I glance toward the counter, where Imma Jean is watching him with a knowing smile, and I lower my voice as I say, “All of your secrets.” I grin back at him.
His ears turn pink.
“You know it’s okay if you were to, say, go on a date or something, right?” I ask.
“I’m a little long in the tooth for that,” he says.
“No, you’re not. There’s no such thing as too old to enjoy companionship, Daddy. Look at Grandma and Grandpa. I still catch them smooching in the kitchen all the time.”
He chuckles, and then his eyes flicker to Imma Jean. “When your mom passed away, I didn’t know how to move on. I didn’t want to. I was so blindsided by her loss. I was so heartbroken and trying to focus on you girls, and not doing a very good job of it. I just hit pause on life.”
“It’s been a lot of years.”
He shakes his head as his eyes come back to me. “I don’t regret the years I’ve spent looking after you four. Not a single minute. You girls were my biggest concern.”
I reach over and take his hand. “I know you don’t, but, Daddy, we’re all grown up now. I think it’s okay to un-pause and hit play again.”
“Maybe.”
I dig into the sticky iced buns as he changes the subject. We discuss the ranch—the new horses, the rodeo school, the plans that feel like they’re unfolding faster than any of us expected. Daddy’s eyes shine when he talks about it.
“The place is finally turning a corner,” he says. “Feels good.”
“You excited about the academy?” I ask.
He nods. “I am. Real excited. It’s gonna be good for everyone, which has me wondering …”
He doesn’t finish the thought, so I look up from my plate and raise a brow.
“Wondering what?”
“You thinking about competing again?” he asks gently.
I take a sip of coffee, considering the question. “I don’t know.”
He waits.
“Last year was amazing,” I admit. “Being back out there with Jupiter. Winning that purse. Proving I could do it felt good. It reminded me of who I was.”
“Who you were?”
I nod. “Who I used to be.”
“And?”
“And I’m not sure I want to live out of a trailer again.”
He smiles softly. “That’s all right too.”
“I love the sport,” I say. “But teaching … helping young girls find their confidence in a male-dominated rodeo arena? I don’t know. It feels right.”
His smile widens. “Bryce is going to love hearing that.”
My chest tightens. “You think so?”
“I know so. He was hoping you would stick around. Manage the girls’ event training for him. But Matty told him that if you wanted the opportunity to get back out there, she was going to support you a hundred percent.”
I blink fast, suddenly emotional.
