Chapter 16
Bodie was stupidly happy.
He was in the mountains, grilling chicken breasts and zucchini, drinking beer and listening to music with Cole.
And they had days left to go before they headed off again.
It was fucking magic.
“Hey, babe?” Cole came out of the house, beer in hand. “Do you like mushrooms? The weird farm box we bought has a ton of them. I thought I’d make a sauce for the chicken. No oil, I promise.”
“Ooh. I love mushrooms. Love them. Pork chops with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans is my dream meal.” With rolls and butter, yellow cake and chocolate frosting.
“Well, you let me know when you’re not worried about your fighting weight and I will treat you to dinner.” Cole chuckled and leaned on the deck railing, giving him a relaxed smile. “In the meantime, I’m going to let you keep spoiling me with your grilling skills.”
“I have grilled all over the world. There’s something amazing about burning meat, isn’t there?” It suited him, all the way to the bone.
Cole shrugged. “I just like watching you do it because I can tell you enjoy it.”
“I do. I love it.” It was totally the caveman in him. Man burn meat. Rawr.
“Maybe we should hike tomorrow. Leave the house for a minute?” Cole chuckled. “It’s been a few days.”
“Totally. I have hiking boots in the truck.” He had a whole setup in his truck, because he never knew what was going to happen next.
“Is there anything you don’t have in your truck?” Cole’s eyes were on him, so interested and curious. “I guess that comes from living in hotels so much. I get home more, so I usually just have the suitcase.”
“There’s no furniture, but if I need it, I’m likely to have it. I only get home about once a quarter.” He had his workout stuff, electronics, clothes, and gear. What else did he need?
Cole laughed. “No furniture. No, wouldn’t think so. Not to worry, I have enough of that. All we really need is the bed and the grill, right? Although the lounge chairs out here are pretty damn awesome for naps and for watching the sunset.”
“I like your couch too. It’s cushy and excellent for dozing.” And fucking. He had been impressed with its sturdiness, in fact.
Cole sipped his beer. “What do you usually do on this break? You know, when you don’t have a moderately handsome, friendly lover to hang out with?”
“Sometimes, I see my dad. Sometimes, I drive up here and camp. Sometimes, I hit the beach.” He fucked off.
“I like the beach too. Maybe next break we can take a trip? Get some sun.”
“Hell yeah. I love that idea.” It was the absolute best part of being on the road.
Cole moved closer, giving him a warm look, like what he was about to say was personal and important. “I love that you didn’t even blink when I mentioned it.”
“I’m a go-baby. You have somewhere you want to see, I’ll take you to see it.” He held Cole’s gaze. “We got this.”
“I guess we do.” Cole kissed him gently. “I’m going to be sorry when this week is over. It’s been ridiculously perfect so far.”
“It has. No one’s hurt. No one’s mad. No one’s grumpy. It’s amazing.” And unusual. He was bound to wreck sooner or later. They all did.
“Can’t take the rodeo out of the man, even on break.” Cole chuckled. “No one is getting hurt or mad this week. It’s just you and me, and I don’t plan on risking much.”
“Where are we going hiking? You have an idea?”
“I’m thinking Mt. Sanitas. But how we get up there depends on how we’re feeling. There’s a short, steep hike, or a longer easier route to the same peak.”
“Oh, cool.” He liked slow and easy, but if Cole wanted, they could do hard going up and easy coming down…
“The views are great. We can bring a snack and hang out up there for a bit if you want to.”
“Sounds perfect. Water, a snack, a long walk—I’m in.” He turned the zucchini, brushed on a little garlic butter.
Cole’s phone chimed, and he pulled it out of his pocket, frowning as he read the text. “Hm. Chet Freeman is out.” Chet had hit the dirt hard last Sunday but had seemed more or less okay, he thought. “Fracture in his shoulder.”
“For how long? He having surgery?” Dammit. It was good for him, rank-wise, but shitty for him person-wise.
