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‘More like, a necessary compromise,’ Andrea added.

Skye’s spine began to tingle. ‘Guys …’

‘We think you should let him help,’ Stevie blurted.

‘Help? Help with what?’

‘See, the fact that you’re genuinely confused is why we’re so concerned.’ Andrea met Skye’s eyes. ‘Your dad—’

‘Father,’ Skye corrected.

‘Your father. You’re acting like nothing’s wrong.’

Skye almost laughed at that. If only her friends knew how that fear kept her awake at night, how it had her watching over her shoulder in broad daylight and second-guessing every time a stranger so much as glanced her way. ‘I’m doing the only thing I can,’ Skye said slowly. ‘I’m staying aware. I’m moving locations as often as possible. He won’t do anything drastic before my birthday; he needs me. I’m the one with the control.’

‘But wouldn’t it make you feel better to have one other person looking out for you?’ Andrea said. ‘Because we’re supposed to leave tomorrow, and we’re shit-scared of getting on that plane and leaving you behind. And, worse, we can’t even take you with us because that would be dropping you right in Holden’s lap.’

Stevie took Skye’s hand in hers. ‘We’re worried, Skye. Like, really worried. And despite everything that happened between you two, TJ wants to help – he told us so. To us, that’s a hell of a lot better than nothing.’

Skye tried to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. Although she knew her friends were coming from a place of concern, she didn’t think they truly understood how deeply TJ had hurt her. ‘I’ll think about it.’

That seemed to appease her friends, who turned back to watch the rodeo.

But as Skye’s gaze gravitated back towards TJ, as her blood began to swim again, that fear grew. And just beneath it, swimming below the uncertainty and doubt and anxiety, was a wild and dangerous need. And it wasn’t just lust. It was the need to prove to him – and to herself – that she was over him. It was the need to be done with that chapter of her life. It was the need to move on, to finally let him go.

Throughout the night, TJ was as aware of Skye as she was of him. He could feel her eyes searing into him and tightening the pressure on his already too-tight spine. The one time he’d chanced a glance at her and met her eyes, he’d felt that slow roll of need through his long-neglected system.

Still, because once he’d been distracted and lived to regret it, he kept his mind on his work. He powered through the events, somehow keeping conscious through the physical effort it took to manage the pain. Although it had his mind fighting flashes of black and his throat clogging with trapped air that felt like dirt, he managed to smile and raise a hand for the crowd when the announcer showed the replay of his accident, saying, ‘Here with us tonight, we have Triple J, who is back in the saddle after dancing with the devil two years ago. Goes to show, you can’t stop a cowboy unless you kill him.’

He sat on Kai, ignoring the sweat that coated his body when the bull riding started. He’d stopped watching it at home because it hurt too much to remember – the thrill, the fame, the pain, the defeat. But here, where he couldn’t avoid it, he settled in. And when the memories from that weekend rose in angry flashes, he distracted himself by forcing his mind to memories of Skye instead.

It was only when the last bull rider had taken his turn and the spectators had already started filtering out for the night that TJ rode Kai back to the barn.

It was nearing eleven. Although the night was dark, the coliseum lighting cast a blanket of light over the grounds. While the spectators filtered across the parking lot to their cars, chatting about a fun night of entertainment, behind the scenes, athletes, stock contractors, and barn hands still worked.

Stalls were being cleaned; animals were being fed, watered and checked over for the next day of events.

As TJ approached Barn B, the country music station filtered out to him, the mournful notes of Kip Moore’s ‘Pretty Horses’ hitting a little too close to home.

TJ blocked the song out and prepared to dismount Kai – something he didn’t dare do in the arena in case anyone saw. He took three long, deep breaths, leaned forward and took his right foot out of the stirrup. One, two, three, he counted, and then, holding his breath, swung his right leg up and over the saddle. He didn’t so much dismount as fall to the ground.

He landed with a bone-smashing jolt.

As the pain sliced up and down his back and all through his right side, he simply leaned against Kai and took a moment to balance himself. His eyes watered from the pain. Sweat coated his brow from the effort.

‘You okay?’

Skye’s voice, so cool, coming from just behind him, had him gritting his teeth and pushing upright, despite the pain. ‘Yup,’ he replied. But he didn’t dare look at her, didn’t dare let her see how just that – standing upright – reduced him.

She walked by him without another word.

TJ took Kai by the reins and followed, his limp more noticeable despite his best efforts to hide it. Up ahead, he watched as Skye walked, her blue jeans snug over perfect curves, her shoulders hunched in her denim jacket, her blonde hair hidden under the hat he’d once given her.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away, so he saw the moment she looked into Smokey’s stall and froze, her hand pausing over the sliding bolt as she prepared to open the stall.

She didn’t move for one long moment – and then she was saying, ‘No, no, no,’ and rushing into her horse’s stall, her hands fumbling in her panic.

‘Skye?’