Pride.
Disbelief that I took a chance, stopped numbing myself, and didn’t fall on my fucking face.
Billie didn’t fall this time either.
Instead, she’s on foot now, and she’s running around the curve of the arena. My heart hammers as I wonder if she’s coming for me.
Aw, yeah, she’s definitely coming for me.
“That’s not allowed,” Dean says as he watches her.
Wyatt chuckles. “Your aunt’s never really cared about what’s allowed and what’s not, huh?”
Dean shakes his head. “Nope. It’s pretty cool.”
“Very cool,” Cash adds. He’s got Daisy strapped to his chest again, although she’s bigger now, chunking up in a really fucking cute way. And again, she’s wearing those little pink headphones to protect her ears.
She smiles at me, all gums, and when she giggles, I just about die from cuteness overload.
I can’t imagine missing out on this kind of happiness.
Actually, I can, because I missed out on a lot of things before Billie and I got together. Now I can smile with this sweet baby and not hear warning bells going off in my head. I’m not trying to bottle anything up or hold myself back.
Instead, I give in.
I look around me. All happy couples. Sally and Wyatt are full-on making out. Duke and Wheeler are looking at her phone, giggling over a picture of Robert and Maggie. Her mom is babysitting tonight, and even though Billie and I assured mybrother and his fiancée that they didn’t have to spend their first date night as parents at the rodeo, they insisted on joining us.
Cash and Mollie are kissing their baby’s cheeks.
Sawyer and Ava are knocking back their beers while the girls giggle with Dean over a bucket of popcorn.
I’m still not over the fact that I’m one half of a happy couple now too. Never let myself even consider the idea until, well, Billie bulldozed her way through my walls.
I am happy to report that life is a hell of a lot better when you get to spend it with your best friend. Bonus points if you get to fuck her on the regular too.
When Billie launches herself over the railings and into my arms, I plant a messy kiss on her mouth and yell for everyone to hear, “Goddamn, girl, I’m so proud of you. So fucking proud.”
“Swear jar!” one of the kids shouts back. “Five bucks for that one.”
Billie laughs, biting the edge of my lips. “You really are one lucky son of a bitch. I looked great out there, yeah?”
I laugh, a buzzy warmth filling my veins. Billie will always be Billie. Thank God for that.
“Better’n that. You looked amazing.”
“Can I giveyoumouth-to-mouth because you’ve gone into cardiac arrest from witnessing the perfection of my performance?”
“That’s not funny,” Mrs. Wallace says, but she’s smiling as she dabs at her eyes with a tissue. “I am so impressed, honey. Congratulations. You really do have so much to be proud of.”
“We’re proud of you, Billie.” That’s Mr. Wallace, who’s got his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Always have been. We’re proud of what you’ve accomplished, and we’re proud of who you are. I hope you know that.”
Billie’s crying and laughing and hugging everyone now, and it’s only when we’re in my truck a little later that I get to catch up with her.
“So.” I hit the gas. “Tell me everything.”
She’s beaming as she turns to face me. “Ry, it was fucking incredible. I can’t even describe how it felt to justgofor it. I was nervous as hell, but once we made it around that second barrel, I knew we were gonna finish the race. And when we did…” She giggles, covering her face with her hands. “I thought I might explode with happiness.”
Putting my hand on her thigh, I give her a squeeze. “I know the feeling.”
