Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Ninety-one! You see that Hines! That’s the top score for the night!”
Jacob was jostled as Kai shook his shoulders, his voice far too loud and yet muffled at the same time. Normally a score like that would have Jacob fist-pumping the air and doing a jig just like his manager. His sponsors were likely over the moon. He’d come strong right out of the gate.
Only nine more rounds to go.
He’d been in the schedule early this time around and as soon as he was changed out of his gear, he was allowed to watch the event from the sidelines with some of the other cowboys. The problem was, they weren’t alone.
All the men who had families were seated nearby. Wives, children, big families. All of them had shown up in droves to watch the NFR this year.
Jacob couldn’t help himself. His attention continued to shift to the people in the stands with him. He watched them cheer and support their families. He observed the kids and the magnetic chaos that drew him in.
This wasn’t like him. He wasn’t usually interested in the spectators. Normally he was glued to the screen that updated the scores. Because this was the big leagues. This was what he’d been working all year to achieve. He didn’t know how many years he’d have a shot like this.
So why in heaven’s name did he feel so… off?
A drooling toddler scooted his way down the bleacher, his pudgy hands gripping the metal as he inched closer and closer toward Jacob.
He had the largest pair of blue eyes Jacob had ever seen.
At some point he’d been wearing a small cowboy hat, but now his brown mop of hair was a mussed mess which only added to how adorable he was.
Jeans. A plaid button-down, and boots.
How had Jacob not realized they made boots in that size?
The kid couldn’t have been more than a year and a half. And as he offered Jacob a toothy grin, Jacob couldn’t help but grin right back. “Hey, buddy,” he murmured.
The toddler reached up and made a grasping gesture with his fingers. Jacob’s brows furrowed while the kid made a gurgling sound then said something that sounded suspiciously like ‘hat’.
Understanding washed over him, and he reached for his hat then placed it on the kid’s head.
The boy giggled and reached up with both hands to touch the hat and yank it from his head. In that moment, the boy’s mother darted forward.
“I’m so sorry. Here.” She handed Jacob his hat and gave him an embarrassed smile. Then she turned to her boy. “You have your own hat, Ben. Let’s get it for you.” She cut Jacob one more fleeting look. “Sorry again.”
“It’s fine,” Jacob murmured, his eyes following the mother and her son.
He’d never thought he’d be a good father.
In fact, he’d told himself for years that based on his experiences with his dad, he was certain of it.
But then Ryker got married and started having kids and it made Jacob wonder if there was a chance he could be good at it.
If Ryker could overcome his past, why couldn’t Jacob?
It probably unnerved the woman that he’d been staring for so long, so he forced his focus back to the competition. His thoughts, however, remained on the same track.
Hallie would be a good mother. He knew that without a doubt in his mind. She had a nurturing spirit among other things. She wasn’t selfish like he was.
Then the strangest thought filtered into his mind.
If she was by his side, would they be good parents together? When he was with her, things felt… different. He felt like he had the chance to be the best version of himself. Not only that, but he liked who he was when they were together.
Hallie had this way about her—the ability to make him want to continue being better, if not for himself, than for her.
His focus shifted to the little boy who was now seated on his father’s lap. He wore his dad’s cowboy hat, and he was giggling as he played peek-a-boo beneath it. The mother had a southern accent. She was definitely not from Nevada. If he had to guess, he would have said somewhere near Georgia.
And yet she was here supporting her husband with a baby in tow.
They looked…
Happy.
A burning sensation started up in his chest again. It had been happening a lot more recently. Ever since he’d cut Hallie out of his life for her own good. She deserved stability.
He repeated that mantra in his head over and over.
Stability.
Family.
Hallie deserved it all.
And yet…
Jacob closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. Didn’t he deserve the same? Didn’t he deserve to be happy in whatever capacity? As hard as it would be to have a family while on the road, it would be worth it. He knew it would.
Or at least he was beginning to believe it would.
What would Hallie have said if he told her the truth about his feelings? What would have happened if he’d stepped out of his truck that night, knocked on the door, and told her he wanted her?
Without having to think it over too hard, he knew in his soul what she would have said.
She would have told them they could figure it out if they worked together.
Because she loved him.
He shut his eyes tighter as the pain intensified. He’d been an idiot.
How many times did he have to get in his own way for him to finally come to the realization that he wasn’t going to get what he wanted without risks? Was it selfish to fall in love with a girl who had strong ties to her family and ask her to pick him?
Absolutely.
But maybe it was time he allowed himself to be a little selfish when it came to the girl of his dreams.
His hands were balled so tight, he was sure his fingers had turned white within his leather gloves. Jacob opened his eyes and flexed his hands to bring feeling back to his fingertips. He wanted Hallie. He wanted it all.
He just prayed that when presented with the choice, she’d choose him.
Jacob shot to his feet, startling a few of the people seated beside him. “Sorry,” he mumbled as he crossed in front of them. The second he got to the stairs, he booked it. He needed to find Kai. His manager was the only person who would be capable of helping him at this point.
He burst from the stadium seating and pulled out his phone. As soon as he found Kai’s contact information, he hit the call button. Thankfully, Kai always had his phone close. “This is Kai.”
“Hey, it’s me. I need a favor.”
“Anything for our star,” Kai quipped.
