Chapter 22 Twenty-One
Twenty-One
Quinn
Dad
Have you seen your standings?
Me
Not done yet, Dad, keep watching.
Dad
Third! And it’s only May.
Mom
Where will you be this weekend?
Me
Home.
Mom
The girls and I are headed to Utah.
Dad
You’re not heading to St. George this weekend? Big rodeo there…
Me
I’m in my friend’s wedding in a few weeks, and we need to pick up our dresses, no rodeos. It won’t hurt my standings, I’m sure. I have a lot of bigger rodeos coming up, so I’m not worried. Told ya, Dad, keep watching.
Mom
Kelly is carrying the flags in St. George, Quinn.
Me
That’s great, Mom.
When my dad created a group chat—in his words, a way to keep my mom involved—I begrudgingly complied. Dad was his normal upbeat self, always trying to steer the conversation towards me. Mom never acknowledged it. And I just ignored it.
The idea that she could be at any of the rodeos last weekend hung in the back of my mind, but then I won.
And Wyatt was there. And then I took first again.
And Wyatt was there. And on the third night—when she was nowhere to be seen, and the first person I wanted to see was Wyatt—the idea that she could have been there didn’t even cross my mind.
Rodeos always sent a thrill through my body, but nothing like this past weekend.
I was on a high, and when I said nothing could stop it, I meant it.
Even now, days later, simply sitting on Kyla’s front porch, a beer in my hand as we watched the sunset, I could still feel the buzz.
The texts from my mother didn’t even bother me.
I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because of my wins and standings, or if it was that I hadn’t seen the one person who always managed to jet set this feeling into oblivion—but whatever the reason, I was going to soak it up and ride it.
Baby Poppy sat in her mom’s lap, Kyla bouncing her as her giggle echoed off the porch ceiling. Kyla sang a ‘bababa’ as Poppy’s smile widened, watching her mother with those vibrant blue eyes.
“Does Rhett have blue eyes?” I asked, glancing up at Kyla to see her deep brown eyes.
“He does,” Kyla cooed, her voice high as she smiled at her daughter. “She got her daddy’s eyes and her mama’s hair.” She tickled Poppy’s brown hair that had been growing in.
Rhett’s eyes…Wyatt’s eyes.
“She’ll be known for her eyes.” I leaned over and tickled her tummy, which warranted me the cutest chuckle I had ever heard. “All the Hartwells are. I can spot Wyatt’s in a crowd now.”
“Oh, really?” Abi piped up, her head rising from the back of the chair.
“They’re hard to miss.” I shrugged my shoulder.
They were also the first things I looked for after a ride.
His eyes were always full of excitement, pride…
Dare I say… a certain four-letter word? No.
I really didn’t dare. He always gave me that look, one that sent shivers down my spine and butterflies in my stomach.
It was no wonder why girls would fall for him easily; anyone could get lost in those baby blues. Even me.
Wyatt’s friendship was becoming more than I thought it would.
I found it easier to talk to him, wanting to let him in even more.
He took my crazy family dynamic and rolled with it, making sure I knew he was there to support me when my family wasn’t.
He made me forget every word my mom had or hadn’t said to me throughout the years.
He made it easy. He made me laugh; he made me want to laugh.
Even though he was willing to settle for watching a show and nothing else, he made me feel comfortable enough to try something new.
With Wyatt, I wanted more than the routine we settled into.
And then when we got there…I wasn’t quite sure how to act.
I could tell just by looking at him that he wasn’t one hundred percent sure either.
Every single moment from the other night came flooding back.
Did he think going to that bar was a date?
When I took my time getting ready to go out, my stomach was certainly flipping.
I had to give myself a physical pep talk in the mirror, reminding myself that it was Wyatt Hartwell, that I was not getting dressed up for him.
He was a playboy, a womanizer, a flirt. Yet, when I opened that door, my breath stopped, and the pep talk went out the window.
I saw the way his lips parted, I saw the way his back stiffened, and the way his eyes sparked as he took me in.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t like the way that felt.
When the cold air hit my skin, I pretended it was a cold shower—washing away any feelings that could be mustering their way through.
Two friends. Hanging out. Having a few drinks.
It was no different than sitting and watching a show.
Except it was extremely different. I went from reminding myself he wasn’t the kind of guy I wanted to reminding myself to stop looking at him.
When the bartender began to flirt, I leaned in and smiled, soaking up the attention of someone else.
Telling myself I wasn’t secretly wishing it was Wyatt.
And then what did I have to do? Mention the girls who couldn’t take their eyes off him.
