Chapter 15
Willow
Wyatt finally sits. I anxiously tap my fingers on the table, waiting for Jax to tell us why we're here.
I knew the day would come when Jax would call in his favor. I never imagined it would involve Wyatt, though.
When I made the deal, I needed to sign that rider. Jax was the only one who could convince Beau Hart to sign with me. It was worth making a deal with Jax.
Unfortunately, two months later, Beau got bucked off a bull and fell the wrong way. He had several operations, including on his hips, which ended his career.
And I'm no fool. The deal I made with Jax sticks, even though my rider can no longer compete. So I ask, "Can you get to the point?"
"Do I have to spell it out?" Jax asks, his lips twitching. He glances at Wyatt, then me, the crinkles around his eyes intensifying.
My instincts kick in, and everything becomes clear. Panicked, I declare, "No."
"You don't have a choice," Jax reminds me.
"Hello. Someone want to fill me in?" Wyatt whines.
Rolling my eyes, I turn toward him and huff. "He wants me to be your agent."
Wyatt jerks his head backward.
Jax chuckles. "Well, don't look so shocked. I'm surprised you haven't already begged Willow to sign you."
I focus on Jax. "I only sign serious riders, and you know it."
He nods. "I do." He points at Wyatt. "But he's still got a lot left in him. Since he's down to his last chance, I bet he's going to take things a little more seriously this time, and won't make you regret it."
I scoff. "I wish you could guarantee me that, but you can't. So I still owe you, but I'm going to pass on this one," I state, trying to get out of it.
Jax chuckles louder. "Now, come on, darlin'. You know you don't get to pick what favor you owe me."
"Don't call her that," Wyatt snaps.
Jax's amusement grows as he turns to Wyatt. "Ah, forgot how you always had a sweet spot for her. And why is that?" He gives him a knowing look.
My gut churns.
Does he know?
He can't.
No one knows.
Wyatt's eyes turn to dark slits.
Jax continues to assess us in his arrogant, all-knowing way.
Heat fills my cheeks.
Jax makes circles with his finger between us. "There always was something going on between you two, wasn't there?"
"No, there wasn't," Wyatt denies.
I'm grateful for his effort to fool Jax, but the words sting.
Wyatt was my everything, but the minute I told him I could be pregnant, he bolted.
He could have taken me but refused. The only thing important to him was success and money.
So I wish his denial didn't hurt, but it does. It makes his actions match his words.
Jax taunts, "Sure you weren't."
"You're mistaken," I say, voice unsteady.
Jax glances at me, and I feel like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar. My cheeks heat further.
He puts his forearm on the table and leans closer to Wyatt. "You always were the most talented of all my riders."
"No shit," Wyatt says, then turns toward me. "Sorry, excuse my language."
"Well, don't hold back on account of me," I mutter.
Jax chuckles, then says, "Okay. I'll pretend nothing was going on between you two, especially since Willow seems to hate you right now."
I close my eyes and shake my head, wanting to die on the spot.
How does he know?
Wyatt retorts, "You better watch yourself, old man. You're stepping in a corral you have no business being inside."
Jax just grins.
Get off the topic.
I declare, "Jax, I'm not going to be Wyatt's agent."
"You owe me," Jax reiterates, his face taking on a stern expression.
My gut flips.
"Willow's not going to be my agent, and I'm not going to be your rider," Wyatt states.
"Ah, but you are going to be. You have no other choice."
"That's not true," Wyatt claims.
Jax arches his eyebrows. "Then tell me what choice you have. Who's knocking down your door right now?"
The question hangs in the air. Wyatt grinds his molars, not flinching under Jax's challenging stare.
"Go on, spit it out," Jax taunts.
It makes me feel bad for Wyatt. I know he got himself into his own mess, but he is a really good rider. I know how hard he worked to get where he is.
He just shouldn't have acted so stupid.
Stop feeling sorry for him, I reprimand myself.
The longer the silence builds, the tension wrapping around us, the more my heart hurts for Wyatt.
"I thought you retired. What are you now, eighty?" Wyatt scoffs.
Jax chuckles again. "Not quite, but I'm going to come out of retirement just for you."
"Nah, you can stay in it," Wyatt says.
"Jax, I still owe you a favor, but I'm not going to be Wyatt's agent," I repeat.
"You can and you will," Jax demands.
"You don't understand." My words come out almost pleadingly.
Jax crosses his arms and sits back. "Then tell me the real issue. And don't say it's because he's not a serious rider."
Silence fills the air.
Jax lowers his voice, and his lips curl again, making me nervous. "Do you think I'm a dumb cowboy? There were several instances where you were in Wyatt's changing room over the years. I never said anything. I didn't tell your dad. I didn't tell your brothers. Hell, I didn't tell anyone."
