Chapter 37
I'd borrowed my little sister's laptop while she went off to school. Isabella said she didn't mind, and I needed something with a bit bigger screen than my phone. As I scrolled through the listings, I tried to imagine what I'd want in a home.
"Whatcha doing?" Tanner asked, coming up behind me to wrap his arms around my shoulders. But when he saw the screen, he gave me a confused look. "J.D.?"
"Just checkin' prices," I assured him.
"On houses?"
"Farms," I corrected. "Figure we want a few acres, right? I dunno, do you think five hundred would be enough?"
Which made Tanner turn toward the living room. "Cody? How much land does it take to raise cows?"
"Depends," she said, muting the TV as she peeled herself off the couch where Blue had her cornered. "Why?"
"J.D.'s looking at what's out there."
I grunted, because that was true in the vaguest sense. "We're gonna need a barn, and prolly some chutes. I wanna have some spare rooms too. You know, in case friends come to hang."
"Or kids," Tanner said softly.
I just cast him a knowing look. "Or that, yeah. Fenced yard, too. For the dog."
Because Cody was damned cute with Mom's dog. Blue loved her, so she kept following her around. Cody didn't mind at all. She'd spent quite a few hours outside throwing the ball for her, playing tug, and every time Blue could, she was on the couch beside my girl.
A dog would come before a kid, though. We hadn't even talked about if she'd even want them.
I wouldn't mind, and Tanner was giving all the signs he wouldn't either, but that was a long ways away.
Cody was still young, and she had a whole lot of years to focus on riding before we started picking out baby names and shit.
But a dog? Yeah, that was safe enough to think about.
"Is that land?" Cody asked as she came over to join us.
"Farms," I said, leaning back so they could both see the screen. "I figure five bedrooms, three hundred acres, a horse barn, cattle barn, chicken coop, pool, fenced yard, and gated drive? I mean, something kinda like this?" And I clicked on the place that had caught my eye a minute ago.
"Shit," Cody breathed as the pictures came up. "J.D., that's not a farm."
"It's a working cattle farm," I assured her. "And since you ain't gonna be growing beef, means we don't need to make it all functional, right?"
"How much?" Tanner asked.
I chuckled, scrolling so the price wasn't visible. "It's in my range. It's also a bit further out, which makes it cheaper."
"Twelve?" Cody guessed.
I shot her a warning look. "I'm not buying now! I was just curious about how expensive it'd be, and I'm not made for renovations, rookie."
"I am," she teased. "I know how to change a faucet, paint, and fix up what Dad breaks."
"She can handle the house," Tanner said. "I'll deal with the engines. And you, J.D.? What good are you going to be in this operation?"
"Well, I figure I'll be the mascot as I wheel around in my wheelchair." And I nudged his side. "Shit, I'll learn. I might be real pretty, but I'm not useless."
"He's buying it," Cody pointed out. "That means-"
The sound of Tanner's phone ringing cut her off. Rolling his eyes, he reached into his pocket to pull it out, then did a double take. I'd expected him to silence it, but he was swiping real fast, lifting it to his ear.
"Yeah, this is Tanner?" There was a pause. "Max?"
"It's Max?" I asked, leaning to see if I could catch a glimpse of the number on the screen by his cheek.
"Hang on," Tanner told him, then lowered the phone and put it on speaker. "It's all three of us now, Max."
"Hey, J.D.!" Max said. "Cody. Are all of you resting up for Nashville?"
"Yup," I said. "Why you calling Tanner, Max?"
"Because I needed to talk to him. Look, I'm going to be in Nashville Sunday night. I was wondering if we can get the rest of your team there this weekend? Jorge and Isaac, I mean. I wanted to sign contracts with them and go over a few options."
"This weekend?" Tanner asked. "That's a bit short notice to drive there, and kinda pricey to get a flight."
"I'm buying the tickets," Max assured him. "Normally, I'd go to them, but since the three of you are a group, it makes more sense to get everyone together so we can make sure we're on the same page."
"Uh, yeah," Tanner said. "Hey, call back on J.D.'s phone-"
"Cody's," I broke in. "Mine's in the other room. She's got hers."
"So I can text them," Tanner finished.
"Ok, I'll call right back," Max said - and hung up.
So Cody pulled her phone from her back pocket and waited. Tanner was already swiping at his and typing fast. He looked focused too. Thankfully, it didn't take long before Cody's phone buzzed.
"Hey, Max," she answered, putting him on speaker.
"Ok," Max said. "Tanner, I've got some options that will get your team a little money to hold them over.
I'm pushing for some others that might work better.
