Burning the Midnight Oil: A Single Dad Small Town Romance

Chapter 18

Hannah: Hey, can you meet me at Powder Ridge in an hour?

I’m sitting in the parking lot of the arena, re-reading the text for the fifth time in the last fifty minutes. It’s nearly three in the afternoon, and I’m scheduled to meet with Hannah in about ten minutes, but my nerves are shot. It’s last minute, and I don’t do well with last minute. Did I do something wrong? Do they not want to work with me anymore? Or on the flip side, are they finally offering me a permeant job? I’m anxious and sick to my stomach. I’ve enjoyed doing photography for them over the last few months. I’ve been happier doing this than I was the entire last three years I was at college. I’ve been working my ass off with no real guarantees, putting all of my eggs in this one basket, and I desperately need it to pay off already. I need this to sway in my favor because, frankly, I deserve it.

Getting to see my photos on their social media accounts, seeing people comment on them, share them, fawn over them…it’s surreal. I love it. I don’t think I ever fully let myself believe that I could make photography a career up until recently. But what if Hannah is about to burst my bubble and crush my dreams?

I might puke.

It’s a big possibility.

Hopefully, not in her office. Hopefully, I can wait until after.

Turning my car off, I climb out, pocketing my keys and my phone as I cross the parking lot toward the front door to the arena. The sun is shining in the sky, not a cloud in sight, but it’s chilly out. Spring is around the corner, but it’s definitely not here just yet. Hannah’s office is on the second floor, and it overlooks the actual arena. A quick knock on her door and a muffled “come in” has me twisting the knob and pushing open the door.

Her office always smells like a mix between vanilla and something like hay. I can’t explain it. It’s feminine but also kind of like a barn, but not in a bad way. She glances up from her computer screen as I enter, a smile spreading on her face. “Hey, Grady. Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.”

“Of course,” I mutter as I take a seat in the chair in front of her desk. “It’s always a pleasure coming down here.”

Hannah is older than me but not quite as old as Jade. She’s probably around twenty-four, if I had to guess. She was a senior when Benji and I were freshmen, and she’s always been nice to me. Getting to work under her has been fun. She’s easy to work with and someone I’d even consider a friend.

“I’ll jump right to it,” she says, clasping her hands together on top of her desk. “I’ve been so pleased with the work you’ve been doing for us. You killed it at the Grand Prix, you’re always willing to go the extra mile, and your talent is unmatched. I’ve been waiting for approval from my boss, but I finally got it this morning so…” A wide grin tugs on her lips, and she drums her hands against the desk making me chuckle. “What do you say about coming to work with us on a more full-time basis?”

My heart stutters. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely!”

“What would that look like?” I ask, my pulse kicking up.

“Well, for most of the year, it would look similar to what you’ve been doing. You’d handle the media for any events that take place here, any training that goes on that we could post to our socials, but a big part of the gig would be rodeo season.”

“Like, traveling?”

“Yup! So, you’d go where the crew goes. We’re looking for media of them competing, but also just behind-the-scenes type stuff. The fans seem to enjoy that type of content almost as much as the competing. It’s a big ask, since you’d be traveling several months out of the year, but I think you’d be a really great fit for the role.”

“I’m in,” I blurt out easily.

A grin spreads on her face and her brows lift. “You sure? You can take some time to think?—”

“I don’t need time to think,” I reply, cutting her off. “I’m one hundred percent in.”

Clapping her hands together, she says, “Great!”

We spend the next hour or so going over everything and filling out the paperwork. Once we’re finished, I leave, calling Benji, and letting him know I’m coming over. Benji lives close to the arena, so within five minutes, I’m parking my car again and climbing out. Per usual, his front door is unlocked so I walk right in like I own the place. He’s sitting on his couch watching TV, and when he hears me walk in, he glances over his shoulder, tipping his chin up at me.

“What’s up, man?”

“Hannah gave me a job!” I’m practically squealing with excitement as I plop down on the couch.

Benji’s eyes widen as he regards me. “No way! That’s fucking awesome, Grady.”

“I know, I’m so excited.” The smirk on my face has been a permanent fixture since I left Hannah’s office. My cheeks are starting to hurt.

“What will you be doing?” he asks. I explain everything Hannah and I went over while I was there, making sure not to leave a single detail out. “Damn,” he mutters when I finish. “How do you feel about traveling?”

“I think it’ll be so much fun. To get to visit different locations every week or so, it’ll be amazing. And it’s only for a few months out of the year.”

