I half expected it to be pillaged.
I drop onto the seat, unstrap my wrist, and remove my spurs before taking my hat off and running a hand through my hair. I just need a breather. I’ll make it back to the chutes to help out in a second.
Knox appears a few minutes later, ripping off his gear. He tosses it to the ground like a toddler who missed out on a lollipop.
“Someone’s happy,” I mutter.
“Guess you would be. I’m out for a fortnight. Fucking shit landing.” He strides to his locker, pummeling a fist into the metal. It dents, and he grunts before shaking out his hand.
“Adding a broken hand to your list of injuries won’t see you back any earlier.” I don’t know why I’m trying to help. I should really stop.
“What would you know, pussy-whipped golden boy?”
The hell?
“Watch your fucking mouth, asshole.” I stand and my hands curl to fists.
“Or what, farm boy?” He closes the distance between us.
“You don’t have a decent bone in your damn lousy body, do you?” My face is pulled tight, heat racing through my veins like wildfire.
He huffs a careless sound and turns away. “Whatever you say, golden boy.”
“Grow up, Knox.”
He spins around. “You’ve been here two seconds. You don’t get to tell me how to handle a goddamn thing.”
He’s right. I’m brand new to the team, and I can’t lose this spot.
I swipe up my hat from the bench seat and shove it back on my head. I start for the door, but muffled words stop me in my tracks. “Montgomery should have been there.” I turn back as he flicks his gaze from where I stand to the locker at his side and adds, “Thanks.”
The word is too soft, but it’s the first sliver of Kade Knox that hasn’t rubbed me the wrong way in I don’t even know how long.
I don’t know if he looks back up, but I give him a nod and a half smile and turn back, pushing through the door and out into the night air.
When I make it back, Logan is getting chewed out about the Knox-and-Maggie incident, or so it’s been labeled, apparently.
I’ve never seen Levi so furious.
Ever.
I take a stance by Logan’s side, and Levi’s eyes, full of pure fire, flick to me. “Got somewhere else to be, Jones?”
“Nope, I’m good right here.”
Logan throws me a grateful look.
“Fine, what the hell were you two idiots thinking?!” He scorns us both in plain sight of every other cowboy, every team and their managers.
Hell, doing the right thing all the time is exhausting.