Cole sighed, still looking at his phone. “Sounds like it. Billy is getting the details. Billy Logan, you know him? He works with Chet. Manager, agent, you know.” Cole put his phone on the deck railing and squinted at the mountains. “Damn. This sport.”
“It’s not if, it’s when, right?” He sighed. “We make all the money we can, for as long as we can.”
“Making money didn’t do Rocky any good.”
Bodie glanced at Cole. “Well, for some of us, that’s the only skill we got, so I have to make as much money as I can.”
“I know. That’s my job. To make sure you make money, right?” Cole took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “You have other skills. You can always rent yourself out as a grill master.”
“Oh, there’s an idea. Pit master as a career choice. I do love cooking a brisket.” It probably didn’t pay as much as bull riding, but he thought you’d break fewer bones.
“See? So when you’re done making money, you have a second career. Money is good. Money isn’t everything. You know?”
“No. It’s the reason we work, though. I want to be able to retire one day and be in a good place.”
“Me too, me too. I want to retire right here and enjoy this view every damn day.”
“Yessir.” He understood that. “That’s my dream. Mountains. Sunshine. Good food, good beer, and a good man beside me.”
“Cool. Let’s retire tomorrow.” Cole chuckled. “Safer for both of us.”
“I’m so in.” They grinned at each other, cracking up hard enough he almost—almost, mind you—burned the veg.
“I should get plates, huh? You want another beer? Diet Coke?”
“I’ll take a beer, thanks. They’re low-carb.” He put a couple of the chicken breasts aside and checked them. Mmm… perfect.
Cole disappeared into the house for a minute, and he watched the smoke from the grill disappear on the mountain breeze. They’d been lucky with the weather, and it was another beautiful, clear day.
“Okay. Plates, utensils… I thought we’d eat alfresco, what do you think?” Cole handed him a beer.
“I love being outside, man. I’m not an indoor type of man.” He wasn’t a rancher, but he did love camping and hiking and all that shit.
Cole clinked beer bottles with him. “No? You want to turn our hike into an adventure?”
“Sure.” What did that mean, exactly? Whatever it was, he was in.
“We could hit one of the state parks and camp for a night or two if you want to. I have a tent I use on my own. It’s big for one, but it will fit two.”
“Totally! I have a camp stove, a kit. I’d love that.” He camped out a lot, all over the country.
“It’s a plan then. Awesome.” Cole set a little table on the deck and lit the hurricane lamp that was sitting on it. “I am hungry and that smells so good.”
“Chicken and veg—supper of champions!” And it did smell amazing.
“I use the grill occasionally, but I’m eating much better with you here than I usually do.” Cole brought the plates over so he could serve it up.
“Well, it’s easier to stay on my diet this way, and camping requires cooking.” And chicken tasted better with spices. Restaurants could suck that way.
“I’m looking forward to camping for sure. I’m used to doing it alone, and my meals are usually super boring. I guess we should do a quick shopping in the morning for provisions, and we’ll make sure we’re back here for a shower and a night in a real bed before we head off to Albuquerque.”
“Sure. I have a Yeti in the back, so we can get anything we want.” Eggs, bacon, coffee, burgers, corn, milk, and rice…
They sat and Cole smiled at him. “You know, you make me pretty happy, cowboy. I just thought you should know that.”
“That doesn’t suck.” He met Cole’s eyes. “I’m in a damn fine place myself.”
And he intended on staying there.
Cole gave him a nod, then dug into his chicken. “Oh, yeah. That’s the good stuff.” He got another smile. “More good stuff.”
“Mmhmm… juicy chicken for the win.” He thought the zucchini was delicious too.
“Yeah. I’m definitely feeling like a winner.” Cole chewed another bite.
He knew about that. He hoped he had one more championship in him, and if not, then a bunch of event wins.
He wanted to be set up well enough to enjoy life with Cole—should he have a life with Cole, of course.
Time would tell. It always did.