Jason tilted his head. “I had to keep my chin up, so I usually focused on the cage every time I came around. Or the rail if the bull never got out far enough for me to see the cage.”
“All right, then. This time, keep your eyes open. Every time you come around to the chutes, I’m gonna whoop like a Brazilian. I want you to act like you’re looking right at me. Can you do that?”
“I can, yeah. I can try, for sure.” Jason nodded to him, lips tight. “God knows you’re damn good at hollering.”
“And catching your attention, eh?” AJ was grinning like a damn monkey.
Bax snorted, but he was pleased. “Well, good. That will make it easier. Now come on, let’s move.’
Mini flushed a little, high on his cheekbones. “Something like that, yeah.”
He didn’t help Mini climb the chutes, but he did stay right there, just in case. His lover might not be fragile, but… he didn’t need any extra help. Jason needed confidence. He needed faith in himself.
And Bax needed to not be overprotective now, so he would be all casual once they started events.
He did get up and pull that rope, though. That was his job. “Chin up. Eyes open. Listen to me. Got it?”
“Chin open. Listen to the eyes. You’re up. Got it.” Fucker.
Bax pulled the rope, muttering to himself, because he always talked to keep Jason calm. Always. That had started long ago.
Jason seemed so relaxed, so easy in his skin. Bax wasn’t surewhat had changed, if the change was permanent, or what, but he’d take it.
Finally, Jason nodded, and Denver pulled the gate. The bull came out snorting and kicking, then settled into a spin, just as they knew he would.
And when Jason started to come about to the chutes, Bax whooped. Loud.
Jason lifted his chin, and he swore the son of a bitch was searching for him, hunting for him, and it still made his heart race.
Mini trusted him, all the way, and that carried a heavy weight in his soul.
The bull came around again, Jason’s head swiveling, and he whooped again. This time, it was like Mini was staring right at him.
“Five, six, seven, eight. Off, Jason!” AJ clicked the stopwatch.
“Now, Mini! Jump!”
Jason hopped off, landing on his feet and turning in a tight circle. “Bax?”
The bull whooshed right by him and Mini shoved the boofy-headed fucker out of the way without a single blink.
“Come on, Jason. The rail is to me!”
Jason jogged over as Denver pushed the bull back behind the gate, barely dodging one last kick. Denver laughed at the old guy as he closed the gate.
“You seriously were going to play tag with the fucking bull?”
Mini blinked at him. “What? What the hell are you going on about?”
“You slapped him out of the way, Jason. Like nothing going.”
“Well, he’s old.”
Ugh. He might have to kill the man.
“Not as old as you, dude,” AJ whapped him right on the butt.
“Hey! I am not that old.” Though he was getting older and goddamn grayer every day.