“Well, hell yeah.” Benji smiles. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. Me too.”

“How’s it going to work?” he asks. “Like, where will you stay? Do they put you up in hotels?”

I shake my head. “Nah, I’m just going to camp in my car. I’ve done it before, and it’s worked out fine. They offered to put me up in hotels at each stop, but it feels like a lot of shuffling of my equipment, and that’s just asking for something to get broken, so I’d rather not. My car will be fine.”

His eyes go wide. “What? That’s a terrible idea.”

“My backseat is huge. It will be fine.”

Benji snorts. “Right, whatever you say.”

We end up cracking open a couple of beers and putting on a movie. By the time it’s over, we’re both hungry, so Benji tosses a couple of burgers on the grill while I make us some fries in the air fryer. Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I notice a text message waiting for me that came in like an hour ago. Oops.

Xander: We’re all going out to the bar tonight around 7. Wanna come?

Glancing at the clock above the stove, I note that’s in like a half an hour.

Me: Shit. Sorry, just now seeing this. Still cool if I come?

Xander: Absolutely!

Me: Alright, cool. I’m just about to eat, but once I’m finished, I’ll head over.

Xander is Cope’s boyfriend, and he’s someone I’ve gotten to know a little bit more over the last month or so. He’s frequently at the arena when I’m there, so as the two non-rodeo affiliated people, we naturally started talking and realized we had a lot in common. He’s never invited me out with the crew, but it should be fun, and what better way to celebrate?

A brief thought crosses my mind that maybe I should check with Boone and make sure it’s okay. I don’t know why, because I’ve hung out with his friends plenty of times over the years and it’s never been an issue. I think I’m just paranoid because of how things have been between us. Although, I will admit, since that night I confronted him about everything when he was changing my tire, things have been alright. Not great, but not overly tense and uncomfortable either.

As if on cue, another text comes in but this time it’s from Boone.

Boone: Hey, I hear you’re going out with us tonight. You gonna be home soon? We can ride together if you want?

News travels fast, I see.

Riding with Boone would be nice because then I could drink without having to worry about driving home. But my car is already here. Glancing over at Benji as he walks in through the sliding glass door with the plate of burgers in hand, I say, “Hey, would you be willing to follow me home, and then drop me off at the bar after we eat?”

He sets the plate on the counter. “I can do that. Who’re you going there with?”

“Xander and the guys.”

Arching a brow, Benji asks, “So, Boone?”

The timer for the air fryer goes off, so I unplug it and pull open the compartment that holds the fries. “Among other people, yes. Do you want to come?”

He’s not going to come, I know this.

“Nah, I’m good,” he replies. “Bet you’re excited to see him, though.”

Benji’s referring to Boone, and I have to fight to not roll my eyes.

“I’m excited to see everybody,” I retort.

He hums. “Sure, you are.”

After I give him the finger, I thumb out a response to Boone before grabbing a couple of plates for us to use.

Me: I’m with Benji. He’s gonna drop me off once we’re finished eating. But thanks.

Boone: *thumbs up emoji*

I hand Benji a plate, and he waggles his eyebrows at me like he’s about to say something smartass. Holding up a hand and cutting him off, I say, “Just shut the fuck up and make your food.”

He sniggers. “I didn’t say anything.”

I have another beer with dinner, wanting to calm my nerves, because no matter how nonchalant I act toward Benji, I am excited to see Boone tonight. We haven’t hung out outside of his house without Suzy or Jade there in quite some time. Maybe this can finally be the night we can truly forget about what I saw and get back to normal. Get back to the level of friendship we once had. I’m being overly hopeful, but it’s all I’ve got right now.

“Do you think your hottie brother-in-law knows you’re in love with him?” Benji asks, nearly making me choke the drink I just took. He’s always known I’ve been attracted to him, but he’s never said that.

“Fuck off,” I hiss. “I’m not in love with him. And he’s not my brother-in-law anymore.”

“Oh, right, right. Does that mean he’s no longer off limits?”

A chuckle bubbles past my lips. “No, jackass. He’s still off limits. He’s still straight. And I’m still very much not in love with him.”

“Whatever you say,” he muses, looking at me like he very much does not believe me. I don’t know why I haven’t told him about what’s happened between Boone and me. Not that anything has happened between us, per se. It’s something I would normally tell Benji, no questions asked, but there’s something about the situation that has me wanting to keep it to myself.

Maybe it’s because I know it’s wrong, and I don’t want to face the judgement. Either way, I don’t let Benji know how close to the truth he is.