AJ’s dorky-assed laugh rang out. “Don’t hit it too hard, man. Cooter just barely saved it from Mr. Master today.”
“Slowest rider in the league, at least on the ground,” Bax agreed cheerfully. “But I got away, huh? Besides, buddy, you need to keep your mind on your own. In the middle.” Bax was just that much older than some of them, always mother-henning. A man called it mentoring, Bax might hit him.
“I’m managing. You did some riding today, Cotton. Had all them little girls screaming your name.”
The kid went about as red as the hair on his head. Lord,he’d never been that green, had he? “Yeah, well. I… I reckon I’m going back to the hotel and hit the after-party. There’s that little blonde…”
“Just make sure the little blonde don’t have a big boyfriend. Some of them do.” They parted ways after hanging up their ropes, Bax stripping off his vest and cracking his neck. “So. Short go is tomorrow. We’re done. You want to sneak out?”
“Yeah. You want to go eat or get something in the room?” Jason got his vest off, rolling his shoulders.
“Sounds good. We could watch some of those movies your momma got.” They could hide a bit. That was what he could see on Bax’s face. The media circus was starting to kind of get to all of them.
“Works for me. We got a cooler full of drinks still. Cards.” He shrugged on a T-shirt, tossed one over to Bax.
“Thanks.” After absently yanking off his yellow shirt, Bax pulled the T-shirt on, smoothing it down over that flat belly. “Damn, I got to learn to get off the back instead of the front.”
“Least you got off whole.” Man, everything that came out of his mouth sounded filthy.
“I did.” The riding boots came off, Bax pulling on the old, worn work boots and putting on a gimme cap. “Ready when you are.”
He brushed the dust out of his hair and grabbed his straw hat. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand, buddy.”
He hung back a little, let Bax go first. That way he could watch. The little cowboy ass wiggled as if Bax was showing it just for him. A man could get off on that in a hurry. His prick just got heavy, appreciating the finest sight on this Earth, yessir. The things he could imagine…
“What, am I running interference or something?” That glare was one the camera loved—people loved it when Bax wasa bastard. He usually got it when Bax thought he needed to get a move on.
“Jesus Christ, you’re the slowest motherfucker on earth when you’re in the arena and then, all of the sudden, you’re in public and you’re fucking Speed Racer?”
“Just trying to get your famous ass past anyone who might be out there, trolling for autographs.” When he caught up, Bax grabbed his arm and yanked, kinda like he would pull Jason out of the way of a bull.
“Fuck off, Mr. December.” He was never going to let Bax live that shirtless, lying-back-in-the-hay-like-a-slut beefcake calendar picture down. Ever.
“You’re just jealous because they didn’t ask your skinny ass to be in it.”
They made the truck before an old guy in a neon T-shirt figured out if they were who he thought they were, peeling out fast enough that the tires squealed.
“You don’t know that they didn’t ask.” Bax also didn’t know that Jason had that picture in his wallet, all folded up. For when he needed inspiration.
“I do, too. I asked your momma. She reads all your mail, you know.” Hooting, Bax floored it and ran a red light, just cackling like a fool.
“Bitch. I hope you get stopped.” He propped his feet up on the dashboard, knowing it drove Bax nuts.
“Get your nasty boots off my dash.” Like the Dodge wasn’t almost six years old, and like Bax had paid any money for it. The lucky fuck had won it at the National Finals Rodeo.
“They ain’t nasty. I had ‘em polished at the hotel.” Man, they were gonna tie it up some, they weren’t careful.
‘Course, they’d been awful nice of late. Sometimes they just had to bust out, and who better to fly off against? Least they were friends enough not to take itpersonally.
“You’re still gonna scratch it.”
“Like I’m not the one who takes it to get detailed.” He figured it was the least he could do.
“Well… Man, you’re determined to take the starch out of me.” Bax sighed, rolled his head on his neck. “I just need a fucking ride.”
“Yeah. Man, you know slumps happen.” But yeah. Yeah, Bax was sliding and Goddamn, he hated that. “You just gotta let it happen, man.”
“Aw, Hell, Mini. I’m gettin’ old.” They streaked around a curve, his elbow and shoulder whacking the window.
