Chapter 13
Shiloh
Once we got in the truck and explained the situation, it was all I could do to convince all three of them to not go kill Pierce.
If he had actually gotten me with his right hook before Verge intervened, I can’t say he’d be alive at all right now.
I thought Verge was going to kill him right then and there, and I wouldn’t be sad to have a world without Pierce Drake in it at all, but I would be scared for Verge.
It’s not often someone gets away with murder, and even though he was defending me, I’m not sure a judge or his lawyer father would see it that way.
Now as far as bull riding goes, he isn’t awful at that either, but I think he just does it to boost his ego and make people think he is tough.
He is far from tough; Verge was right when he called him a fucking coward.
He acts intimidating to others; it’s all a show.
Once someone challenges him, it’s over. At least that’s what I’ve seen whenever Verge steps in.
I’ve seen him talk shit to others, but I think Verge scares him.
He’d never admit it, but I saw the fear in his eyes tonight and honestly this afternoon when Verge snatched his reins out of his hands.
We are about to pull into the motel when a text comes through from Tyler.
TYLER: Don’t you dare let your brother stay with you tonight. I need a full report tomorrow. ;)
I roll my eyes and text back.
SHILOH: I’m not going there with him.
TYLER: You keep telling yourself that.
I lean my head back, pinching the bridge of my nose, and Cash asks, “Shiloh, do you want me in your room and Verge can just have his room again?”
I sigh. “No, it’s fine. I don’t want you all to have to rearrange everything. I honestly don’t mind staying in my own room, ya’ll. What's he gonna do, pick the lock?” I ask.
“It would give us all some peace of mind, Shiloh,” Beau says.
Verge then places his hand on my thigh as we pull into the motel, and as much as I want to object I can’t. It feels good. I like his hands on me. I like him around me, and as much as I’m trying to deny it I want him in my room tonight. Even if it is in the other bed.
As we hop out of the truck, I walk to my room, grabbing my key card out of my pocket with Verge right behind me, and the door flashes red.
“What the fuck?” I say under my breath.
I try again. Red.
“Ugh.” I sigh.
Cash says, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, my key is a dud. I'll run to the front office and see what’s going on,” I reply.
“I’ll come with you," Verge insists.
“Shiloh, if you need any of us to swap rooms just knock. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, okay?” Cash says, looking at me then Verge.
“You know I will, big brother,” I say, hugging him.
He hugs me back, and Beau and him head into the room for the evening. Verge and I walk to the office together in silence. I don’t really know what to say, so I don’t say anything.
As we make our way into the office, I ring the bell and an older woman with glasses on and yellowish-grey hair emerges from the back room.
“Can I help you, dear?” She asks in a raspy tone.
“Yes ma’am, my key doesn’t seem to be working. It's for room 335,” I tell her.
She grabs the key, pulling her glasses down to see the number, then turns to the ancient computer and starts looking before she says, “Ah, this room was canceled about an hour ago. They told us to move the stuff in this room to room 336 and that 335 was no longer needed, dear.” She says, looking back at me then to Verge behind me, who I look back at.
He grabs the back of his neck, looking away, and a smirk appears across his lips, but I don’t think it was him.
It couldn’t have been, could it? Then I sigh. I know exactly who did this.
Cross and Tyler, those motherfuckers. I think to myself.
I look back at her. “I think there has been a mistake, ma’am.”
She purses her lips together before she says, “I’m sorry, love. There is unfortunately nothing I can do. Soon after, another couple called and they are scheduled to come in tomorrow afternoon. We have to have the room clean.”
Fuck my life. I’m going to kill them.
I take a steadying breath, nodding. It’s not her fault. I don’t need to take it out on her before I say, “Okay, thank you anyways.”
She nods. “Of course, dear.”
She then walks slowly back to the back room, and I turn to look at Verge biting his lip, holding back his smirk.
“Was this you?” I ask.
He holds his hands up. “I’d ask your little besties about that scheming.
I was with you the whole time, remember?
” He laughs, and it makes my fucking insides melt.
This smile he has right now meets his eyes, whereas the others he’s given me have seemed more forced.
Ever since he has come along with us, don’t get me wrong, he’s smiled some, but his eyes have this sadness in them. .
