“I’m sorry, babe. I’m just pissed at myself. I shoulda known.”
“How? It ain’t your fault he got hurt. Hell, man. Coke ain’t said nothing.”
“I know.” That was part of what bothered him. He was… Well, they didn’t trust him no more.
“Hmm. Well, get your jeans on.” Sammy tossed him his phone back, rolled his shoulders.
“Okay.” Beau didn’t, though—he went and put his hands on Sammy’s shoulders, hunting for hot spots. “You okay?”
“Gettin’ old is all.”
He found it, straightaway. A tight fist of muscle that the shower hadn’t fixed. “Oh, babe. Come on and sit.” Beau pulled Sam down to the bed and crawled up behind him, working at the knot.
“Beau.” That sound proved how much Sam’d been hurting. Stubborn ass.
“You got to tell me, Poot.”
“I hate to bitch.”
“I know you do. This ain’t bitching.” That muscle was hot, almost like it was tore.
“You feel good to me.” One of Sam’s hands reached back, squeezed his thigh. “You think Jason’s gone nuts?”
“No.” No, Jase had sounded like Jase. This had to be something physical. Had to. “I think he’s hurt bad.”
“Well, how bad can it be, Beau? If he’s at AJ’s? There ain’t a hospital close—we ain’t heard a thing.”
“Well, then why ain’t he back? Why is he scared to talk to me?” Where in the hell was that Icy Hot?
“I dunno. It’s weird. Why didn’t Coke tell us? Or Aje?”
“I don’t know.” Damn it, he was going to kick some asses. “I guess… I guess Jason don’t consider us friends anymore.”
“Bullshit.” Sam turned, met his gaze, serious as a heart attack. “You know, cher, I love you more than the earth, but sometimes you can be a little dumb. You’re the best fucking rider in the world, in Goddamnhistory. You, Silva, Ace, Coke Pharris—y’all are fucking legends. Ain’t a man alive that don’t want you to respect them.”
“Well, then he don’t know how to tell me.” Shit. He just… Beau sighed. “I let him slide, Sammy, and I feel bad.”
“Okay.” That made him grin. Straightforward asshole. “So let’s go…unslide his ass. Andy owes me fifty bucks anyway.”
“Okay, Poot.” Sammy always knew what to do to make it better.
“Good man.” The Icy Hot was handed over. “Lube me up right quick?”
“You know it.” He grinned, getting his hands in there and getting Sam’s muscle all worked out.
It didn’t take long before Sam relaxed, went easy for him. “Better.”
“Good.” He kissed the nape of Sam’s neck. “Can’t have you all hard unless I make you that way.”
“You been doing that for a long damn time, babe. You got this whole belly thing goin’ on.”
“You have the best ass in bull riding.” They both laughed, the lovefest an old one.
“It’s your ass. Come on. Let’s go find us a couple of cowboys.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He felt better already. Sam was right. This was Jason and Andy. They would figure it.
And then he would kick Jason’s ass for not calling him.
