Chapter 25
Twenty-Four
Wyatt
Friends.
We were friends.
And I couldn’t screw that up.
I didn’t want to screw that up.
I wanted to spend every waking moment with her.
I wanted to watch her fall asleep, and I wanted to see her wake up.
I wanted her to shove her freezing cold toes under my thighs as we watched the show, and I wanted to find another show to watch after this one was over.
I wanted to keep guessing what foods she liked, find out which ones made her hum as she took that first bite.
There were so many things I wanted with her.
And if the only way to get those things was to be her friend…
Then I’d take it.
She came back into the wedding reception a few moments after I did, and I shifted, removing myself from the self-pity of being shoved into the friend zone. I pulled her close for a side hug, tempted to kiss her temple, but stopped myself.
I wanted so badly to tell her how I felt, drop that other L word that I had never said to someone who didn’t have the last name Hartwell.
Her words, “I can’t hear you out, you’ve become so much more than a friend.
You’re a safe space,” rang in my ear on repeat, and there was no way I was going to get them out anytime soon.
Letting her go and losing all the warmth that came with her, I went straight to my brother and held out my hands.
“Give me the baby,” I demanded.
Rhett held his daughter a little tighter. “Excuse me?”
“I need a distraction, and it’s her bedtime. You know I’m the Poppy Whisperer, so hand her over. You and your wife stay out a little longer.” I waggled my fingers in a ‘gimme’ motion.
Poppy smiled and let out a small giggle, but her tiny arms reached out for me just the same.
“You sure?” Rhett asked, adjusting his hat once Poppy was free from his arms.
“Yup.” I popped the P, giving Poppy my cheesiest grin. “Maybe we can watch Bluey.”
Poppy babbled, her hands reaching up and yanking the hat from my head. I could feel my hair standing on end—the gel I had used to try to tame it before the ceremony did absolutely nothing to help.
“I’ll have Poppy asleep before you guys get home.” I gestured towards Kyla, who stood next to Abi and Quinn, leaning in and listening to whatever Quinn was telling them.
Most likely, that she had to shoot me down—again.
“You okay?” Rhett tilted his head, coming into my vision, blocking Quinn out.
I nodded, smiled, and looked at my niece. “I’m perfect. Come on, Poppy Girl, let’s get you to bed.”
Poppy responded by shoving her entire fist in her mouth.
“She’s teething. You can give her some Motrin, the bottle is in the fridge.” Rhett’s voice faded as I began to walk away, waving my hand in the air.
I gave the woman of my dreams one last look, happy to see the smile had returned to her face. Tickling Poppy, I made my way over to Quinn, noticing how her smile only slightly faded when I approached them. Kyla reached out for her daughter, but I turned my hip.
“Nope, I got her. I offered to put her to bed, just”—I turned to Quinn—“wanted to say good night. Thanks for the dance.” I gave her a wink and a grin, then turned my back.
“Wyatt, wait.” I felt her hand on my elbow, and I spun around, staring into her emerald eyes. “Please tell me we’re okay.”
“Quinn,” I sighed, stepping close to her so only she could hear me. “We’re more than okay. I promise. We have Reno to plan. Yeah?” I asked, raising my brow.
I could see her shoulders relax. She nodded. “Yeah, it’s in a week.”
“I’ll come by tomorrow to double-check everything. Sound good?”
Her smile grew, but only by a smidge. The fear that we weren’t okay still lingered in her gaze. She inhaled, her shoulders rising as she took a breath.
“I promise, Quinn.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek once more, feeling the zing that traveled through my lips the second they touched her skin. “We’re good. We’ll meet up tomorrow.”
Her cheeks tinted a slight shade of pink as she rolled her lips. “Okay.” She smiled and turned to Poppy. “Good night, sweet girl. Be nice to your uncle.”
“She will be. I’m the Poppy Whisperer,” I sang, trying and failing to make my voice sound like a psychic.
But Quinn laughed, so it must have worked.
A bottle, a dose of Motrin, and forty-five minutes later, Poppy was asleep in my arms as I swayed back and forth in front of her crib.
My vest was hanging over her crib, and her tiny fingers had wrapped their way around my purple tie with a slight smile on her lips.
Such a peace to her—not even realizing what was bursting through my chest. I lay her down gently, brushing the hair from her forehead, stood and loosened my tie, still watching my niece take soft breaths.
“Ah, to be a baby,” I whispered, leaning my elbows on the edge of her crib.
