Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Hallie.
What was she doing here?
“Hines, you’re up!”
Jacob hadn’t expected to see Hallie at all—which in hindsight was ridiculous because they ran in the same social circles and had similar interests.
She hadn’t been alone.
“Hines!”
It was hard to tell who was sitting next to her, but from where he stood, he hadn’t recognized the guy. The hat shaded his face.
Someone pushed into his shoulder. Hard.
“Hines, jeez, man. If you don’t get over there, you’re going to miss your turn.”
Jacob glanced over at Kai then back to the crowd in time to see Hallie darting for the exit.
Guilt, raw and gnawing hit him harder than he’d expected it to.
Even as he put his helmet on his head and strode forward, he couldn’t get the sight of her out of his head.
Tonight was the last competition that was close to home for a while.
He’d be going on the road and competing in Texas, Tennessee, then Colorado before he ended up in Vegas.
These competitions were the most important ones leading up to the finals.
“Get out of your head, Jacob.”
He stiffened at Kai’s voice and found his face in the sea of people readying him for his turn. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jacob muttered.
“Don’t lie to me. I know you. Get out there and do what you came here for. Show this crowd that you’re still the rodeo star you’ve always been.”
Jacob nodded, pushing away all the emotions that had come back with brunt force when he’d caught sight of Hallie in the crowd. There wasn’t any time to let her get in his head. He’d do his job and then he’d wonder what she’d been doing here after.
“Congratulations, man! You did it.”
Hands clapped him on the back. Men and women alike shouted out their praise. This was his first big win since the accident and…
He felt nothing.
Normally he’d still be fueled by adrenaline. He’d be pulling Kai in for a bro-hug and they’d head off to celebrate another win. He’d get a call from his sponsor, telling him they were proud of all the work he was putting into his career.
And yet…
Absolutely nothing.
Hallie hadn’t stayed to see his win. She’d run from the arena before he’d been able to compete and something about knowing that made his stomach sour. He should be happy. Elated, even. Sure, he’d lost the girl, but he had everything else he’d wanted since he was a kid.
His career was back on track and after suffering broken bones no less.
Smiling faces filled the ocean of people that surrounded him as he moved his way toward the exit of the building. Kai managed to get him out to his truck without incident. “What do you say we head out and get something to eat? You were always a sucker for that pie they serve in town, right?”
Jacob shook his head. “Sorry, man. I’m just not feeling up to it.”
Kai frowned. “This have something to do with Hallie?”
Jacob couldn’t meet his manager’s eyes.
“You know you can talk to me about her, right? I’m a good listener. Some might even say great.”
Jacob snorted. “Since when do you have a comforting bone in your body.”
Kai laughed. “True. But seriously, you can’t let whatever happened between you two get you down. You won, tonight! You should be celebrating.”
He wasn’t wrong. All the work Jacob had put into becoming the rodeo star he was before and after the accident—now he had something to show for it. The road hadn’t been easy. Blood. Sweat. Tears. The whole nine yards. He’d given everything of himself to get to where he was tonight.
Including the girl.
Yes, he’d lost the girl, but that fact didn’t negate that he had everything he’d always wanted. His career was back on track, for heaven’s sake. He’d be competing nationally to win in the finals. Everything was how it should be.
And yet all he could think about was Hallie. What she’d looked like when he’d caught sight of her across the arena. The flash of desperation when he’d noticed the man seated beside her. And the way she’d just taken off right before his turn.
The man had followed her. She’d been on a date. Hallie had moved on.
And that completely wrecked him.
Kai nudged him. “Earth to Jacob.”
He shoved his manager right back. “I told you, I’m not up for celebrating.”
“I bet you’d be up for celebrating with Hallie.” It was a low blow and it landed as intended.
Jacob glowered at his manager and pointed a finger at him. “You leave her out of this.”
“See? I’m right. If I had to guess, I’d bet an entire year’s salary on one thing.
You can’t get her out of your mind. You wish she was here to see you and that she would be standing outside of the locker rooms ready to congratulate you.
She’s the one you want to celebrate with.
She’s the one you want to wrap in your arms and hold like she’s breath itself. ”
The pain in Jacob’s chest only intensified. “You don’t get it. We’re all wrong for each other. There’s no way we’ll ever fit.”
“Says who? You? Let me remind you that you’re also the one who thought this wasn’t going to happen again.
” Kai made a sweeping gesture at Jacob’s form, probably referring to how well Jacob had healed up.
“You’re the one who didn’t have faith in getting your dream back.
Now there’s one more question you have to ask yourself. ”
Jacob didn’t bother asking Kai what it was. He knew better. Kai wasn’t going to drop this conversation until he said his piece.
“The question you need to answer is whether or not this…” He made another sweeping gesture. “… is enough. Or if something is missing from your life.”
Hallie.
Kai was talking about Hallie. Only Jacob hadn’t been making excuses.
