Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
mikey
Travis
Call me later. We need to talk about those photos going around.
You got it.
Travis
Good luck tonight.
My phone was blowing up with notifications—text messages from my agent, Travis, and tags on social media. Photos of me and Juniper from last night were all over the Internet, and fans speculated in the comments about how long our relationship would last, or if it would last at all.
I could handle the comments about me; I’d been dealing with them for most of my career, but I couldn’t stand the harsh things people were saying about Juniper.
Luckily, no one knew her social media handles, so they couldn’t tag her. Unfortunately, it was likely only a matter of time before someone found her.
“Stay off social media. Please,” I pleaded with her. “I can handle this.”
“Do they always say such horrible things about you?” she asked as she scrolled through the comment section of a western influencer’s video about us.
“It comes with the territory. I just try to ignore it.” I shrugged. “But you shouldn’t have to deal with it, so please, Peach.”
“This one called me a buckle bunny whore.” Her face fell for a second then contorted into something that looked a lot like anger. “That person doesn’t even know me! I don’t even know what the fuck that means!”
I took the phone out of her hands, turning it off and setting it on the counter.
“Exactly, and that’s why you shouldn’t be reading the things people are saying online.
I’ll handle this. Just stick with Ellison and Isa today, okay?
And stay off social media, damn it.” With that, I exited the trailer, stepping into the morning sunlight.
“How’s she doing?” Reid walked up and patted me on the shoulder.
“She’s fine. Just frustrated, I think. But she won’t get out of the damn comments.”
“I can have Isa talk to her, if you’d like,” he offered. “You’ve got to focus on riding today, man. The best way to get them to eat their words is to prove them wrong.”
I looked down at the ground and nodded. Reid was right.
This wasn’t unlike anything I’d dealt with before, except this time it didn’t just affect me.
“Yeah, have her talk to Juniper. At least to distract her. I’ll talk to Colter, too, see if Ellison can do anything since she’s been in the public eye before.
It’s not something I thought to prepare her for, and that’s on me.
But I also didn’t think people would come after her like this. ”
“We’ve got your back, Mike.” He gave me a solemn look then headed back to the trailer he and Colter shared.
Tonight was the first night of the second Super Series—the one I was competing in.
Colter and Reid were competing in the fourth, and Hayden and Jake were competing in the fifth.
The rest of the guys weren’t required to be here until the days they competed, but we had a habit of all traveling together.
Truthfully, it meant a lot to me. It’d been a long time since I’d traveled solo, and sometimes it would get lonely. I didn’t like being alone. Early on, meaningless hookups helped fill the void. After a while, it just became a habit. Then a punchline.
But I also knew I was good at jokes and people liked me for them. Sometimes I worried if I wasn’t the funny guy or the person to take the heaviness out of a situation, the guys wouldn’t like me anymore.
I wasn’t sure who I was—who I could be—without my friends.
Jake and Hayden were sitting in chairs outside their trailer.
I walked over to them, kicking a small rock as I went. “Morning, fellas.”
“You haven’t been looking at the media, have you?” Jake asked.
I shook my head. “No, and I told Juniper to stay away from social media, too.”
“Sorry, man. That sucks. Not the type of thing you need going into tonight.”
“It’s all right. I’ll just perform well and they’ll have something else to talk about.” I brushed it off. It was all I could do not to overwhelm myself.
Hayden gave me an encouraging glance. “That’s the spirit.”
“I’ve gotta get to the arena,” I muttered. Unfortunately, I was scheduled for an appearance this morning. The timing couldn’t have been better, at least for the media.
A few of the other bull riders were already at the spot where fans could meet us.
Kids were getting pictures taken with them, and it looked like it was pretty calm.
I wasn’t too worried about reporters hounding me here, not with so many fans and the other athletes around. My concern was after the appearance.
I stood in line next to a rider I didn’t recognize.
“Hi, I’m Cody.” He shook my hand.
“Mikey.”
“Oh, damn, you’re that guy all over social media right now.”
I blinked a few times, trying not to let my annoyance show. I clearly didn’t do a good job at it, because the kid quickly threw out an apology.
Both of us were saved from the awkward interaction when a young boy in a pearl snap shirt, jeans tucked into his cowboy boots, and a hat too big for his head came up to me.
“You’re my favorite bull rider. I want to be just like you when I grow up.” He looked up at me with awe in his eyes.
“Is that so?” I chuckled. “What’s your name?”
“Devon.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Devon. Do you want a picture?”
He nodded vigorously, a huge smile forming on his face. I squatted down to his level, putting my arm around him as the camera flashed.
“Thanks, buddy. Keep up the good work.” I signed his cowboy hat then sent him along. The kid bounced on his feet the entire time he walked away with his parents.
Kids like that both made my heart feel full and like someone had driven a knife through it.
On one hand, I was honored to be considered a role model in their eyes, but on the other hand, what right did I have to be a role model for them?
If I was a parent, I wasn’t sure if I’d want my kid to look up to me.
Especially not with the media and fans’ perception.
Another kid walked up, and I tossed away all my negative thoughts and feelings. For an hour, I wasn’t Mikey Tucker the playboy bull rider. For an hour, I could be Mikey Tucker the role model.
After the appearance and the phone call with my agent, I stood behind the bucking chutes taking deep breaths to ease my racing nerves.
Spectators hadn’t arrived at the arena yet, so there was a type of tranquility in the air.
Soon enough, the uproar of fans would fill the space, drowning everything out like a symphony.
I’d drawn Iron Tornado for my matchup earlier and stood face to face with him now, the back pen’s fence separating us.
