Chapter 27
Twenty-Six
Wyatt
I saddled Charming, picking the perfect breast collar and bridle to match Quinn’s turquoise blouse. She had to add a few sponsor patches to her shirts, but the color still popped. She had everyone’s attention. She definitely had mine.
She slept next to me all night, her warmth calming my body in every way.
It was a new experience for me, just sleeping next to someone, not wanting to disturb them in the slightest. Once the episode was over, I closed her laptop with my foot and, using my legs, managed to get the small blanket at the end of the bed over my body, all without waking her.
I kissed the top of her head, pretending she was mine even if it was only for a minute, and then fell asleep.
We woke up at the same time, in the same position, and I quickly left for my room.
We acted normal during breakfast, the banter the same as always, with a little flirting thrown in, but nothing unusual—except the fact that she had used me as a pillow in the back of my mind.
My pocket vibrated once I finished with Charming, thankfully pulling me out of the Quinn spiral I was finding myself in. Just friends. Remember that, Hartwell. Just friends.
Hawkins
We’re not too old for a group chat, are we?
Sam
Fuck no. We’re barely pushing thirty.
Me
Speak for yourself. I’m the oldest here.
Hawkins
Tonight’s the night, man, we’re going out.
Sam
You in?
Me
Wouldn’t miss it. Last time I went out with just the guys, I got my ass handed to me at pool.
Sam
And we got kicked out by your girlfriend.
Me
She’s not my girlfriend. After the rodeo, I’m assuming?
Hawkins
Yeah…we’ll meet you at the trailers?
Me
Perfect.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket. Plans. With just the guys. For the first time in—well…six…maybe seven months. I was going to get rusty if I kept saying no to friends.
Quinn came back to the trailer with her number and two water bottles. She handed the number and water to me and spun on her heels so I could pin it to her shirt.
“There’s a crowd tonight,” she muttered softly, twisting open her bottle.
I moved the wavy hair her braids created off her back and shoved the water bottle under my arm, working on the first pin on her right.
“There’s a kids’ fair tonight—more families, fewer drunken dates.” I looked at the back of her head as I pinned the final pin. Holding her shoulders, I shifted her torso slightly, and she met my gaze over her shoulder. “You nervous?”
I felt her body rise with a deep breath. “No.”
“You sound a little nervous.” I gave her a tilted smirk.
“Maybe a little,” she admitted. “This is a big crowd—bigger than I’m used to.”
“One step closer to the NFR, Compton.”
“For you, too, Hartwell. I fully expect you to make your way over to that announcer box tonight.” She gave me a sexy grin, one I assumed she wasn’t trying to make sexy, but failed because my heart fluttered.
If only she knew how much I wanted to kiss her.
She did—I’d told her plenty of times.
If only she’d let me.
“I will. Hawkins will welcome me with open arms.”
“I thought that was you.” The voice of the woman neither of us wanted to see carried over the crowd, and we broke our eye contact to look into Helen Compton’s direct stare.
“Your father didn’t tell me you were going to be here.” Helen crossed her arms. “You didn’t say anything in our family chat either.”
I held on tighter to Quinn’s shoulders.
“I’m here, Mom,” she said solemnly.
Helen let out a hum, and her chin tilted to me. “Wyatt, nice to see you again.”
I gave her a nod. “Just here for Quinn.”
Another hum. I pinched my brow watching her eyes dart from me to Quinn. “Yes, well, she needs the help. I just wanted to say hello since you didn’t yesterday, but now I need to get back to the girls. They’re carrying the flags—Kelly is holding the American Flag, so make sure you congratulate her.”
I felt Quinn’s entire body stiffen, and once Helen was out of earshot, I spun her to face me. Her eyes were already sunken, her lips tight as she was no doubt replaying her mother’s words over and over.
“Hey.” I leaned down to meet her at eye level. “We aren’t going to spiral here.”
“We?” she parroted, a shake to her voice.
“Remember who is really proud of you. The ones you find most important. Those are the people you want in your corner. I’m here not to help you, but to watch you.
And Quinn—I love what I see. Do not let her get in your head.
Do not let her take this. You deserve this more than anyone.
The only thing that matters right now is you and this ride. ”
Her breath shook. “You love what you see?”
“You kicking ass and heading to the NFR? Yeah, Quinn…I fucking love what I see.”
Her body relaxed, and a soft, closed-lip smile formed, her cheeks turning pink as her eyes stayed steady on me.
“You need to get back there,” I reminded her, moving her hair from her shoulders. “I’ll be waiting for you—okay?”
She nodded, letting out a shaky breath before reaching for Charming’s reins, giving me one last hopeful look before she made her way to the back of the arena.
I watched her stride go from hesitant to firm and confident, her hand reaching up to stroke Charming’s nose. And when she turned the corner, she gave me one last look, one last gorgeous smile, before she vanished.