Hallie needed her family. They were a tight-knit group.
They depended on each other, and she would suffer if she had to be away from them for long periods of time.
He’d seen the way traveling could tear a relationship apart.
Long distance. Always being on the move.
There were several reasons why people in his field had a hard time having a family before hanging up the saddle and settling down.
His jaw clenched tight because even if he said all of that, Kai would argue.
That was the kind of man he was. He believed in love conquering all even if he wasn’t currently dating anyone.
Heck, Jacob hadn’t seen the man hold down a relationship in all the years he worked for him.
As far as Jacob was concerned, Kai didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Jacob turned away from his manager and reached for his duffle. “Like I said, I’m not up for celebrating tonight. I’m going to head home. We’re still heading out early tomorrow anyway, right?”
Kai’s disappointed frown hurt more than when he was angry and blaming Jacob for some stupid mistake he’d made in practice or during competition.
It almost looked like he was going to argue with Jacob and insist that they at least get that pie.
Thankfully he appeared to have finally gotten his head on straight.
He offered a curt nod. “I’ll be by your place early. Then we’ll head out.”
“Tennessee?”
Another nod. “Then we’re on to Vegas.”
With that, they parted ways.
Jacob tossed his duffle in the back of his truck, climbed inside, then let his head fall back against the headrest with a thud.
Even if he wanted to ask Hallie for another chance, she’d never give him one. Clearly, she’d gotten tired of waiting for him and she’d moved on. It was a painful reality he’d just have to accept. And it was for the best.
He started the truck and pulled out into traffic. It wasn’t until he pulled up to Sagebrush property that he realized he’d driven here on autopilot. He didn’t know what had prompted him to head to her home rather than his own. It was wishful thinking. She probably wasn’t even home.
The truck was parked far enough away that he could have been visiting anyone of her family members.
He knew better than to park directly in front of her house.
In the dark, he let his focus bounce from one home to the next.
This place had become a haven of sorts for everyone related to the Reese family.
Eli Reese and his wife had been the magnets that kept everyone together.
When he’d first heard the story about how they all came to be at the same place, he’d thought they had to be crazy. Who in their right mind would want to live so close to family all the time? Didn’t they understand that it was good for the soul to put some distance in there somewhere?
Distance making the heart grow fonder and all that?
But then he’d really started to get to know all the cousins who acted more like siblings than anything else. They protected their own. Stood up for each other. Made sure everyone knew they were loved and wanted—such a stark contrast to his own upbringing.
All he had was Ryker. And Jacob had pushed him away the first time he’d felt betrayed.
Jacob blew out a breath and returned his attention to Hallie’s house. Never in a million years had he believed he would find someone capable of pulling his attention from his dreams. The possibility simply didn’t exist.
Until it had.
He pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes and rubbed but his oncoming headache continued to worsen. This might be his only chance to talk to her, to ask her what she wanted.
What if she wanted the same things he did? If she was willing to go on the road, would he be able to accept that sacrifice so they could both be happy?
He wasn’t entirely sure at the moment, but he liked to think so.
His hands dropped to his lap then he lifted one to the handle before a light tapping startled him.
Jacob’s head snapped up. A figure loomed outside of the passenger side window, arms folded.
When he dipped lower, recognition flooded Jacob’s mind.
He pressed the automated button to lower the window then murmured, “Brent…”
“What are you doing here, man?”
Jacob glanced back toward Hallie’s house. “I…”
“Haven’t you done enough?”
Swallowing hard, Jacob slowly swiveled his gaze back to Brent who was now leaning on the edge of the open window. “I need to see her.”
Brent shook his head. “No, you don’t.”
“But…” Jacob didn’t recognize his own voice. It was broken and uncertain. He wouldn’t be surprised if Brent could tell that Jacob wasn’t even sure why he was here.
“I get it, okay? You grew attached. It happens. But you made your choice. You pushed her away. Now you have to accept the outcome.” Brent continued to watch him as if he expected Jacob to argue or lash out.
Then he shook his head again. “No one knows better than me the difficult decisions that come with this lifestyle. Deep down in your soul you know the right one to make. You made it a long time ago. And if you get out of this truck and walk up to that door, you’re only going to extend the pain.
You’ve done enough damage. You broke her heart. ”
Jacob flinched.
“And now she’s trying to heal. The best thing you can do is leave.
Walk away. Let her heal and keep chasing your dream.
She’ll be fine. So will you. But only if you make a clean cut.
” Brent’s words were soft but that didn’t stop them from tearing into Jacob’s heart.
Based on what he’d witnessed, Hallie was already taking steps to feel better.
Brent’s perspective was right. It would be difficult, but letting go was for the best. Jacob only prayed that he could do so quickly. The last thing he wanted was to be back here with more regrets.
He nodded and Brent withdrew. They didn’t say another word to each other as Jacob rolled up his window, started his truck and drove away.