Chapter Thirteen
Thirteen
Quinn
I beat April.
By three seconds.
Not that I was counting.
After my win, Wyatt bounded up to me, a skip in his step as he wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground.
I squealed as he laughed into the crook of my neck, sending a warm, fuzzy feeling through my spine that I couldn’t quite explain.
He set me down and shook my shoulders, congratulating me on the run, teasing slightly that he’ll have a girl kiss him before every ride, as it seemed to spark just the right motivation in me.
I gave him the longest eye roll I could, which in turn got me the widest smirk he could muster right before I playfully shoved him away.
I silently loved the fact that he was there to cheer me on and be by my side.
Cash was fantastic to have, but he would start listing ways I could go faster and harder the next go around.
With Wyatt, it was just…fun. He was excited to see me win and had just as much energy as I did after.
The adrenaline that pumped through both of us was strong enough that it could be boxed and saved for another night.
“Quinn,” Wyatt began, opening the tack and placing the saddle on the pole, grabbing a brush to toss at me. “You just won the Flagstaff Rodeo. What are you going to do now!?” He put on his best announcer’s voice, I swear, even adding a southern twang to it.
I raised an eyebrow. “Shower. Watch my comfort show. Sleep.” I ticked off my after-ride routine in my mind.
That was one thing I didn’t factor in—how would Wyatt fit into my routine. I guess, in the back of my mind, he would do his thing, and I would do mine. There wouldn’t be anything to question or plan. We’d go our separate ways. Nothing to overthink.
“You’re supposed to say something different. Like you want to go to Disneyland or buy a new pair of boots. Didn’t you ever see those commercials after the Super Bowl?” He ran his hand down Charming’s bare back, giving me a wink which I promptly returned with an annoyed glare.
“You’re channeling a commercial from the nineties, before I was born, you realize. I’ve never been one for Disneyland, and I have too many boots, plus I like to shop for hats.”
“Last chance, Wyatt!” April’s voice came up to my side, singing as she got closer to us. If she drew out his name any longer, she’d run out of air. “Come out with us?”
I looked over at her mid brush, my hand stopping on Charming’s coat. She slowed her pace, her eyes heavy on Wyatt. Wyatt met my gaze over Charming’s back, raising both of his eyebrows.
“Quinn can come, too. I’m sure we’ll all have a great time.” She placed her hands on her hips, a tilt to her stance. “For old times’ sake?” she begged, her bottom lip popping out in a pout.
Wyatt gave her a small chuckle. “Thanks for the offer, but I have a horse to take care of. You’re going to be in Phoenix, yeah? Maybe then.”
April met my gaze, then turned her eyes back to Wyatt, “Okay, okay. Tomorrow night then, in Phoenix.” She begrudgingly accepted defeat. “Great ride today, Quinn.”
I gave her a tight smile, definitely not thinking about how I beat her in the back of my head. “You too.”
She scrunched her nose and rose to her tiptoes, kissing Wyatt on his cheek before leaving us alone. I saw the faintest tint of pink spread across his face after her small kiss, and he inhaled long and slow, holding his breath for a few seconds before exhaling through his lips.
Was he wanting to say something else to her?
If he wanted to go, he could. I wasn’t going to stop him.
My plans after a ride were always the same.
I relaxed in my own way. I’m pretty sure Wyatt’s plans always consisted of a different bar, a different girl, a few hours of sleep, and then back on the road while his brother drove.
I told him this was strictly business between him and me, and there were no stipulations as to what he did after the rodeos.
As much as I was beginning to enjoy the time we spent together, I had zero control over what he did… or…who he did.
That thought settled uneasy in my stomach, a knot forming. Yet another feeling I wasn’t sure how to explain.
“You can go, you know,” I finally said to him, my arm moving for the first time since April had arrived. Wyatt was basically done brushing his side of Charming, while I had only touched a small spot.
“Nah.” Wyatt tossed his brush back into the tack bag, taking mine from me to brush out Charming a lot faster than I was. “I’m beat. Plus, we have a busy day tomorrow and have to leave early for Phoenix. I’ll go out tomorrow night if I feel up to it.”
“Just don’t stop on my account.” I took a step back, my hand gliding on Charming’s coat as I walked around him to unhook him from the trailer.
The corner of his lips lightly tugged. “You’re not stopping me from doing anything. Except for wearing my hat.”
