After everyone gets set, he puts his hand in the handle. I pull out the slack until he takes the tail from me. As he takes his wrap, I offer my last-minute words of wisdom: “Someone has to win. It might as well be you.”
He takes one last deep breath as he slides up to his bull rope and nods. The bull has a rear like a bucking horse before kicking so hard I have to take a step back so he doesn’t kick me over the top rail of the chutes. As soon as he moves further out into the arena for his second jump, I step forward and yell, “Go on, Knox! Go on!”
The bull turns back to the right—into Knox’s hand—and Knox is perfectly in the middle of his back. He rears, and Knox looks like he was made to ride this bull. He breaks at the hips, pushing on his handle with his riding arm and driving forward on his legs. As the bull transitions into a kick, Knox rolls his riding shoulder back, shoving his hips to his rope and pulling his knees up, while throwing his free arm over his head.
He rides bulls so perfectly. He makes it look easy, like a dance around a flame. You can’t rip your eyes away. My riding style is closer to jumping a dirt bike through rings of fire. You still can’t look away, but for very different reasons.
“Keep ridin’, keep ridin’,” I yell as the bull makes another round.
With perfect timing, Knox lifts his left leg, spurring the bull for extra points. He makes two more rounds before the 8-second buzzer sounds and the bullfighters rush in. They pull the bull out of his spin as Knox yanks the tail of his rope and rotates his hips, letting the momentum throw him away from the bull. He lands on his feet and jaunts back to the bucking chutes. Just another day at the office.
He climbs up in front of me.
I give him a high five.
“Well?” he asks with a smile.
“That was fucking perfect! Should be about 88 as long as the judges didn’t think you made it look too easy.”
The announcer rides his horse to the middle of the arena. “88.5 points, and did I mention this man now lives in Colorado?”
The roar of the crowd vibrates the bucking chutes.
“Hell yeah, Knox. You’re my freaking hero.”
He shakes his head, laughing at me.
I can’twaitto be back.
Chapter 25
Jessie
Ilatch the bathroom stall door behind me before I let myself panic. That kiss felt like . . .more. More than any other kiss we’ve shared. This is exactly why we have rules. I loved spending the past hour with Trey—learning about his world, meeting his people, seeing the excitement on his face, but I should’ve stayed with Kacey and Carson. I’m getting in way too deep.
I know what Trey thinks he feels for me, what he wants. He hasn’t said it aloud, but it’s written all over his face. How do I tell him he’s wrong? He’s a ladies’ man, not the relationship type—and even if he was, I’m not the girl for him. He’s kind, successful, and deserves someone better than me. Someone who comes from a good family and can support him in ways I can’t. Someone like the nice, attractive blonde barrel racer he’s such good friends with. I can’t believe he caught me being jealous. I have got to get my shit together.
I shake my head. It doesn’t matter. His doctor’s appointment is this coming week. Once he’s back on the road, this will be over.I’ll make it clear there is nothing between us, and when he comes home in the fall, I’ll just avoid him at all costs. Easy.
I let myself spiral for longer than I should in a public bathroom before I collect myself and text Kacey.
Jessie
Where are you sitting? I’m about to come up. Need anything?
Kacey
Section 7. We’re all good, thanks.
I make it to my seat, and Kacey leans around Lainey. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
Guess I didn’t pull myself together as much as I thought I did.
Carson looks past the girls at me as I quickly brush her off. “Nothing is wrong.”
“Yes, there is,” Lainey chimes in, though she doesn’t look away from the rodeo action in the arena.
“What makes you think something is wrong?”
