Chapter 43
Waiting for Tanner to get back was harder than I'd expected.
J.D. made coffees for us, and while the pair of us tried to talk about something, it kept coming back to Tanner and how we hated not knowing.
I was just starting to get snappish when the lock to our room clicked in that electronic way they had.
Then, "No, they won't mind," Tanner said, and I could hear more people with him.
"Hey, how'd it go?" J.D. asked, twisting to look.
But it was Isaac who answered. "You're looking at the new Deviant Rescue Squad!"
"And Chance is a badass," Jorge added.
But I was rushing toward Tanner, who was grinning like an idiot. "You got it?" I asked as I threw my arms around his neck. "You're back?!"
"I'm back," he promised. "I'd also like to say that not only is Rhaven amazing, but calling her ma'am pissed Donald Merrill off more than I expected."
"But you're back?" I pressed, needing to hear him say it again.
"All three of us are back," Tanner promised, leaning down to give me a quick kiss. Then he turned me toward the couch where J.D. waited, guiding me that way. "Well, Chance is making sure of it, but yeah. Sounds like I'm back."
"About fucking time," J.D. said.
Tanner leaned in to kiss him quickly. Behind me, one of the guys chuckled. I turned to see Jorge and Isaac sharing a look, but Jorge couldn't help himself.
"Ok, they're fucking adorable."
"No shit," Isaac agreed. "I just can't wait until they don't have to hide it anymore. Going to be amazing seeing the riders try to figure this mess out."
"But you're ok with it?" I asked, needing to be sure.
"Cody," Jorge said, sounding like he was chiding me. "We've been helping him pick up guys long before you were here. Girls, not so much, but you work with him."
"Isaac's next," Tanner teased.
"Shit," Isaac grumbled. "Never know. I might have a chance with Deviant trying to make us look cool."
"You've always been cool," J.D. assured them.
"Shit," Isaac muttered - and then his stomach rumbled loudly.
All of us gaped at him in surprise. He had the grace to actually duck his head. It wasn't quite sheepish, but it may have been the closest I'd ever seen from one of our bullfighters.
"Yeah, so I'm gonna go change out of this shirt and grab some food," Isaac said, jerking his thumb back toward the door. "I was too wound up to eat earlier, so I haven't had anything since last night."
"I'll come with," Jorge offered.
"Or we could all go," I suggested. "Mostly because I want to hear all the details."
"Deal," Jorge said, "but Isaac's right. We probably need to get out of these shirts, because I don't know if Deviant wants us wearing them around people yet."
"True," Tanner agreed. "So, change and let's all head upstairs to the restaurant?"
"Can do!" Jorge agreed. "And it's nice to have you back, Tanner."
"No, shit," J.D. agreed, nudging Tanner toward the bedroom we'd used last night.
I didn't have anything to change into, since I was already in comfortable clothes.
Just jeans and a fitted tee, but compared to my weekend attire, it felt pretty laid back.
J.D. looked about the same, but he had on an old, clearly vintage, Metallica shirt.
Tanner surprised me, though. He pulled out one of my Pbr shirts, the one with the pink logo, and kept his shoes rather than worrying about boots.
In other words, we were ready to head up in a matter of moments.
Grabbing our keys, we headed across the hall to grab Jorge and Isaac.
Then, together, we all headed up to the restaurant on the floor above.
And just like before, the moment we stepped off the elevator, there was a hostess waiting to ask our party size.
"Five," J.D. said.
"Yes, sir. It'll be a moment. We'll need to put a couple of tables together for you, which means we'll need to wait for two to be available together."
"Not in a rush," I assured her, just as Isaac's stomach complained again.
"Sorry," he said around a wry little laugh.
"I will put a rush on it," the hostess said with a little wink at him.
"See?" Jorge teased. "You are definitely next, if only because there's no one else in line."
"Hey, I will not complain about finding someone who can actually put up with this life," Isaac admitted. "Sadly, there aren't many ladies like Cody around, so I have to settle for someone who isn't touring with us."
"Always the buckle girls," Tanner reminded him.
"Shit," Isaac laughed. "Yeah, pretty sure they can do a little better than the bullfighter. You know, like one of the men with actual money."
"Or she might have her own money," I pointed out. "I mean, a good personality really does outrank almost everything else, Isaac."
"Except a big dick," Jorge taunted. "In which case, you're so screwed, Isaac."
"Ha, fucking ha," Isaac said, making a production out of his sarcasm.
"Ok, but I do have a question," I said, moving a little closer so I could keep my voice down. "How official is this deal you have?"
Tanner made a face. "No contracts yet. Chance is probably still talking to the directors, ironing all that out. I got the impression our deal was a requirement, though. As long as Deviant could have us wearing their logo, and us working regularly, then it's all good."
"Which sounds like we shouldn't really say much yet," J.D. realized. "It could still fall through."
"Yep," Jorge said, "but I really don't want to think about that. I also believe Deviant will walk away if we're not put back in the arena, so I feel pretty secure, but it's hard to tell how stupid Sousa will be."
"It's actually been Merrill," Tanner told him. "I think Sousa's just relaying what Donald Merrill demands."
"Sounds about right," Isaac agreed. "But Chance made it sound like he wants us working this weekend."
"So, a pretty good chance you will," J.D. assured them. "He also paid for two fucking fancy suites, y'all. Means he thinks he's got this in the bag."