I grinned, catching sight of him before stepping into the trailer with Charming. He never once took off his cowboy hat, well, that I was aware of, and I still stood by what I said that morning. That hat suited him. He looked damn sexy in it.
Wait…nope.
I did not just have the thought that Wyatt was sexy.
I inhaled, and like Wyatt did a moment ago, I held in my breath for a few beats before exhaling.
I hooked in Charming and left the trailer, making sure to walk on the opposite side of the truck from Wyatt.
He was barely climbing into the passenger seat as I started up the engine, twisting his torso to buckle up.
I blinked and returned to the conversation we were having before my thoughts went somewhere they weren’t supposed to.
“We should just toss the other one.” I popped the truck in gear and left the arena, catching the “Oh, hell no” that Wyatt mumbled under his breath.
Dad
Hey, Pumpkin, how was Flagstaff?
Me
Sixteen point nine – won the night.
Dad
That’s my girl. Your mom said she saw you last weekend.
Me
Yeah, in Wyoming. Did she also tell you I lost that night?
Dad
She may have mentioned it.
But you won tonight.
Me
I’ll win tomorrow too. Charming was a bit wide around the barrel, but I’ll tighten up in training and ride Hook tomorrow. Team roping was great tonight.
Dad
When is team roping not?
Me
Well, it’s been missing its best heeler for years.
Dad
Good thing there’s still a Compton on the dirt. Proud of you.
The loud knock at my door sent a shock through me, my phone falling out of my hands.
My dad would text a few times a week, and we would always end the conversation the same way.
My mom may not be proud of the rodeo path I’d taken, but my dad always made sure I knew he was, even if he didn’t show it in person.
His last few words would always cling to me—proud of you.
I heaved a shaky sigh as I picked my phone up, sending a quick goodnight text before making my way to the door. By how late it was, it could only be one person. I opened the door, slowly at first to peek through, opening it wider once Wyatt came into full view.
“It’s late, Hartwell,” I sighed, leaning my forehead against the door.
He shrugged a shoulder. “Couldn’t sleep, thought I’d check on you.”
“I’m good.” I lifted my head to look at him, those blue eyes sending a shock through me I’d force myself to forget. “If you can’t sleep, why not head out? I’m sure everyo—”
“Nah.” Wyatt slid through the door, making his way into my room. “I’m tired; I just can’t sleep.”
Watching him take in the room, I shut the door and locked it behind me. “And…what do you expect me to do about you not being able to sleep?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “There are lots of things you can do, Compton.”
“Get out.” I pointed towards the door, not having the brain capacity for this, but also feeling a hint of relief when he just crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.
“Whoa, jumping the gun there?” His smirk grew to the right. “My mind was actually on that TV show you mentioned.”
“TV show?” I mimicked his stance, popping my hip out to the side.
I was in my pajamas already—shorts and a sleep tank—and my wet hair was braided and lying on my shoulder.
I noticed him eyeing me up and down, taking a deep breath in before he took a step.
He dropped his arms and reached for my laptop.
“I didn’t bring my computer, so I thought maybe—”
“You want to watch a TV show?” It was my turn to raise an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, why not?” He held out my laptop. I eyed it, and then him, seeing the truth across his face.
The man looked tired. His eyes were heavy with dark circles I had never noticed before, sunken into his skin. Even his cocky smile was weaker than normal. Maybe a comfort show was what we both needed.
I took my laptop from him. “Fine, but I’m picking the episode.”
“Fine by me. I think I just need the noise.”
“Your room has a TV, you know.” I settled on the bed, pulling the comforter over my lap and pulling open the streaming app.
“You don’t think I scrolled through it?” Wyatt asked, lying next to me on the bed, over the covers.
He looked comfortable once he settled his body, wearing those same gray sweatpants he was wearing when we planned the entire thing, and a plain black tee.
He lay on his back, propping the pillows behind his head, laying his hands on his chest. “Other than news and a few porno films, there was nothing.”
“Excuse me?” I blinked, looking over at him.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t buy any.”
“But you looked.”
“The titles were displayed.” His voice rose as he gestured to the TV that hung on the opposite wall.
“With a huge mature audience only right next to them. That’s when I decided your laptop must have something better than Barbarian Nights.
” There was a chuckle in his tone, a tiny snark of embarrassment hidden there.