Chapter 26
Twenty-Five
Quinn
Wyatt told me he checked, double checked, and triple checked, even that Miss Rodeo Montana wouldn’t be anywhere near the Reno Rodeo today. So, someone please explain to me why I was staring at my mother from across the parking lot?
It looked like she just got here, three other girls climbing from her truck that read Miss Rodeo Montana Kelly Fugal in big, bold, red letters. None of them was dolled up. Kelly at least had her sash on, but other than that, they looked exhausted from what I presumed was their drive.
I came in second. I just had a fantastic time, and I was on my way to find Wyatt when I saw her.
I took a step back, hiding myself behind my gigantic black horse, and slowly walked past their truck and to my trailer.
Wyatt was there, bouncing on his heels just as I expected him to be, and when I latched Hook onto the side of the trailer, he scooped me up and spun me in a circle.
I held on tight and buried my face in the crook of his neck, not even caring that my white hat fell to the ground.
I inhaled his scent and forced my brain to let go of the image of my mother and focus on the thought of him.
It was hard for him to be here, too. He told me last night that the committee chose his friend Hawkins to announce instead of him, and he admitted that it stung slightly.
When I told him he could go home, he quickly made sure that I knew he was here for me, and the fact that he wasn’t in the booth didn’t matter.
If he could be present for me, knowing that there was something better for him, then I could at least try to be present for him when the knowledge that my mother was here was shoved in the back of my brain.
“Fifteen point seven, Compton!” He put me down, and I instantly missed his scent. “You just gotta make the top ten to be in the championship. Well on the way!”
Looking off to the side, I dipped my chin to see if I could catch any glimpse of my mother. “Well, since I didn’t compete in the first couple of rounds, we’ll see.”
“Nah.” He used his thumb and forefinger to lift my chin to him. It was then that I noticed he had my hat in his other hand. When did he bend down to get it? He plopped it back on my head. “You got this in the bag. You know that?”
My shoulders slumped, and I gave him a soft nod. “Let’s get Hook settled and then head back to the hotel, I’m tired…”
He pinched his brow slightly, his smile fading before he blinked away his expression, giving me his bright smile once again. “As you wish.”
“Ah…The Princess Bride has officially entered our friendship.” I unclipped Hook’s breast collar, giving Wyatt a smirk, grateful that I could think about something else for a moment. “One of my favorite movies.”
He took a sharp inhale through his teeth. “So, if I tell you I’ve never seen it—”
“No,” I cut him off, pointing a deep yet sarcastic glare his way. “That’s a deal breaker. It’s a classic.”
“I was doing other things as a kid; I didn’t really watch movies.” He tilted his head, giving Hook his attention as he spoke. “I mean, I watched Die Hard.”
“Of course you did.” I chuckled. “I’m fixing this. The Princess Bride was what sparked my love for fairy tales. You can’t be my friend and not know that movie. How did you know to say ‘as you wish’ then?”
He laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. I loved his laugh. It filled my stomach with butterflies every time and always managed to drown out all the noise of any surrounding area.
“Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean I don’t know girls go feral for that line.” He scoffed, his expression turning cocky as he pulled the leather on Hook’s saddle loose.
I tightened my lips. Oh.
I pushed that little comment aside, blinking a few times to really erase it. “Well, I’m still fixing this. We’re watching it tonight.”
“Hell, no. Hook just agreed to take them to Neverland. We’re watching our show.”
Our show.
“Fine, but when we finish this series, you’re watching it.” I pointed at him.
“As you wish,” he sighed, his voice low and smooth. So smooth, so low, I had to shove the flutters down.
He was so close to me then, all I had to do was…
I cleared my throat and stepped back from him.
An hour later, my horse was happy, my hair was washed and braided, and Wyatt stepped through my hotel room with two to-go salads. I plopped on the bed and grabbed my laptop, opening it up to cue up the show just as Wyatt sat down next to me, sliding a salad and a fork my way.
I dwelled on the idea of my mother being here during my ten-minute shower, telling myself that’s all I would give myself to think on it. It wasn’t her fault I let it get to me; she was simply doing her job as Kelly’s coach—right? I shouldn’t let her doing her job affect mine.