He huffed, warm air blowing in my face. These bulls were bred to buck, were made for this, but I wondered if he knew what was coming.
If he was as determined to throw me as I was to hold on.
“Mikey.” A gruff voice behind me caught my attention, and I spun around.
“Maverick.” I nodded.
Maverick Oakes was one of the best bull riders in the league. He’d won the World last year and was projected to have another good season. He was younger than me, but he had a maturity about him, a confidence that radiated off him in waves. It was difficult not to admire him at least a little bit.
“Been seeing a lot of you on social media lately.”
I snorted. “You know a lot of it’s bullshit.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m looking forward to seeing you ride out there tonight, Tuck.” He patted me on the back as he passed, walking toward the tunnel to exit the arena.
“Thanks. Yeah, you, too.” I started to say goodbye then stopped myself. “Hey, Maverick.”
He paused in his tracks.
“How do you deal with it all? The media, pressure from fans, staying at the top of your game?” I regretted the words as soon as they came out, not wanting to show any kind of weakness, especially not to my biggest competitor, but he turned around, his face reflecting understanding instead of judgment or pity.
“You just keep ridin’. Remember why you’re here and do your damn best, putting in one hundred and fifty percent every day.
The majority of those people would never attempt to get on a bull, so they don’t know what it’s like,” he said simply.
“Keep your head up.” With that, he disappeared through the tunnel, leaving me with the beast I’d take on later tonight and the thoughts I battled daily.
“Folks, our next rider comes from Silver Creek, Montana. He’s a three-time RodeoHouston athlete and last year competed in the NFR.
Tonight, he’s up against the bull they call Iron Tornado.
” The announcer rattled off information about me, but it was purely background noise to the pounding in my ears.
Everything around me faded away as my breaths started to shallow.
I hopped back and forth on my feet, the tassels on my chaps swinging with the movement.
Wringing my hands together, I waited for the right moment to wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, then I climbed onto the chute gate from the platform behind it.
The guitar riff of a rock song played, and the cheers from the crowd magnified. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I looked up, seeing my face on the big screen until it panned out to the arena and the crowd.
I handed the rope to the man on the platform who would pull it to tighten it and sat myself on the top of the chute before putting a foot on the bull’s back and grabbing both sides of the pen.
Lowering myself down, I sat on the bull, warmed up the rosin on the bull rope and my handle, then shook down my bells before adjusting the rope on his back.
To a normal person, it would seem like there were a lot of steps, but this was second nature to me. I went through the same routine every single time I rode, no matter what bull I was on.
Iron Tornado rocked back and forth in the bucking chute, hitting the sides and kicking the gate.
“Pull,” I ordered. The rope was tightened, and I wrapped it around my hand.
Once I adjusted my seat on the back of the bull, leaning slightly so I wouldn’t be immediately thrown, I nodded, pushing my hips toward the rope as the gate swung open and the bull launched out of the chute, unleashing his anger.
As he twisted and kicked, I flowed with the bull’s movements like we were partners in a choreographed dance, adjusting my body and adapting to his rhythm with each chaotic spin.
Even though my muscles ached from the strain and each lunge jarred my bones, the thrill of riding—of proving to everyone I was tough enough—outweighed it all.
Sweat dripped down my brow as I pushed on, willing myself to just make it to eight seconds. In the background, music blared and yells of encouragement rose from the crowd. The bull kicked up dust as it went, cutting through the hazy clouds as hooves pounded against the dirt.
The buzzer went off, penetrating through all of the other sounds in the stadium, and I blew out a breath of relief.
I released my grip from the rope then leaned back, dismounting toward the bull’s hips.
My feet met the earth, and I scrambled out of the way to safety as the bullfighters guided the beast out of the arena.
Taking off my helmet, I stared up at the big screen, awaiting my score.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give our judges a moment to tally the score.” The announcer kept the spectators—and me—on their toes. “How ’bout an eighty-seven for the first round!”
I pumped my fist in the air, satisfied with the score and the ride. Could only go up from here.
Once the rodeo concluded, I hung back by the bucking chutes. Maverick had scored an eighty-nine on his ride, leaving me in second place, but I’d take it. Every night was a brand new rodeo and a fresh opportunity to get a better score.
“Good ride out there tonight, Tuck.” Maverick patted me on the shoulder.
“Thanks, man. You, too.” I dipped my chin in acknowledgment.
“That was amazing! You were incredible out there!” Juniper exclaimed when I found the group.
“Thanks, Peach.” I made a show of planting a kiss on her cheek.
“What’s the plan for tonight, boys?” Jake asked, throwing his arms around Reid and Colter.
They both shrugged, and Hayden and the girls didn’t say anything either, looking to me. They probably expected me to say we should go celebrate my ride, but the truth was I was exhausted.
“I actually think I’m going to go back to the trailer for an early night.”
Shock painted their faces at my announcement.
“Are you sick, Michael?” Ellison teased, bringing the back of her hand to my forehead before wrinkling her nose and wiping it on her jeans. “Sweaty, that’s for sure.”
“Go on, it’s okay. I’m sure you’ll all manage without me,” I joked.
“Do you want me to go back with you?” Juniper asked, raising a brow.
I waved her off. “Nah, go have fun. I probably won’t be too much fun anyway.” I planned to take a hot shower, crawl into bed, and pass the fuck out.
“Oh, okay.” She gave me a small smile. “Good job tonight. I’m proud of you.” She whispered the last part, and I tried to ignore the way my heart doubled in size.