“I’m not, no.”
Billie cracks open an eye and smirks, her full lips curving upward in a way that makes my pulse skip. “Ryder doesn’t do the boyfriend thing.”
How is it that she’s laid up in a hospital bed but still looks so fucking pretty? Ain’t fair.
“Yousure know how to pick ’em.” I fall into a chair and stretch out my legs. “Boyfriends, I mean.”
She chuckles. “Xander not your type, huh?”
“That rodeo clown? Hell no.”
“Good thing he’s not my boyfriend, then.”
I close my eyes and grit my teeth. Billie is always trying to get a rise out of me. I typically don’t respond, but tonight, I figure a little levity will go a long way in helping Billie cope. Poor thing is scared. And hurting.
Luckily, the X-rays we just took ruled out a spinal or head injury. But Billie’s arm is in a bad way, and she has some bruised ribs.
“You can do better than him,” I manage carefully.
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s slim pickings around here. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
The nurse is chuckling now too as she looks back up. “All the good ones are taken, right?”
“Yes! Pairing off like it’s their job.” Billie gives me a meaningful look. “Everyone except you, Ry.”
There’s that stab of electric pain in my center again. What the hell do I say to that?
Not my style to lead anyone on.
I like to have fun.
I had to numb myself when my parents died, and no one can fall in love with a person who’s only half alive.
The nurse saves me by speaking up. “So if this cowboy here isn’t family, and he’s not your boyfriend, then was he just the first person on the scene, or?—”
“He was.” Billie’s smirk broadens into a smile. “He’s also hot, and all y’all nurses and doctors like him, which I hope means you’ll like me and be extra gentle and let me have dessert after you fix my bum arm?”
My turn to roll my eyes. I also bite back a smile. Billie is a firecracker wherever she goes. Gotta respect the consistency—there’s not a fake bone in this girl’s body.
This time the nurse flat out laughs, looking me up and down before returning to her computer screen. “Solid strategy. I’ll just say he’s a close friend, then.”
“Wish I had more of those.” Billie sighs. “Girlfriends especially.”
I blink. “That’s random.”
“No it’s not. Y’all take for granted that it’s practically all dudes, all the time on a ranch. When Ava and Sally came to work for us, I almost cried I was so happy. They’re part of the reason I was so hellbent on learning how to race—I wanted the excuse to hang out with them more.”
The nurse nods. “My girlfriends are a lifeline. Couldn’t do life without them.”
“Do you think I’m gonna need surgery?” Billie’s voice sounds thin all of a sudden, making my heart cramp.
The nurse continues to type on the keyboard. “The doctor will be in to examine you shortly. Whatever happens, just know you’re in good hands, honey, all right?”
Billie looks at me, her big hazel eyes earnest. “You gonna put those healing hands of yours on me too? If I need ’em?”
This time, the nurse and I both laugh. Feels good to let myself enjoy Billie’s admittedly great sense of humor for once instead of responding with my usual grunts or deflections.
“Pretty sure your brothers wouldn’t love that,” I manage.
