Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Seamus was excited to be able to watch Dawson work again today, and this time it was going to be without the parade of corporate people and sponsors and everybody who wanted to glad-hand him.
That bullshit had all happened over the last two days, with all the fucking nonsense with ‘are you interested in this promotional opportunity’ and ‘have you considered this situation’. He’d invoked Stephanie’s name a dozen times.
Today, thank God, was the short go, and everyone was pretty busy.
Sterling came up and plopped down next to him. “Ah, no one’s up here trying to sell you anything or trying to make you promise to sponsor a bullfighter or anything, right?”
“I know, go figure.” He winked at Sterling, who he had discovered he quite liked. Colby was a hoot, too. The six of them had played some wild poker games over the last few days.
“Not yet, and you beat Greg up here, so we’re solid.”
Sterling nodded and rolled his eyes. “You got to feel sorry for that kid. His daddy has his balls in a vice.”
Interesting. “Yeah? He wasn’t into the bullriding?”
“Shit.” Sterling shrugged. “Who knows? It wasn’t as if he had a choice one way or the other, but he’s never been able to use his own voice for anything. His daddy tells him what to do, and he does it. I’m not even sure Sandy even likes him.”
Oh, that kind of made him sad. “That sucks.”
“Yeah, well, not everybody apparently has cool parents like you have.”
Seamus forced himself not to wince. He was a lucky bastard, he knew it. He never tried to rub it in, but…damn. Gay cowboys had a hard row to hoe. “I have come to understand that. I am incredibly lucky. I guess Dawson, though, his family is cool too?”
“Yeah, his folks were people, just real simple. His dad was a truck driver before he died, his mom worked at a grocery store before she started having babies. You know, good people. Dawson is loved.”
“Well, that’s what’s important. When I go see Dawson’s house, I’m going to meet his mom and sister.”
Sterling gave him a quick look. “You do know that Dawson’s house is not like your house.”
“I know.” Did he come off as that much of an asshole? “I don’t care. I want to see what kind of thing makes Dawson happy.”
Because he could figure this out, and make sure Dawson had the things he needed too. Seamus wasn’t interested in being the guy who took the cowboy and turned him into a city boy. Seamus wanted to be part of Dawson’s life—all of it—just like Dawson wanted to be a part of his.
“Cool, I just wanted to be sure. I mean, don’t get me wrong, your house is fucking stunning, and the pool is something else, but Dawson’s place is way more simple.”
“Of course. I have slept in a tent in the outback. I have slept in a single berth in a yacht for three weeks in the middle of the ocean. I have been to several cattle stations with my dad. I am used to a huge variety of settings, man.” He wanted Sterling to understand he would go where Dawson went, even if it was camping out in the middle of nowhere and watching cattle.
“I like that about you, man. I really do.” Sterling clapped him on the shoulder. “How’s your foot?”
“Better. I’ve figured out how to prop it up while I’m here.” Topher and Nick had found a way to put his foot on a portable pillow situation, which kept it off the hard floor and kept his knee from being bent at an acute angle. That really made it easier.
Said Nick and Christopher came strolling over right about then, both of them carrying a drink for themselves, and Topher handing him one. “We figured we’d save that little server gal a trip.”
“I bet she appreciates that as long as we tip her out before we leave.” Seamus winked, and everybody else laughed. He didn’t want to deprive her of anything because this waiting on people sucked.
“I’m sure she appreciates that.” Sterling finally said, “It’s good of you.”
“I remember what it was like. I waited tables for a summer while I was trying to get my first audition because I was determined to do it all by myself and not depend on Mum and Dad’s money.
It was probably ridiculous, but I felt like I was doing it the right way.
” Seamus rolled his eyes because he supposed even nepo babies had their pride.
“Oh, come on, man.” Topher grinned at him. “It was kind of fun. We had a ball.”
“Yeah, we kinda did.” He grinned at Topher and chuckled. “We were working at this pizza joint, and we worked our butts off, but the parties afterward were a blast. We had a little apartment—”
“A secure one because, you know, his dad insisted.”
He rolled his eyes at Chris. “Right, but we still had to pay rent to him, and we did. We had a hell of a time.”
Sterling shook his head said, “I can’t imagine needing security like that.”
