Chapter 78
I woke up Sunday morning alone. Oddly, I still had a smile on my face.
All the shit that was going down in the Pbr couldn't make me forget the feel of Cody pulling me closer, her mouth on mine, or sliding inside her body.
Twenty-four hours - give or take - was a long time to still be riding that high, but I was.
I also had shit to do before I checked in, so I couldn't laze around, daydreaming about her.
So I got my ass up, got dressed, and headed to the arena.
First, I tossed my gear down in the spot I'd been using lately.
The one I hoped would end up beside hers.
Then I headed for the sound booth. Ty had made it clear last night that we were definitely doing this, so I wanted to make sure we did it big.
"Hey, Clay?" I asked when I reached the top.
He was there, alone, with his headphones on. He also didn't hear me, so I made my way over, shifting into his peripheral vision so I wouldn't scare the shit out of him.
He still jumped back. "Shit! Jake, you just about gave me a heart attack!"
I had to smother a laugh. "Where's Mr. Merrill?"
"Dad's getting the veterinarian's check of the bulls," he assured me. "Won't be back for awhile. Why?"
"We're riding - and bailing," I told him.
That had his complete attention. "Why?"
"Because J.D. Adkins is bi. Tanner, too. Cody's got herself in the middle of that, and Dad has the judges screwing them over to encourage them to quit."
"Nothing new," Clay pointed out.
"And the other riders realized it."
His mouth slid open. "Shit, and they're supportive?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess assuming we're all just bigoted assholes doesn't make it true, huh?"
"Evidently not," he said. "And in my defense, I don't think all of you are idiots. Just most. Then again, that has more to do with climbing on a one-ton animal for fun."
"There's that," I agreed. "J.D. and Cody will be riding, though. Austin and Derek too, but they're the enemy."
"Mm, so stupid music for them. Gotcha."
"I honestly don't know about Eli," I admitted. "He didn't ride yesterday, but he is not on our side."
"But everyone else is?" Clay asked.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, including Deviant. Think of this as your heads-up that he's going to be pissed today."
"He's already pissed," Clay informed me. "He had one hell of a rant up here about how he gave you what you want, but you're still fucking him over. And he's taking it personally, Jake. Just know that the harder you push, the harder he's going to push back."
"Yeah, but J.D. was given a twenty-three for a rider score."
"And he was pissed, and I quote, 'that they were too obvious.'" My brother lifted a brow. "Jake, that means he's slipping. He's so mad, he's forgetting he can't be doing this."
"He also thinks he can't be replaced," I pointed out. "Well, too bad for him, the Pbr is bigger than any one of us - including him. Right now, all he's doing is making sure he goes down as a mistake. If you let him know that..."
"And how is that going to go, Jake?" he shot back. "Dad wants to know if I'm on y'all's side? He starts wondering about how often you - and pretty much only you - asks for music?"
"Yeah..." I paused, sucking at my teeth, then decided to just get this out there. "Clay, he cheated on your mother. That happened, and it wasn't my fault, but I'm tired of trying to dodge that man. He's made it clear I'll never be accepted by him, so maybe you need to let your mother know?"
"Not happening," Clay said. "Fuck, how do I even tell her that?"
"Gently?" I offered, because it was all I had.
"Or maybe it's best to pretend like I had no clue," he said. "Play it off like he blindsided me, too. Then it's between them."
I murmured, aware he had a good point. "Yeah, there's that.
I just feel bad for her. Hell, I know how my mom reacted when I found out he'd been married back then.
Damn, she was pissed. Mostly at herself, I think.
Still, she deserved to know, and so does your mom.
They didn't do anything wrong, and for all we know, he's still doing the same shit when he's out of sight. "
"Shit," Clay said. "Yeah, I can't rule that out. Considering he's always 'busy' after-hours? I mean, could be dealing with the shit y'all are starting. Could be sticking his dick where it doesn't belong. We have a lot of women his age come to these things."
"Yep," I said, rocking to my feet. "So just consider it, ok? Because I'm not going to keep my mouth closed about this. He thinks he's put me in my place, but this is going to come out. And when it does, your mom's the one who's going to end up hurt in the end."
"You know," Clay said before I could walk away. "If this does come out, means I won't have any reason to pretend I don't know you."
"Well, I'll buy you a drink at our bar any time you get up the balls to come play with the cowboys," I promised. "Get us some good tunes for today, Clay. We want to make it clear this is a fight."
"On it." And he turned back to his soundboard.
Which meant all I had left was to draw my bull.
I checked the time on my phone, surprised to find I'd blown most of my extra time already.
The check-in should be open, so I headed that way.
I didn't really give a shit what bull I ended up with, since I wouldn't be staying on it, but a piece of me hoped Cody would get Speed Bump.
The way she'd been riding lately? Yeah, she'd end up winning the big money.
The line was already decently long when I got there, but that wasn't what surprised me.
It was the woman standing at the front of it already.
Like always, she wore black, but today her shirt's logo was blue and green, the company's official colors.