I grab my phone from my back pocket and immediately call Cross. We walk outside, and he picks up after three rings.
“Hey, boots.”
“I’m going to kill you, Cross.” I say, and I look to Verge, who is lighting up a smoke, chuckling to himself as he leans on the beam outside of the motel office.
“Ah, I think you will thank us at some point.” He laughs, and I hear Tyler chime in, “Girl, lighten up and have some fun. Night!” she says laughing, and the line goes dead.
Yep, I’m going to kill them.
“Ugh.” I groan, and Verge looks over to me, blowing smoke out of his mouth before he says, “Aw come on now, Shi, I’m not that bad.”
I turn on my heel, walking away before he catches up to me and says, “Look, if you want me to sleep on the floor I will, but please for the love of everything don’t make me sleep in a bed with your brother or Beau. I’ll sleep on the floor for you, but not for either of them.”
I look away, mulling over my thoughts, and he puts his hand on my chin, turning my gaze back to his before he says, “Shi, give me a chance.” I look up to his eyes, and the plead in them is almost like desperation, as if he needs me to give this a shot.
I take into consideration how long it’s been since his mother has passed and think maybe he does in fact need this. So I give in.
“Okay.” I sigh.
As I turn to walk to the room, he places his hand on the small of my back again, and it's like a warm blanket wrapped around me. I love his touch, even if it’s subtle.
When we get to the door, he steps in front of me, using his key to open it and then holding it open, gesturing for me to walk in first. As I walk in, mine and Cross’ bags are right beside the door, just like the lady said.
“I’m gonna go grab another smoke. Go ahead and grab a shower first and decide where you want me to sleep. I’ll be back in a few,” he says, taking his cowboy hat off and placing it upside down on the little table inside the door.
I nod, putting my hair behind my ear, and he walks out.
Walking over to my bag, I grab a t-shirt out and some shorts and head for the shower.
After a steaming hot shower, I put my night clothes on and headed out to the bed, still unsure of what the fuck I want to do about this sleeping situation.
As I make my way out of the bathroom, Verge is sitting at the kitchenette table with some fresh clothes in hand and points.
“My turn?” He jokes, asking about the shower.
“It’s all yours.” I chuckle.
He stands, walking past me, shutting the door. I then can’t turn my mind off about him coming out of that shower dripping wet. I look to the bed, then the floor.
This is a motel, so it’s not the Ritz. I'd feel awful making him sleep on the damn floor, so I’ll suck it up and just let him sleep with me. It's fine, we’re just two people sleeping. Right?
I grab my phone and text Tyler while I wait.
SHILOH: I’m going to kill you both.
Putting my hand to my head and looking at the dingy ceiling, a text comes through.
TYLER: ;p
“Ugh.” I groan. She’s just like Cross. I guess I can be happy for him, but damn I’m annoyed.
Why are they pushing us together? I mean I can’t deny I like him, but his career of choice is what is stopping me in my tracks.
That day at the Pbr flashes through my mind and I wince, closing my eyes trying to drown out the memory.
I guess that ship has long sailed though.
We may not be a thing yet, but if he got hurt or killed like that at this point it would hurt me all the same.
It’ s not like I wouldn’t care. I very well would.
Snapping me out of my misery, I then hear the bathroom door open and Verge walks out with a towel draped lowly around his waist. His hair is damp and so is his body and fuck me he looks good.
He turns to me with a smirk on his face before he says, “Sorry, forgot my toothbrush.” He walks to his bag, grabbing another small bag, and walks back to the bathroom, shutting the door.
He did that shit on purpose.
I get under the covers, plug up my phone, and roll over to my side, my mind going a million miles a minute.
Is it even worth fighting my feelings anymore?
Everytime he says “Shi” it feels so right.
Is him being a bull rider fucking fate? A fate I swore to never fall into.
I suddenly want to talk to my mother and hear her thoughts.
I’d never ask him to change who he is. I don’t think she ever did it with my dad, but I don’t know if I can take those 8 endless seconds like she did over and over again.
Damn, the two times I did watch him I was a nervous wreck, but I also did enjoy it.
He’s very good at it and it reminds me of how good my dad used to be.
