cody grumbled.
"No," Jake said. "Cody, I know that feels good, but if Tanner gets fired, it's harder to get him back. Suspended is one thing. Fired is another."
"And Max is working on something," J.D. insisted.
"I know," I assured him. "But Donald Merrill wants me gone, J.D. He wants Cody gone. Chasing me off means the chances of her getting hurt go up. And how many times has she pointed out that if she has to take a break like you have, the chances of her coming back aren't good?"
"They'll change the rules," she said. "Update something, amend something. I don't know, but all they need is for me to be gone so they can say it was mere coincidence. Because if I'm not riding, I'll be forgotten quickly."
"And we won't let that happen," Rhaven assured me.
So Cody turned to look right at her. "Then get the wolf pack back. Rhaven, that's theonething we all need. Not me and J.D. All the bull riders need our safety team, and one that actually does their fucking jobs!"
"I..." Rhaven sighed. "I know. I'm trying, Cody."
"And you've been great," I assured her. "It's just a lot, and it's been building for weeks now."
"Sorry," Cody mumbled.
Which made Rhaven reach over and rub her shoulder. "Be pissed. Be loud and proud. Be you, Cody, and we will stand behind you as much as we can."
"Which means the rest of this is on us," Jake said.
Ty bobbed his head in a slow nod. "Yeah. We have to make this work, because finals are coming fast, and we're so fucked without Tanner down there."
"And the rest," Renato said.
"But mostly Tanner," Ty insisted. "Maybe that's what we need to be pushing?"
"Sure won't hurt," Jake said. "So let's finish these beers and get to the bar before the riders are too drunk to listen to us."
Renato just waved them off. "I have an early plane. Wanna get home to my girl while she's still pregnant. If I miss the birth of our kid, I'll be a dead man." Then he smiled at Cody. "And you strong women scare the shit out of us boys. Just remember that, Cody. That's why they keep coming at you, because you make the hard parts look easy."
Chapter 28
Together,we all worked out the details. Wes joined in, but we'd pretty much been through it all. Now, it was just about making sure everyone was on the same page. When Rhaven excused herself, saying she also had an early flight out, there was nothing left to say. This was either going to work or it wouldn't.
So we all dispersed.
Renato headed to his room to sleep before he flew back home. Wes said he'd meet us at the bar. Cody took her boys back up to their fancy suite. One by one, people began to leave the table. Needless to say, it didn't take long before Ty and I were left sitting there with a few half-finished drinks on the table beside us.
"So," Ty said, sounding weary, "guess this means you're now in the know. About J.D. and Tanner, I mean."
"I've been in the know since Des Moines," I admitted. "J.D. told me. The one thing I don't get?" And I pointed at him.