"True," Tanner said. "But I kinda want to let the riders know if they're going to be striking or not."
"Which might be why the Pbr gave in so easily," I pointed out. "I mean, no riders because of the bullfighters? Add in a company wanting to pay them to bring you back? That sounds like a no-brainer to me."
"Here's hoping," Jorge said. "I am curious about how that went down, though. I mean, you said Ty started the strike?"
He was asking me. That made sense because J.D. had been on the sidelines, but it still surprised me a bit. Lately, so many of these men had been treating me like "just one of the guys," and not in the buddy sort of way. It was more like they'd all simply accepted that I belonged here.
"I wasn't there when it started," I explained. "But after Casey, the riders were at the bar, and no one wanted to celebrate, so Ty and Renato started it, and when I showed up at the arena the next morning, Jackson was excited to get me involved too."
"The Canadian one," Tanner explained. "He's recently decided he's going to learn everything Cody will teach him - and he's actually improving."
"A lot," J.D. added. "Next year, he'll be in the money."
"Still can't believe they let a man die," Isaac grumbled. "And what was the shit with the ropes?"
"They're too good to pick them up," Tanner said, sounding annoyed about it.
"Fucking ropes?" Isaac huffed in surprise.
"Or they just didn't know," Jorge tried.
"Shit," Tanner scoffed. "They know. Fuck, Peter worked with you two before. He would definitely know, so why didn't he tell the others?"
"The others are assholes," Isaac said. "Now you know why we didn't want to work with them."
"Makes me feel less special," Tanner joked. "I mean, I was the leftover, not the standout applicant. I see how it is."
"Like fuck," Jorge told him. "Trust me, you stood out."
Which was when the hostess finally returned. "I have your table ready. If you'd follow me?"
She led us to a spot at the side, pretty close to the front.
It didn't have the amazing view we'd gotten last night, but the entire restaurant was packed this time.
And the table she led us to? It had places for six.
Tanner took one end. J.D. sat beside me, and the other two bullfighters went across from us.
We quickly ordered drinks, then everything paused as we looked over the menu. By the time our drinks came, we gave our orders, then Jorge leaned in.
"Ok, so what the hell do we need to know to catch up with the mess we left?" he asked. "And mostly, I'm asking about your plans for this weekend, J.D."
"Uh..." He looked over at Tanner. "Didn't really make no plans. I just figured that when I win Friday night, I'll say something about my boyfriend."
"And you should mention me by name," Tanner said.
"Only if you're kissing on Cody before that," Isaac told him. "Otherwise, she'll get shit for this."
"Not a problem," Tanner assured him. "Figured I might be a little less bro-like with J.D. too."
"At the event?" I asked.
Tanner tilted his head in some kind of shrug-thing. "All week."
"From now on," J.D. clarified. "And I'm good with pissin' off some cowboys, Tanner. Might get kinda handsy with 'your' girl too."
"Works for me," Tanner agreed. "It's her you have to ask about that."
"And I've said a million times that I'm good with it," I told them.
"Ok," Jorge said, waving us down. "So this's going to be out there. And Casey? How is everyone handling that?"
"Yeah, Casey," Tanner said. "Guys, I jumped the rail. No one's said shit to me about it."
"I figured that'd get you fired when I saw it," Isaac told him. "Then again, the cameras moved on real fucking fast."
"They knew he was dead," Jorge said. "Shit, I was pretty sure when I saw him flopping."
"And that," J.D. pointed out, "might be part of the reason you got to come back. If Casey's family is suing? I mean, Cody gave them enough on the news."
"Here's hoping," I said. "They should get something, because that was nothing but bullshit!"
"But," J.D. said, "we need to talk to Ty. He's been handling this strike. Jake too. Renato and Djalu are involved, but I don't think it's as much as Jake and Ty."
"About what?" Jorge wanted to know.
"Everything," J.D. said.
Which made me pull out my phone. "How about now?"
"Huh?" Tanner asked.
I lifted my phone above the table, wobbling it to show what I meant. "I have their numbers. I'm pretty sure Ty's here. I could probably convince him to come use that chair."
"Do it," J.D. told me.
"And see where Jake is," Jorge suggested. "Pretty sure Renato's with his woman right now."
"Yeah, Hannah's about ready to pop," Isaac agreed. "That should leave Dado organizing the Brazilians."
"And Jake would have his number," I said. "He has everyone's, just to make sure the rookies can afford to keep showing up if they're not riding."
"A fund," J.D. explained. "And yeah, Cody and I were gonna help with it, but ain't no one asked yet."
"So let's make this a party," Tanner said. "I mean, J.D., are you good with us telling him we're coming back? Or is that a shitty idea?"
"Naw," J.D. assured him. "It's Ty. He's a dumb shit sometimes, but he won't fuck you on that. He knows how companies get. Might help him with this cause too."
So I bent my head and started typing. The message was short, sweet, and to the point.
Cody:
Hey, are you in Nashville? I'm in this fancy hotel that calls itself a Marriott, sitting in the restaurant on the top floor, with some guys I think you'd like to see.
Then I lifted my phone and snapped a pic of Jorge and Isaac, sending that next. A mere second later, I got a reply. Ty didn't bother typing it out. He merely sent an emoji of a running person.
"Pretty sure he's on his way," I told the rest.