“You got it made, you know. Just—when you get older, don’t fall for a guy who doesn’t love you back.
It makes life harder to love someone so much, knowing they don’t want you the same way you want them.
Maybe it’s for the better? Maybe I’m just friend material?
But with her—fuck Poppy Girl, I love her.
She’s worth it. She really is. You’ll find someone like your mom and dad, Cash and Abi…
you, Poppy, will be loved always. Just don’t screw up like I did and fall for the wrong girl. ”
Rubbing my knuckle against her cheek, I pushed myself off the crib and left her room, my heart a little heavier than normal.
I kept loosening my tie, hoping that if I relieved the tension there, it would relieve it in other places.
I even went as far as to start unbuttoning my shirt, pulling it away from my neck.
I wasn’t sure if I liked this feeling or hated it.
I wasn’t used to it.
Kyla was leaning against the hallway arch once I made it a few steps out of Poppy’s room, a soft smile upon her lips, and before I could react to the possibility of me saying fuck in front of her sleeping daughter—she held out her arms and pulled me into her.
“You didn’t screw up,” she whispered, and I heaved a sigh and held my sister-in-law a little tighter.
Friends. I could do friends.
Checking her Reno schedule was something we had planned, and it would be weird if I came without food and beer—right? So, I ordered her favorite pineapple pizza with cauliflower crust from June’s, grabbed the beer I watched her drink three of that first night, and opened her door.
The day I came over and she yelled, “It’s open!” gave me a new hope for our relationship, and ever since then, her front door had been open for me. And tonight, I walked in to not only boots everywhere, but hats and blouses and Wranglers strewn about all over the living room.
“Where are we supposed to sit?” I chuckled, tilting my torso to set the beer and pizza down on the coffee table.
Quinn rounded the corner from the kitchen. My friend basically hopped in, her laptop outstretched in front of her.
“I’m packing. You check, I pack.”
I bent back up, taking her laptop from her, meeting her emerald eyes.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous. Confidence radiated off her, and the smile she carried as she backed up and did a little jig made the room brighter.
Even now—wearing a tank and pajama shorts, no makeup, her hair in a messy bun—I could practically see how soft her skin was, and my mind wondered if it felt how it looked.
The curves of her body that had been visible even in winter clothing were now more prominent.
I was basically being held together by a thread.
If only she had let me talk, I could be pulling her close to me.
I could be kissing her in the midst of all her things, feeling her against me as we moved together, humming in tandem as we explored.
Shit…it was going to be a lot harder than I thought.
Being her friend was going to be the death of me.
“We leave in four days, and you’re packing?” I moved a blouse on top of another, finding a place to sit on the couch.
“I have a system.” She came around the edge of the couch, grabbing two of the beers, popping them open, and handing one to me. “It’s six days in Reno. Five rides—six if I make the qualifier—”
“You will,” I interrupted, looking up at her through my lashes.
She narrowed her eyes and gave me a tilted grin. If only I could kiss that grin.
“I may not, but that’s okay if I don’t.” She held her palms out in front of her. “I’m pretty sure I booked everything correctly, too. Two hotel rooms, two horse stalls, and I made sure I was registered for all the events. You would be proud.”
“Damn,” I chuckled, typing in her password—because yes, I knew her password to her phone and laptop. Was that a perk of being a friend, or did that mean there was more here? “Why am I even here?”
“Shut it. I need you to double-check me.” She lifted her bottle to her lips. “Just to be safe. Eventually, I’ll get this done by myself.”
“Ah, then you won’t need me anymore.” I gave her a cocky smirk. I prayed she would always need—or want—me around.
“Impossible.” She pointed at the laptop. “Check. I’m going to go get my garment bags.” She spun on her heel and dashed up the stairs.
I checked, and checked, and checked, and…
she had everything handled. Two hotel rooms. Two stalls.
Five rodeo registrations. There was one more thing.
I pulled open a tab to the Reno rodeo, clicking on the royalty tab, and skimmed.
We’d miss the Miss Reno Rodeo pageant, but that wasn’t what I was looking for.
I found the list of royalty who would be attending.
No, Miss Rodeo Montana. My grin turned into a full-fledged smile.
Without this distraction, I had no doubt that she’d make it to the championship night.
Seconds later, a few garment bags were tossed down the stairs, landing with a thump at the front door.
“Need help?” I called.
“Nope!” Her voice echoed through the stairwell. I just laughed and returned to the task at hand.