Either way, we all need to be in the same room so we can talk it out.
If they can, I think I can get both of them to Nashville Sunday afternoon. "
"Like, in a few days?" Cody asked. "Or next Sunday, at the end of the event?"
"No, this one," Max clarified. "I'm also pushing the Pbr to get Tanner back. My hope is that when the other riders start showing up, having the main team of bullfighters around will get the Pbr fired up even more."
"I like it," I said. "Besides, we miss those guys."
"And how are you doing, J.D.?" Max asked. "Healed enough to ride?"
"Shit," I said. "Yes, but we ain't riding."
"But if things work out," Max said, "could you?"
"Oh hell yeah."
Which made him chuckle. "Ok. And Cody, how's the elbow?"
"I got cleared by Doc last weekend," she promised. "I mean, so long as I'm still on my right hand. I don't trust my left to hold me on yet, so I won't even try."
"Good, good," Max said. "So, Tanner, when do you think you'll know about the guys?"
"They're typing right now," Tanner said. "I've got them in a group chat." He hummed, clearly reading something. "Isaac wants to know for how long."
"Well, would they wanna stay and watch the show?" Max asked.
"And Jorge wants to know about the room fee," Tanner added.
"That'll be covered," Max promised. "I'd really like to get them into the show, so through Monday of the week after. Say eight days total?"
"Isaac's in," Tanner told him. "Jorge's asking his wife, but she'll agree. In truth, she's probably ready to get him out of her hair by now."
"That's what I was hoping," Max said. "J.D.? I'm going to need you and Cody to sign contracts with me."
"We're planning on it," Cody said. "And I think we have some others for you as well. I know Rhaven with Deviant's looking for more riders to sponsor, so I figured it might work out to have you representing them first, right?"
"Exactly," Max said. "And I've been talking to Rhaven too. She said she's impressed with the strike and wants to come cheer it on. Means she'll be back next weekend."
"Nice!" I said. "I like her, Max. She's almost as good as you. Just needs a little more experience."
"And some backup," Max grumbled. "Sounds like she got a bit of pushback in North Carolina."
"Seriously?" Tanner asked. "Fuck. I'm not surprised, and yet I'm still disappointed."
"And it's exactly what you're facing, Tanner," Max pointed out. "If you two make your relationship public, it won't get any better."
"Don't care," I said.
"Me either," Tanner agreed.
"And you, Cody?" Max asked.
"Oh, I'm ok with whatever they want," she said. "Max, that's not my fight, and I'm used to being called names. So far, the worst they've used is 'girl.'"
"True that," I said, realizing she had a point.
Because slut couldn't hurt her. It simply meant she was appealing.
Prude didn't work for a woman riding bulls.
Bitch was a given, and it had some power to it - for Cody.
Of all the things people could complain about when it came to my rookie, the fact that she wasn't a man was pretty much it.
Since she'd already made it clear that wasn't stopping her, she had nothing to fear.
"And Jorge's in," Tanner said. "Aubree wants him gone for the whole week. He's mostly joking, but I think they're going stir crazy at home."
"Good," Max said. "Well, I can tell you I have some minor things that will earn a few bucks. I'm hoping for better news, but that will depend on which way the three of you want to go with this."
"When do you need us there, Max?" I asked.
"Sunday," he said. "Any time after check-in. I'll get there around dinner, give or take. So, five to eight, I'm guessing, unless my flight's delayed."
"We'll be there," I assured him. "I mean, this means we'll miss our second week of resting up, but getting Tanner a deal's worth it."
"Good," Max said. "Then I'll give you more details as we get closer. I'm guessing you know the hotel. That means I'll see you three Sunday evening."
"Bye, Max," Cody said, making Tanner and me say the same.
She hung up and put her phone back in her pocket, but Tanner was still typing. "I can drive up there if you want, J.D.," he offered. "Then you and Cody can stay here and get a few days alone."
"Naw." I shook my head. "We gotta sign with Max too. I mean, Isabella will be glad to get me outta her hair, and Mama'll be sad we're not staying, but it ain't that far. I can drive back - or they can come visit."
"True," Cody said. "Plus, I want to know what deal you're getting."
"Shit, I'd tell you," Tanner said.
I nodded, closed the laptop, and leaned back. "So, if you get a sponsor, then what?"
"Um, since I don't know the deal..." Tanner said, leaving that hanging to prove his point. He had nothing to work with, so couldn't make plans around it.
"Ok, so let's say it means you're still on the road with us," I said next, trying a new angle. "We still down for starting shit?"
"Got nothing to lose," Cody said. "So I'm down for it."