Just Peachy
Darcy took home number one spot for both her events – breakaway roping and barrel riding. My excitement might be to blame for putting a spotlight on our group because the inevitable happened – Tanner and Colton were spotted.
Sas and I are hovering in the stands while the guys sign autographs and pose for photographs. Tanner is a seasoned pro next to my brother. Sunshine to Colton’s grumpy, as he smiles and jokes with his fans, while Colton, I can tell, is forcing himself to be polite as his weekend off is interrupted.
I almost feel sorry for them but that doesn’t stop me doing the exact same thing to the star women of the rodeo when Tanner leads us all down into the back of the arena where the riders and their teams are hanging out, good spirited after the close of the event.
I’m so high on endorphins that when I finally spot Darcy, I forget myself entirely, literally rushing her as if she’smysister. I crash into her, arms flying around her as I take it upon myself to make introductions.
“Darcy! I’m Annie. Annie Qui— Lord, it doesn’t even matter who I am. You wereinsaneout there. I’m your biggest fan. I honestly can’t tell you how?—”
Two big hands come down on my shoulders – one Tanner’s, the other Colton’s – and one of them tells me, “Breathe, Annie,” while the other says, “Let’s give Darcy some space.”
I hold up my hands –sorry– as Darcy and Sas both mock me. “I’d like to say beer has made me giddy but, hun, I’d love you drunk or sober as a judge,” I confess.
“Darcy, this is Annie Quinn. Annie, my sister,” Tanner says.
If I wasn’t so caught up in the moment, I’d pause to take in the fact that I’m here with my brother, yet someone introduced me as Annie Quinn. My own person. Not a shadow. Not a sister of a football star. I mentally box that away with every other time Tanner has shown me the utmost respect.
“It’s great to meet you at last, Annie,” Darcy says.
I also box the fact that Tanner has told her about me.
Trying to behave like a regular human being who can control her emotions, I say, “You, too, Darcy.” I’m doing great at being normal. Just great. Until— “I mean, this has been my dream for a million years, so I don’t think it’s the same thing but?—”
“Annie?” Darcy asks. “Should we get you a drink?”
I point to myself, then her, then back and forth between us. “Like me with you? A drink together?”
Draping an arm around my shoulder, she holds out a hand to Colton and Sas, introducing herself, and finally kisses Tanner on the cheek.
“Good riding, kiddo,” he tells her, then Darcy whisks me away, the others following, to a mobile truck that’s serving margaritas, margaritas, or margaritas.
She sets us all up with some of her team and a few of the other riders on a row of wood benches, then she and Tanner go get us drinks.
“Way to play it cool, Annie,” Colton says, coming to straddle the bench seat opposite mine and tugging Sas between his legs.
Tonight, his sibling quips can’t possibly ruin my happy aura. Which gets happier as we share a round of cocktails. Darcy and I havesomuch in common – the fact she has riding superpowers aside – and spend a long time talking about ranch life, about Sunshine Ranch, about breaking in horses and how she’d like to open a retirement home for sports horses when she’s done with competing at her current level.
More than once, I catch myself looking at Tanner. Trying to tell him how grateful I am, not only because I got to fangirl his sister, but for the whole trip. It’s only one night off from adulting but it’s already felt like a much-needed break.
More than once, when I glance his way, I find him looking back at me.
It gets rowdier as the night grows later but Darcy seems to know everyone and it’s all friendly enough. Still the two stone-cold sober footballers stick to us girls like glue, until they refuse to join in the crowd line dancing.Finally,something I’m good at.
As Darcy, Sas and I tap heels to floor, to butt, to the palms of our hands, I suddenly remember…
“Darcy, I forgot to thank you for loaning me your car!” I shout over the Billboard classic.
“My car?”
“Your Audi. Did Tanner tell you he’s let me borrow it to learn to drive? Only until you need it, obviously.”
We’re still dancing but her frown is focused on me. “Annie, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Your car. The one you have at Tanner’s place to use when you visit.”
She chuckles. “Hun, how many of those margaritas did you have? I don’t have a car at my brother’s place. He usually comes to visit me. I probably stay with him once or twice a year.”