Hawkins
If it isn’t Wyatt Hartwell, I see across the lobby.
I read the text, furrowing my brow, looking up, and scanning the room for my friend.
I hadn’t seen Hawkins in months—not since that night I ruined my career—and he was honestly the last person I’d thought I would see here.
I caught onto his waving arms instantly, and I shook my head, shoving my phone in my pocket.
Quinn and I had arrived in Reno only a few hours before, and after we settled the boys, we came straight to The Grand Sierra Hotel. The next day was going to be busy, especially for Quinn—and I knew she would want to go right to bed. I even doubted we’d watch Once Upon a Time tonight.
I spun, placing my hand on her shoulder, giving her the heads up I’d be right back as she checked us in, then sprinted across the lobby to my friend.
“Hey Hawk!” I grabbed his hand, pulling him to my shoulder to wrap my free arm around him. “Been a long time. I didn’t think you’d be here.”
He pulled away and shrugged. Hawkins was built, his black hair always sticking up at odd angles, even under his hat.
“Didn’t think you’d come. Sorry, man, they chose my name over yours.” He spoke quietly, dipping his chin.
I grinned. “You announcing the next couple of nights?” I asked, raising a brow.
Hawkins met my gaze and nodded. “Yeah. Up until the championship. I’ll sneak you into the box. Sam’s here too—not working though, just hanging around.”
“I’d love to get in the box, but”—I turned to look at Quinn over my shoulder. She bobbed her head and took the key from the receptionist—“I’m here helping Quinn.”
“Compton?” He raised a brow. “The same girl—”
“Yeah.” I chuckled, stopping him before he could go any further. “One in the same. She’s riding, heading to the NFR. And traveling with a high maintenance—”
“Who’s high maintenance?” Quinn came up to my side, slapping my hotel room key on my chest. “Not me.”
I barked out a laugh. “No. Your asshole of a horse.”
“Oh, Hook?” Quinn smiled, and damn if my knees didn’t turn to Jello. “The one you love more than your horse back home? That one?” She teased, then turned to Hawkins. “Hi, I’m Quinn.” She held out her hand.
Hawkins smiled and grasped her hand, shaking it lightly. “Hawkins Warren, nice to meet you finally. I’ve seen you ride, and Wyatt here certainly loves to follow your career. I’ve heard a lot about you from this guy.”
Quinn raised her brow and looked over at me, “Is that so, Hartwell?”
I sucked in air between my teeth. “I would lie but…”
“Wouldn’t do you any good,” Quinn quipped. “I’ll let you two catch up, I’m beat so”—she jerked her thumb over her shoulder—“would you hate me if I skipped the show tonight?”
“Not at all. Get some rest. I won't be far behind.”
She bobbed her eyebrows once, gave Hawkins another nod, then left me there with her coconut scent still lingering.
“About time you settled down.” Hawkins drew out.
I snapped my neck to him. “Settled down?”
“You’ve been pinning after her for how long now?” He put his hands on his hips, “I mean, she’s the reason why you’re not getting any jobs, isn’t she?”
“She’s not the reason why I’m not getting any jobs, and no…I haven’t settled down. We’re just friends,” I grumbled, hating the way it slid off my tongue.
“Sure, with the way she was just looking at you before that elevator opened, the way she didn’t take your shit…you two are not just friends. I’m happy for you. Glad it finally happened.”
I bent and grabbed my duffel bag, tossing it over my shoulder. “Nothing happened, Hawk. I can assure you, she made it very clear we are just friends.”
“Ah, great.” He slapped my shoulder. “Then come on out tonight. There’s a lot of local places we can hit up, a lot of bunnies just waiting—”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I’m actually tired. We had a long day in the car and then settling her asshole of a horse. Sorry, man. Maybe another night? With Sam?”
Hawkins raised a brow, giving me the same expression Lachlan would when I would tell him I was going straight home and then ended up in the bed of someone else. No doubt Hawkins was thinking I was headed right up to Quinn’s room.
“I’m serious,” I groaned. “She doesn’t even know the reason why I’m not getting picked by committees.
Just that I did something stupid and fucked up, and now no one will hire me.
I’m not planning on telling her either—at least not here.
She doesn’t need to know some asshole was talking shit on her when she’s worked so hard to get here. ”
“Sooo, you’re just…friends?”
I nodded. “Just friends. Plain as that. Now…” I situated my duffel bag on my shoulder again. “When does Sam get in?”