But it did.
Every. Single. Time.
I went down the same rabbit hole.
And I could already feel myself falling like Alice.
That’s why I only gave myself ten minutes. So, I couldn’t fall.
Wyatt fluffed up the pillows on the headboard, getting comfortable as he waited for me to find the right episode.
He stabbed his salad with his fork, shoved what seemed to be the entire head of lettuce in his mouth, and then waved his fork in front of my laptop.
I took his gesture like a little wand, his fork magically starting up the show, so to make him smile—even with a mouthful—I pressed play and settled myself next to him.
We were quiet, no words needed as we ate and enjoyed the crew landing in Neverland.
Wyatt’s comments began to reminisce on the first time we ever watched this show together, ranging from him saying, “Well, now that all makes sense” to “I honestly should have seen that coming.” When he shouted at the TV that Henry was about to trust the wrong person, it sent my soft laughter through the room, and without realizing it, I scooted closer to him.
Once the episode was over, I managed to burrow myself under the covers, the laptop seated closer to our feet.
“So…” Wyatt began, his voice a little heavier than normal.
I hummed. “So.”
“I saw—”
“My mom?” I finished his sentence.
He met my gaze and nodded once. “Miss Rodeo Montana wasn’t on the list, but apparently—according to Hawkins—there was a royalty change, and she was available.”
I shrugged as best I could under the covers. “It happens.”
Wyatt shifted his body towards me, one single eyebrow raised as he folded his arms across his chest.
“I have four—maybe five more runs. I don’t know how long she’s going to be here, or if she even knows I’m here, but I know I won’t get the support from her.
I won’t get the congratulations on the rides or the good lucks beforehand.
I’m just worried that I’ll knock over the barrels, or fall off and hurt myself again, or not make it to the championship event, or—”
“Stop.” Wyatt cut me off, and I did as he asked, biting on my bottom lip. “Can I ask…” He swallowed. “Why do you need her support or congratulations?”
A shaky breath left my lungs. “She’s my mom.
I may not want to see her, but it still would be nice to get that praise.
Did you know…” I rolled my eyes at myself.
“No, you don’t, because I haven’t told you how far this goes.
When I signed up for my first rodeo, I told her I entered the pageant.
She and Dad came and sat in the stands, and she looked so thrilled.
But then, after, when I went up to her after winning the event, she had her arms folded across her chest, her glare heavier than I’d ever seen it.
Dad gave me all the praise, saying he was so proud of me and that he couldn’t believe I did that all on my own.
My mother said, ‘This isn’t what I wanted for you,’ and then turned and walked away. She has never supported me since.”
“And your dad?”
“He loves my mom; he does what she says. He’s come to a few events, but never on his own.
It’s always the ones where mom is with her queen.
He says he watches my races when he can, and he’ll send me texts, but”—I scooted closer to him—“I just want her to be proud, you know? And I want the fact she isn’t and never will be to not get to me and ruin my chances at doing what I love. ”
He studied me, his blue eyes searching my face.
Reaching up, he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and then wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me against him.
My head rested perfectly against his body, and I fit, despite the blankets that separated us.
I molded into him, turning to face him as I wrapped my arm around his waist.
“I know this isn’t the thing to say right now, and I’m no therapist, and yes…
my upbringing was very different, but—” he took a deep breath.
I felt his chest rise and fall, his heartbeat picking up.
“Kyla’s talked openly about her relationship with her mother to Rhett, and when I met her mom, I saw the distance between them.
They’re working on it. But Kyla…she knows she fits here with us, with Rhett.
Sometimes, family chooses you, and those people are the ones you need to focus on.
I can promise you—” He shifted slightly, and I raised my chin to look at him.
“You fit with us. You are more loved with my family—with me—than you’ll ever be with anyone else. ”
I gave him a soft smile and settled myself back down on his chest. “I know,” I whispered.
“One more episode?” Wyatt sighed, his fingers tapping on my shoulder.
I left his warmth, grabbed my laptop, and pressed play, settling myself right back to where I was next to him, and before I knew it, I was sound asleep right there, using Wyatt Hartwell as a pillow.