My stomach twists, and I glance at Wyatt.
He keeps his attention pinned on Jax, his jaw locked tight.
Jax continues, "I know you two were together. You might not be now, but you'll just have to get over that. This is happening. So wrap your heads around it."
Panic spins inside me.
Wyatt finally meets my gaze.
Jax smiles. "Now, come on. Get over whatever lovebird squabble you have. It's time for us to make some money. This is going to be my last run, and you're not going to disappoint me this time." He focuses on Wyatt.
Wyatt scowls at him, accusing, "You weren't the only one disappointed."
Jax arches his eyebrow in surprise. "Really? What did I do? I trained you. I placed you in the right rodeos. I made sure you had everything you needed. I even kept your little secret from everyone."
Wyatt stays silent.
Jax points at him. "You screwed it up. You made the decisions that led you here."
Wyatt grunts. "Then why do you want me back on your team?"
"Ah, see, that's the thing," Jax says, the curve of his lips arcing more.
I put my hand over my stomach, still reeling that Jax knew about Wyatt and me.
Jax drops a bomb. "There is no team. We're going independent."
Wyatt scoffs. "We'd be at zero for sponsorships."
Jax shrugs. "So? You've got nothing now. You're already at zero."
"Not if I join a team," Wyatt points out.
I speak up. "Jax, with all due respect, I have a team. You know how my business runs. This doesn't fit my model."
The wrinkles around Jax's eyes deepen. "Willow, you're one of the best agents I've seen. You're still learning, but there's no doubt you've got the gift. And I know this doesn't exactly fit into your business plan, but you'll figure it out."
"Please, I can refer you to some other agents that would be better for this."
He shakes his head. "No. You're going to do it, Willow. And, Wyatt, you're not going to disappoint either of us this time."
Wyatt says nothing. Anger radiates from him. His fist clenches near his thigh. He declares, "I'm not doing it."
"You are. You have no other choice," Jax reiterates.
"You don't know that," Wyatt asserts.
Jax nods toward me. "Ask your girlfriend."
"Don't call me his girlfriend," I blurt out.
Jax holds a hand up. "Apologies. Ask Willow. She'll tell you. The pool isn't that big. You're out of options besides this one. Isn't that true, darlin'?"
My gut rolls over and over and over, as if somersaulting down a snowy hill.
Wyatt doesn't move.
"Go ahead, turn toward her and ask," Jax challenges.
Wyatt still doesn't say anything. He scoots his chair back, rises, and says to me, "I'll meet you in the car when you're done with this." He moves toward the door.
"I didn't say you were dismissed," Jax calls out.
Wyatt flings open the door. The cold air rushes through the small space.
Jax barks, "Practice starts tomorrow at noon. We'll give the bulls some time to warm up."
Wyatt disappears and slams the door shut.
I sit there, my heart racing, as my mind tries to figure out how to get out of this.
"There's no point hurting that pretty head of yours, darlin'. This is the favor you owe me."
"Jax, please," I beg.
"Sorry, I won't change my mind."
"Why me? A million other agents probably owe you favors," I declare.
He nods. "That's true, they do."
"Then why me? Please, pick another one," I plead.
He leans closer. "I can't. That boy owes both of us something."
"He doesn't owe me anything."
"Ah, but he does," Jax insists.
I shake my head. "No, he doesn't."
Jax takes another sip of coffee, then says, "He owes both of us, and we're going to get what we're owed."
"He doesn't owe me anything," I repeat.
Jax takes another large swig of coffee and sets his mug down. "Do you know what I lost when I finally kicked him off the team?"
"No. What did you lose?"
"Let's just say it was more than money. And I know he's still got it in him, but this is his last chance. So, if anyone is going to profit from him, it will be me. Hopefully, he's smart enough to save himself this time."
"Another agent—"
"Won't get the sponsors on board the way you will," Jax interjects.
"That's not true. Other agents can get the sponsorships," I argue.
Jax shakes his head. "They won't work for him as hard as you will."
"I don't even like him anymore," I point out.
Jax shrugs. "Not my problem." He leans across the table. "I know sweet spots may burn, but they don't disappear. So I know you'll work harder than anyone else will for him."
Embarrassment steals my words.
Jax insists, "You'll get it done. I know you will."
"No, I won't. Please. I'll owe you two favors. Just don't make me his agent."
"Sorry, Willow, it's done." He rises, picks up his coffee mug, and takes it to the sink. He turns on the water and rinses it out.
Dread swallows me whole.
Jax turns off the water and puts the mug on his dish rack.