Seamus shrugged. He knew. He did. He couldn’t change his upbringing, and he didn’t want to. “I wish everybody could have had the raising that I did. I’m super lucky—my parents both care about me, I got to travel and do things and—”
“And he is generous to a fault, kind of ridiculously self-aware for somebody who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he works his ass off.” Topher held Sterling’s gaze, dark eyes burning. “He gives everything to his roles and really does his job. I’m proud to be his friend.”
Oh god. Seamus was going to cry—not really but inside? Completely.
Christopher was his best friend, and Nick was a close second. He was lucky that way, too, but he could tell Dawson was super lucky also because Sterling was a good man and had Dawson’s best interests at heart.
“So anyway, it’s supposed to be a good day. They brought in a super hefty load of bulls for this event. Looks like they’ve got a lot of the ones that are up for Bull of the Year.”
“Wow, does that mean I have to worry about Dawes today?”
“Nah.” Of course Sterling said that, but there was worry written clear in the bullfighter’s eyes, so Seamus was going to have to stress it. He hated worrying.
“Okay, I won’t worry except for all the times that I’m worrying because I worry when I’m being a worrywart who worries.”
They all cracked up at him.
“Remember he’s good at his job. One of the best.”
Seamus shook his head. “Maybe he is the best.”
Sterling chuckled. “He would tell you he was the third best. After Fearless Pharris and me. I would tell you he’s the second best I’ve ever seen after Coke.”
“What about Nate?” Nick asked.
Sterling grinned, “Nate is, without a shadow of a doubt, the absolute best second-in-command I’ve ever seen. He never liked being lead bull fighter. He never did it for any length of time and only when Coke was really hurt.”
“He didn’t like being in that position, but you did, huh?” Seamus had to ask.
“Yeah, I did. I liked being the boss. Dawes also likes being the boss. When he’s done with all this nonsense, it’s gonna be Deuce out there. He’s gonna be the one they answer to.”
“Not Davi?” Dawson had told him Davi had seniority.
Sterling shrugged and pursed his lips. “He wants to make babies. I guarantee you maybe a year, maybe two, and he’ll announce his retirement and go home to work the ranch and be with his kids.”
The conversation kept going and Seamus listened with half an ear, but his eyes were on Dawes. On the way he moved as he jogged around the arena, talking to the other bullfighters.
There was something about the way the man worked it. Every time Seamus saw him run, that hitch in his get-along was a little less hitchy and more get-alongy, and it was a beautiful thing to watch the fine son of a bitch go with it.
“You say your dad’s coming to one of the events soon?”
He glanced to Sterling. “That’s the rumor. As soon as he can get done with what he’s shooting and fly over. Right now, he’s real busy with a reality TV show.”
“And your mom?”
“She said she was going to come, but—" He smiled for Dawes when they caught each other’s gaze. “The fact is, my mother’s really not the bullriding type. She’s more than willing to get filthy for her work, to get down and be in the mud and shooting, but on her downtime, she kind of wants massages and hot tubs and long lunches with her friends.
She likes Dawes though. She likes him a lot. ”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’ll make things easier. Family is a tough thing sometimes.” Sterling shrugged. “Dawson, though, he’s easy to get to love.”
“I think you’re absolutely right.” Sterling had to grin. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, it took him a while to warm up to me, but I knew right away that he was hot as hell.”
“He told me how grumpy he was about you. I knew it wouldn’t last. That’s his defense mechanism at work.”
The lights went down again, just like yesterday, the announcers started ramping the crowd up for the introduction of all the bullriders. Dawson and his crew disappeared, and he knew they would come running out when their names were announced and bounce around in the spotlight for a minute.
Seamus liked the whole thing—the lights, the fireworks, the sounds of the bulls underneath them banging and clanging. He also had a great view of the chutes and the cowboys. They did all the introductions, and it was so fun to watch the crowd cheer Dawes and the other bullriders.
Xander Miles, the young man who was the commentator on the floor behind the chutes came up, expression a little embarrassed but not too much. “Excuse me, Mr. Givens?”
He nodded. “Hey, mate, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you for asking. I was wondering if I could get just a short little interview, nothing quick, just oh, we’re glad you’re here, are you enjoying the bullriding? No sneak questions, just something I can use for my filler. It’s so cool that somebody famous is here.”
He gave the guy a nod, rewarding both politeness and bravery. “I can do that.”
“Cool, cool, cool, is now good? Before everything gets started, I mean. I have to be on the floor after.”
“Bring it on.” That would make sure that it was quick and respectful.