“Well. I ain’t gonna bitch, I suppose. But it makes me worry.” There. He’d shut up now, but damn.
“It’s better than thinking, Bax. It ain’t like I’m driving.” The bark of laughter was all hurt. “Tell me about your rides.”
“Come and sit, instead of standing there like a stranger.” He wanted to hold on to Jason. To feel him, right there and solid and warm. Crazy as it was.
Jason came over right close, scooting up to his side. “You holler if I’m crowding you.”
“Not a bit.” Resettling his leg, Bax looped an arm aroundJason’s back, loving the man for all he was worth. “I did good the first ride. Right in the middle the whole way.”
“I bet the crowd was going nuts. They love you, man.”
“It was good. I edged Beau out for the round. The second ride I did okay, but Baltazar Silva won the go-round. It was the short go that did me in.” Damn, the sound of his own leg snapping had been gross.
“Beau’s number one now, huh?” Jason and Beau’d been good friends. Real good friends. Once.
“Yeah. He’s pushing hard. Gonna make a run on it, I think.” He stroked the line of Jason’s spine, up and down, not even thinking about it.
“Yeah. I… I been doing a lot of thinking, Bax, about what I’m gonna do if they tell me the swelling’s all gone down tomorrow.”
His throat tightened up, fear making ice slide down his back. “Yeah? What’s that?”
Those eyes shot over to him, sure as shit seeming as if they were looking right at him. “I’m gonna need you to take care of Momma. She’s gonna marry Jack, I think.”
No. Oh, Hell no.
“Jase. That’s crazy talk. We’ll figure it.” He tightened his grip when Jason would have pulled away. “Call me selfish, but no way.”
“I ain’t living like this. I can’t cowboy up, I can’t ride, I can’t fucking drive my truck. Shit, Bax. What am I gonna do? Have Momma take care of me my whole life? I can’t even shave.”
“You have to give it some time, Jason.”Shit. Oh, Jesus. He was gonna break down and bawl. “I cain’t know what it feels like, I know it. But I need you, man.”
“Shit. You did good without me. I heard.” Jason grinned at him. “Hard-assed cowboy.”
Bax grinned back, even though Jase couldn’t see him. “Iwas riding hard to get a few weekends off. So I could come see you.”
“I want to see you.” The words were bit out, just near growled. “More than— Fuck. I do.”
“I want that, too, Mini.” Bax swallowed hard, trying to get the lump out of his throat. “I been wanting all sorts of…” Fuck. Now wasn’t the time, was it?
Jason nodded, squeezed his hand. “Yeah, and we ain’t never had half a chance and now we’re both broke dick.”
“Broke something.” He had to laugh. Just a little. What the Hell else could he do? “Just promise me you’ll talk with me on it before you do nothin’.”
“You got my word, buddy. I ain’t looking to cause no big thing.”
No big thing. Jesus fuck.
Bax leaned a little, not really snuggling. Not really. “Rest with me a bit. You ain’t gonna hurt me.”
“You need a pill or something?” Jason’s hand was moving like it had a mind of its own, petting his arm in long, slow strokes.
“No. No, I’m good.” His leg ached like crazy, but he didn’t want either of them to move. And God knew he lived with hurt all the time. “This is fine. Just fine.”
“‘kay.” Jason nodded, leaned right back. “Glad you’re home, Bax.”
“Me, too, Mini. Me, too.” He was. More than Jason would ever know.
Looked like he’d gotten home just in time.
