I lean against the counter, propping my hands on the edge. “We are not having this conversation.”
He wrinkles his nose. “I don’t want details. I’m just worried about you. I like the kid—don’t get me wrong—but he’s not the type to stick around.”
What the hell?Can everyone read minds now, or are we that obvious? It’s not that I necessarily care that they know, but I could do without the open conversation about it. I set the can of beer on the counter and look Carson right in the eye. “Thank you for checking in, but I don’t need him to stick around. Matter of fact, I’m counting on him taking off.”
His eyes soften. “Jessie, I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. You and Kacey are the closest thing to siblings I’ve ever had. I can’t help but look out for both of you.”
Under his grumpy exterior, Carson is loyal to a fault and has a huge heart. I couldn’t ask for a better big-brother figure.
“Don’t worry. This is temporary.” I squeeze his bicep. “He’ll leave for rodeos and buckle bunnies in a few short weeks, and I’ll go back to my normal routine.” I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
Carson only nods, looking entirely unconvinced.
Chapter 24
Trey
Greeley, Colorado
Ishow the security guard my professional rodeo cowboys card, and he waves me through the gate. I offered to drive the crew to Greeley mostly because I was terrified Jessie would try to drive. Carson’s in the passenger seat, and he’s been silent the entire drive. Granted, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise with the three women in the back seat.
Lainey jumped in at Kacey’s last-minute invitation, and their conversation has ranged from books to country music, western fashion, and Lainey’s cat. I tried to tune them out and engage with Carson several times, but he clearly isn’t in the mood for small talk. Eventually I gave up, refusing to let his surly moodruin what is about to be a great night. Because even though I can’t ride, I’mfinallyback at a rodeo.
I drive behind the arena to park by Knox’s camper. Leaving my window down, I can hear cowboys hollering and panels clanging as they sort the bucking horses into two different pens. Kids laugh as they rope each other. Generators hum, powering the many campers and trailers. The scent of horses, dust, and diesel fuel hits me.
Fuck, it’s good to be home. It’s like putting on your favorite pair of old, worn-in jeans.
“Wow, you’re fancy getting to park back here,” Lainey says from the back seat.
I glance in the rearview mirror. Her brunette hair is curled, makeup done, and she’s wearing a green sundress. She’s a knockout. No red-blooded man would deny that. But she’s not the redhead sitting next to her. That’s the one I can’t take my eyes off.
When Jessie finished getting ready and walked out of her room earlier today, I had half a mind to haul her right back in there, strip her naked, and skip the rodeo altogether. She is devastatingly beautiful with her hair down, minimal makeup, showing off her freckles, and heart-shaped lips—lips I long to kiss at all hours of the day. If that wasn’t enough, her denim shorts, blue tank top, and knee-high boots almost stopped my heart.
“Perks of being a card-carrying member. Plus, I’m bound to pull a few bull ropes tonight, so I’m basically free labor at this point.”
“Not for long. You’ll be back soon,” Jessie says matter-of-factly.
I try not to let it sting. I want to be back—more than anything—but I’m not ready to let her go, not by a long shot.
Kacey makes some god-awful squealing noise and leaps out of the truck before it stops moving. She runs and leaps into Knox’s waiting arms. Both remaining women in the backseat swoon like it’s the sweetest thing they’ve ever seen.
Kacey has become a sister to me. She makes Knox happy and has always been so supportive of him. Sometimes I get jealous, wondering what that would be like. To have that one person,yourperson, who you know without a shadow of a doubt would drop everything and fly across the country to be there for you. Until I saw Knox and Kacey together, I never wondered what that felt like, never thought I wanted it, but I’m starting to feel differently. I’m not sure that timing is working out for me when the only woman I want that with put an expiration date on the relationship we don’t even have.
Carson crosses his arms, punctuated with a grunt—or maybe a snarl. He has definitely reverted back to his caveman self.
I jump out of the truck and turn Knox and Kacey’s sweet moment into a group hug, wrapping my arms around them both. “Ah, I’ve missed this. The three amigos. Three musketeers. The three best friends that anyone could have.”
Kacey’s shoulders shake with laughter.
Knox attempts to shake himself from my grip. “Are you done? Get off me.”
Everyone else piles out of the truck and gathers behind Knox’s Capri camper.
I release him with a satisfied grin on my face. “Long time no see, bestie. Ready to win this bitch now that I’m here?”
“To be fair, I was ready to win the moment I entered it, but I am happy you’re here. Thanks for driving Kacey out. I see you picked up a few stragglers on the way.” He shakes Carson’s hand and gives Lainey a side hug but stops short of hugging Jessie, noticing the glare she’s giving him. “What did I do to deserve that look?”
She points at me. “You left him at my house. Formonths.”