Maybe, my mind told me, if I saw him interact with another girl, I would remember why he was just—and only could be—a friend.
You’re the only one I’m chasing, Quinn.
He couldn’t still be chasing me…could he? Sure, he flirted, but that was Wyatt. He flirted. He used those baby blues to his advantage. He knew exactly what they did.
“I was so happy when Poppy’s eyes turned. I was hoping she’d get her daddy’s eyes.” Kyla leaned forward and rubbed Poppy’s nose with hers, her words bringing me back to the here and now. “When are Leo and Lottie coming home?”
Poppy began to babble, shoving her fists in her mouth.
“They’ll be home before the wedding. They wouldn’t miss it. But then I think it’s off to France?” Abi narrowed her eyes, questioning herself.
I laughed. “You don’t know where your parents are going?”
“After they retired, I couldn’t keep up with them. They came home for Poppy, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but they’ve been enjoying being stress-free.” Abi waved her hands in front of her.
“Stress-free?” Kyla repeated. “I wonder what that is like.”
“We’ll find out when we retire.” Abi sighed.
“Your life is a lot less stressful these days, my friend.” Kyla chuckled. “I’m dying for my next book recommendation.”
“Discovery of Witches, for sure. It was fantastic, but Cash brought home a fantasy book for me, and I’m devouring it.” She widened her eyes. “It’s been nonstop since the first page. I made Cash go get the next two in the series, and he said he’s going to read it when I’m done.”
“The dragon one?” I asked, looking over at Abi.
Abi tightened her lips, the grin breaking through. “The dragon one.” She raised her bottle to her mouth.
I rolled my eyes, “That book is everywhere. Is it good?”
“Is. It. Good?!” Abi leaned forward, her voice getting louder with each word. “You both need to read it.”
I scrunched my nose. “I’ll wait, thank you, but this does remind me”—I looked from Kyla and Abi—“Wyatt suggested we start a book club.”
“There’s a book club we can join.” Kyla popped up. “It’s called the Smutty Grannies, and they meet once a month at the bookstore in town.”
“The…Smutty…Grannies?” I repeated.
“Spicy books.” Abi wiggled her eyebrows.
“Gathered that.” I chuckled. “I’m sure bringing a sexy book on the road is just what I need.”
“When are you leaving again, Quinn?” Abi asked, changing the conversation, shifting in her chair to face me.
“Not for two weeks, even then it’s just Utah and Nevada. I’m trying to stay in the circuit.”
“Rhett said Wyatt’s been helping set your schedule. I used to think Rhett did all of that, but I guess it was Wyatt.” Kyla situated Poppy on her lap. “He’s been helping, right?”
I nodded and took a swig of my beer. “Yes, ma’am. I’m honestly not sure what I would do without him at this point. He’s confirmed all my schedules, takes care of the horses and drives, and lets me read or just relax. Seriously—he’s been a Godsend.”
The girls grew quiet, and I looked from side to side at them. Abi’s eyes met Kyla’s as she let out a sigh.
“Okay.” I pushed down the air in front of me. “I get I wasn’t the nicest to him when we first met, but…you guys know Wyatt. I had no idea he did all that stuff. Maybe”—I shrank—“I judged him too harshly when I met him.”
“He’s a good guy,” Kyla added. “A bit immature, but he’s growing up.”
“He better. He’s thirty.” Abi scoffed.
“Twenty-nine.” I corrected.
Abi shook her head. “We celebrated our birthday three weeks ago.”
My head snapped in her direction. “I missed your birthday? Three weeks ago? No one told me.” I added sheepishly.
“It’s just a day. Normally, we’re so busy even we forget. But, if I remember correctly, he headed over to your place with a pizza and ginger ale.” Abi settled in her seat. “He skipped out on family dinner to watch that show with you, and we’ve always spent our birthdays together.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “He didn’t say anything.”
“Well, neither did I. Really, Quinn,” she met my eyes, “It’s ok. Cash and I celebrated. But with Wyatt, he may love the attention, but when he has his eye on something, that’s all he can see. Therefore, you were the forefront of his mind, not our birthday.”
I closed my eyes tight. “We’re just friends,” I mumbled before opening my eyes again. Kyla and Abi were giving each other another stare-down. “Really. We’re just friends.”
My phone pinged on the side table, thankfully distracting me from the conversation. I glanced down at the screen until I saw the name.
Wyatt
Tell Abi to let you go. It’s show time.
I grinned, a slight heat rushing to my cheeks. Picking up the phone, I thumbed my reply.
Me
Hell no. I’m having fun. The show will be there tomorrow.
Wyatt