“Can you convince our sponsor to get me on a plane back home?”
“Anything but that. Sheesh, Hines. What are you thinking? I know you’re probably riding the high of that score, but this is just the first round. We have nine more—”
“I know that,” Jacob cut him off, rushing to the locker room where he left his stuff. “I’ll be back by the next one tomorrow. I just need to get to Rocky Ridge tonight.”
“Tonight? What…” Kai trailed off then sighed. “This is about that girl—”
“The love of my life, yes. And I made a huge mistake. I need to see her.”
Kai groaned. “You have her number. You can call her.”
Jacob shook his head. “She probably won’t pick up. I did a number on her.” He waited, holding his breath as Kai took his sweet time letting his words sink in.
“I don’t know if the guys will go for it.”
“Anything, Kai. I’ll do… anything.” He could practically envision Kai raising an eyebrow at that statement.
It wasn’t a secret that their sponsor wanted Jacob to do more advertising for their clothing line.
Jacob had managed to negotiate less photoshoots in his contract but now he was opening himself up for a great deal more.
It would totally be worth it.
Especially if Hallie agreed to be his.
When Kai sighed once again, Jacob shot his fist into the air. “I’ll meet you in the locker room.”
“I can’t make any promises, Jacob. They’re still licking their wounds over the competitions you missed out on this fall.”
“Tell them I’ll make it up to them and then some,” Jacob promised. Then he hung up before Kai could make another comment.
Twenty minutes later, Jacob was on a private plane heading back to Montana. Based on his calculations, he’d be able to get to her place by ten. That didn’t allow much down time before he’d be expected to be back on the plane and returning to Nevada. Hopefully with an additional passenger.
He rubbed his hands on his thighs countless times during the two-hour flight.
He had no clue what to expect from Hallie when he got there.
She could slam the door in his face. And she’d be within her rights.
If that were the case, he’d already promised himself he’d do anything it took to win her back.
That included starting over and wooing her right—the way she had always deserved.
When he touched down in the small airport a town over from Rocky Ridge, he wasn’t in the best shape. His head pounded, his muscles ached from how tense he’d become. Every part of him was on edge. He didn’t recognize the man who picked him up and they refrained from small talk the whole drive.
Jacob had attempted to have a speech ready that was worthy of winning her over. Everything he’d come up with had been terrible. He wasn’t sure he’d take himself back based on what he could string together.
Then he’d remind himself to push aside all the negative thoughts he’d had since he’d gotten on that plane. He cared about Hallie. He wanted her in his life. He just wasn’t sure how he was going to convince her that she could trust him.
Not after everything.
The car dropped him off in front of Hallie’s house. It was dark and he wasn’t sure she was even there. He paced back and forth, trying to dig up what little bit of courage he could muster when footsteps caught his attention.
His head lifted and his eyes collided with none other than Brent.
Hallie’s cousin stopped in his tracks and blinked at Jacob like he was seeing a ghost. He might as well have been because the old Jacob would have never done something so…
rash. He was known for being collected. He was a planner.
Everything he’d ever wanted was obtained because he could visualize it and the steps he’d need to take to get there.
Tonight, all those personality quirks had slipped out the window.
“Jacob?” Brent’s question was barely above a whisper.
Nodding, Jacob took a step toward him. “So… I was hoping I could talk to Hallie. You think she’d see me?”
Brent gaped. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Vegas right now?”
Another nod and a chagrined smile was all Jacob could muster.
“But you’re here,” Brent muttered in disbelief.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty obvious.”
“For… Hallie.”
“Yes,” Jacob said, fighting the growing frustration especially when he was also battling exhaustion. “But I don’t know if she’ll come out and talk to me. Do you think you could—”
Brent’s eyes flicked to the house then back. “No, she won’t come out of there.”
Jacob’s heart sank. “She—”
“Because she’s at Caleb and Sammie’s place. Actually, I think all the girls are still over there. At least Faith is.” Brent pulled out his phone. “I could call—”
Holding up a hand, Jacob forced a nervous smile. “I know my way over. I think I’ll just surprise them.” He shot Brent a pleading look. If Brent gave them a heads up about his presence, any chance Jacob had might as well have gone down the drain.
Brent tilted his head momentarily then he sighed. “I won’t tell them, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Then he took a challenging step forward. “But if you say anything to hurt her—”
“I won’t,” Jacob promised. “I swear it. I’m only here to apologize.” And to win her back, but Brent didn’t need to know that.
Thankfully, he seemed happy with that statement. Then he trudged up the steps to his home which was only a few doors down from Hallie’s.
When Jacob found himself on Sammie’s doorstep, he had to take several breaths to center himself. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this conversation, but time was of the essence. It was now or never.
With a shaking fist, he rapped his knuckles on the door.
Muffled music and laughter seeped through the barrier of the door.
Then footsteps. And finally, the door opened.
Sammie stood in the doorway, her eyes rounding and her mouth falling open.
A quiet curse slipped free from her lips, startling Jacob as they stared each other down.
Then he straightened his shoulders and said as firmly as he could, “I need to speak to Hallie, please.”
He'd expected more of a fight. But Sammie simply pushed the door wider to reveal several surprised faces staring back at him. And in the center of them all was the girl he couldn’t live without.