And when she turned to the window with the next rider, I saw the text on the back.
You don't need to break the rules. Bending them is fine.
It was big enough to be read, bold enough to stand out, and colored so it looked like windows with their voodoo doll on the inside. Yeah, that was more than a mere statement. It looked like a damned declaration, and I was here for it.
One by one, she paid the fines for everyone who checked in. Each cowboy thanked her. Some shook her hand. Plenty looked a little awkward, but yeah, that made sense. Still, they were trying, and my brother had a point. Our demographic didn't exactly have the best reputation for accepting new things.
Soon enough, it was my turn.
"Morning, Rhaven," I said as I passed my Pbr card to the woman working on the other side.
"I had fun last night," she said, sliding over her card. Then to the woman, "I know he has a fine too."
"He does," the woman said. "Ok, ten thousand for that, and let me get you a bull, Jake."
"Thanks, Patty," I said. "How are the grandkids?"
That made her beam. "Timmy started school this year. They don't stay little for long, Jake. Just remember that when you decide to have some of your own."
"Oh, not sure that's in the plans," I told her, accepting my papers.
She just grinned at me, then gestured for the next man to come closer, so I moved off to the side. I was going to leave, but Rhaven lifted a finger. One more time, she passed over her card, then shifted to where I was waiting.
"I meant it," she said, lowering her voice. "Jake, when Cody wanted me to meet her there, I was honestly scared. People like me die in places like those."
"That's just wrong," I grumbled.
"It is," she agreed, pausing to sign another receipt and get her card. "I'm also signing Ty with Deviant."
"Tell him he needs the blue logo to match me." I gave her a little wink. "I mean, just so I'm not the only one who isn't in pink!" Then I looked around. "And where's your other half?"
"Braden? He's trying to get a peek of what it is you cowboys do."
"When you're done here, I can show him the gear," I offered.
And her face lit up. "Really? Ok, I don't care if he wants to see it. I do!"
"I honestly did not expect you to be this interested in our sport," I admitted.
"Why?" she asked, sounding honestly confused.
So I gestured at her. "Your style is not the same as ours. You look like more of a city girl than a displaced country one."
"And I grew up in a small town in Montana. My dad taught me and my brother how to shoot cans, fish, and all the things you'd expect."
"You?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. Surprisingly, I was pretty good at it. Better at gaming. Even better at coding, but I've brought down a few bucks of my own. We were also too poor to have horses or cattle, so there's that."
"Most of us were too," I admitted, pausing when she went to pay another fine.
And that was when Braden finally returned. "Did you know they have the cattle in here?" he asked. "Just pens made out of panels, and there's dozens of them!"
"Usually about forty-five to fifty for each show," I agreed.
Which was when he saw me. "Jake! Hey, should I be getting worried about the time you've been spending with my girl?"
"Nope," I assured him. "Pretty sure your boss has rules against crossing any lines, and I do like my contract, Braden. I also just found out that Rhaven's a former country girl."
He laughed. "Yeah, I guess you could call her that."
"And the bulls," I explained, "are hauled in. They're all the top of this sport too. They start in the lower ranks, earn scores for each ride - "
"Really?" he broke in.
I nodded. "Our final score is broken in half. Fifty percent for the animal, fifty for us. It's combined for our ranking, because the harder the bull, the more work the rider put in. But those bulls? They get a score even when we don't make a full ride."
"Good to know," he said.
Which was when Jackson made it up into the line. "Good morning, Rhaven. Is it ok to call you Rhaven? I don't know your last name, ma'am."
"Rhaven's fine," she promised, moving to offer her card over one more time. "Jackson, I'd like to talk to you after this event, if you have time?"
"Uh, yeah," he said, sounding a little confused. "Sure. I mean, we always celebrate afterwards..."
"More privately," she said.
"Make time," I told him, aware she was hinting at signing him.
"I will," he promised, taking his packet and moving aside. "I can give you my number..."
"My card," Rhaven told him, pulling one from her back pocket. "Call me when you're free afterwards. Tomorrow is fine too. I know how it is after a big night."
"No, I'll make time," Jackson promised.
He moved on, and the next guy stepped up. When Rhaven moved to help him, I leaned toward Braden. "That kid? He gets pink."
"Oh?"
I nodded. "Jackson Cloutier has decided he's Cody's rookie. He's also improved a lot since she's started mentoring him, and he's a good one."
"Good to know," Braden said.
"And," I told him, "if you want to let her do this, I can show you some of my gear. She said you were interested."
"Oh!" His eyes lit up. "Babe?"
"Yeah?" Rhaven asked.
"I'm going with Jake. Make sure you have at least one of these big strong boys with you, though?"
"We got her," I promised. "Rhaven just bailed our asses out of a jam, so I promise that at least thirty-one of these bull riders will throw down for her."
"Starting to like this country boy mentality," he said. "So, if I'm not bailing on my girlfriend, then lead on, country boy."
"Keep up, city boy," I told him, and gestured in the direction of the warm-up area. "Around here, we know how to have a little fun."