“It’s a hard thing to get over, two folks so far apart in stuff.”
“I hear you.” That wasn’t it, though. Sam didn’t think he was good enough, and Beau had made it so much worse.
“If you need anything, I ain’t got anything to do, huh?”
“I could use someone to pull rope.” He tried to dredge up a smile. “Someone who knows me.”
“I got your back, Cajun.” Coke clapped him on the shoulder. “For always.”
He knew that. He did.
His eyes slid across the chutes, where Sammy was staring. Watching him.
“Thanks.” He wanted to have Sam’s, too. Damn it.
“Come on. Let’s go. Up and on. Win your money.” Coke stepped up, rolled his shoulders. “When Dillon screams, tell him it’s your fault, huh?”
“I will.” He grinned a little for real, hopping up on the rail.
“Move those short little legs, Cajun. Man, I think you was a basset hound in your last life.”
“You just say that ‘cause you got some now.” He’d seen ‘em backstage.
“Yep. Pretty babies.” Coke grabbed the bull’s horns, hopping in, fearless as anything.
Beau tried to shut his brain down and let his body take over, but he was acutely aware of Sam. Who wasn’t even watching him.
“Pay attention, damn it. Right here, mind in the middle. You get hurt, there ain’t no after party.” AJ’s voice was sharp, Coke’s agreement right there.
“I got it.” Jesus. He wanted to bawl. Instead, he squared his jaw and got his mind in the middle.
He needed to get this ride and get the fuck out of here.
Chapter Fifteen
He watched the whiskey swirl around the bottom of his glass. Round and round and round and round.
Shit, Beau had looked fine. So fine. It was like missing a broke tooth, to have seen him, been so close to him, and not touched him. Not smiled at him. Sammy sobbed, resting his head on one hand. He. This was.
Fuck.
Fuck.
His Beau.
He swirled the whiskey one more time.
Bastard. Motherfucker. Prick. Asshole.
Beau was staying three doors down. Three doors away, in a bed. Sleeping on the right side of the bed with his fucking feet crossed at the ankle. Sleeping right there. Alone.
“Fuck.” Sammy grabbed his phone, hit ‘one,’ and waited.
“Hello?” Someone wasn’t asleep. Tired, but not asleep.
“I need you.” It wasn’t what he’d meant to say, not at all, but it was the truth.
“Good, ‘cause I hate this.” Beau sighed, but it wasn’t an unhappy sound. “I got a king-size bed.”