I then hear the door open and he walks out in some black shorts with his Calvin Klein boxers peaking out of the top with a shirt in his hand. He then puts the white tank top over his head and puts his toiletry bag back in his duffle then looks over to me.
“I’m assuming because there is not a pallet on the floor for me you’re going to let me sleep in the bed?” He asks.
I sit up, bringing my knees to my chest, pursing my lips together before I say, “That floor is probably gross. I wouldn't ask you to sleep on the floor in a room you are paying for.”
He chuckles. “I appreciate that, and so does my back.”
I laugh, and he walks over to the right side under the covers before he says, “So.”
“So?” I reply with my brows raised.
He lays back with his arms behind his head before he says, “Let’s get to know each other I suppose.”
I sit back, putting my pillow against the headboard before I say, “Okay, you first.”
“Hmmm. How old are you?”
“20. You?”
“23. Your turn?” He says, smirking at me.
“My turn?” I ask.
“Yeah, shoot. Ask me anything,” he says, his eyes beaming.
I clear my throat, putting my hair behind my ear before I say, “Why do you bull ride?”
“I knew that was coming,” he replies.
“What? It's a question,” I counter.
He looks up, mulling his words over before he says, “I love it.” He pauses and his lips curl into a smile before he continues, looking as if he’s lost in another world and time, before he says, “My mom used to love to watch me ride. She put me in the best clinics in Colorado. She always was my biggest cheerleader.” Another pause before he says, “I had a poster of your dad in my room when I was a kid.”
I smile at this admission before I say, “I’m sorry about your mom, Verge. Do you mind if I ask what happened”
His jaw flexes before he says, “Cancer happened.” He blinks but then smiles before he says, “She always came to my rides though. Even when I begged her to just stay home and rest she loved watching, another reason I continue to ride I reckon. I feel closer to her.” He looks up at me with those silver eyes, and I honestly can’t believe he’s being this honest with me.
“My dad was the only one who had ever called me Shi. That’s why I got emotional in the truck Friday,” I admit, trying to be honest with him since I just got so personal about his mother.
He sits up, turning to me before he says, “Shit, I’m sorry.”
I shake my head, giving him another truth that is going to be hard for me to even admit, but I do. “No, I- I don’t mind it actually.”
He puts his calloused hand on my cheek then slightly brushes my hair out of my face before he says, “You sure?”
I grab his hand on my face but don’t pull it away. I lean into his warmth and bring my eyes back to his. He leans in closer and I whisper, “I’m sure.”
He slowly licks his lips. I grab his neck, pulling him to me, needing his lips on mine again.
I slide my tongue in his mouth and he turns me over, pinning me to the mattress before he looks at me with those eyes.
The eyes that harbor so much sadness he’s holding back before he says, “Don’t kiss me if you don’t want me, Shi.
I don’t think my heart can take anymore grief.
I want you. I want all of you, but if you don’t want me, quit looking at me the way you do every damn day and quit kissing me if you don’t mean it.
Kiss me again and you’re telling me you’re mine. ”
He releases me and I sit up, straddling him before I say, “I want you, Verge. But I’m scared of how this ends.”
He brushes a lock of hair out of my face before he says, “Don’t be.”
Looking at my eyes then down to my lips, I kiss him again. He puts his hand through my hair, deepening our kiss as his hands slide to my hips and I stop him. He pulls back, looking at me with questions in his eyes before I say, “Not tonight, okay?”
He nods and kisses me again before I climb off of him, sliding into my side of the bed breathing heavily.
I always promised myself I wouldn’t give up my virginity until I was positive I was with someone who truly loved me.
I don’t expect everyone to have the same expectations as I do, nor do I judge anyone who doesn’t think the way I do.
It’s just something I’ve never taken lightly and don't plan to. I like him, yes, and my feelings are coming on strong much like his, but we can’t deem this love just yet.
I lay down and he lays beside me and asks, “So, you kissed me again, does this mean you’ve given up the act?”
I shift, looking at him. “Act?”
“Oh come on, the act of not being utterly obsessed with me.” He chuckles, and I slap him, pushing him on his back and laying on his chest with my arms crossed, resting my chin on them, and I look at him.
“I’m not obsessed with you.” I tease. I’m lying though. I very well am becoming obsessed with Verge McCoy.