Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
“You did it! You scored better than your last one.” Faith couldn’t help but jump up and down as Brent staggered out of the arena. He was smiling wide. The joy emanating from his body was impossible to miss. And the second his eyes had locked with hers, she knew she’d never be the same.
Had he been searching for her out of the crowd?
Or had it been her imagination?
Definitely her imagination.
He nearly reached her when her twin brothers collided with him. They all but pounced on him, their arms draped around his shoulders in celebration. Tate and Jason congratulated him, their voices competing over one another.
Brent had done really well. The improvement he’d made from his last competition to this one was staggering and she couldn’t help but be proud of him.
Faith hovered a few feet away as her brothers took all of Brent’s attention. Every so often he glanced her way and their eyes made contact.
This was what they needed.
It was strange, but good at the same time.
They might not be anything more than friends, but they were something. They had a vested interest in each other. And Faith couldn’t deny how good it made her feel to know someone was cheering her on as she did the same for him.
When her brothers finally released him to head off and talk to some other friends, she stepped forward.
Brent met her the rest of the way. He was breathing hard, and he had a smudge of dirt on his cheek.
The clouds of dust had mixed with his sweat and yet he couldn’t have looked more ruggedly handsome if he’d tried.
She nearly reached out to wipe at the smudge but instead, she clenched her hand at her side. “That was… amazing.” It sounded lame and it was hard not to cringe inwardly at herself. She didn’t need to sound like a fan girl. She most definitely wasn’t going to turn into a buckle bunny.
“Thanks.”
“You really looked like you were enjoying it.”
He nodded as he ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair and glanced over his shoulder toward the arena. “I was—I am. It’s the most incredible experience. Nothing like it.” His grin was as captivating as it was addictive. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. And when he directed it at her?
That little voice in her heart sighed.
Not gonna happen. They were friends. And friends weren’t allowed to look at each other like they could be something more.
“You want to go… I don’t know… get some ice cream or something?”
Her eyes popped with surprise. “Ice cream?”
Not a date. It wouldn’t be. Friends could get ice cream.
“You… don’t like ice cream?”
She startled. “I like ice cream. In fact I love it.” She stumbled over her words and her cheeks heated unbearably.
One side of his mouth quirked upward. “Good, because I’m hot.”
“You look it.” And just like that, her heated cheeks turned into an inferno.
Faith’s already wide eyes rounded further, if it was possible, and she looked away.
“I just mean… you’re… it’s an unseasonably warm day…
and you’re…” She gestured helplessly at his face where she was certain he could feel a drop of sweat dragging down his temple.
Then she cleared her throat. “I could go for some ice cream.” Sheesh, this was embarrassing.
She wasn’t like this with any of her brother’s friends, so why was she making a fool of herself in front of Brent?
“Yeah…” Brent drawled. Then he jerked his chin in the direction of the food truck that served fried ice cream. “After you.”
Faith lost track of time after they found themselves a picnic table in the shade.
Being with Brent this way was nice. He had a way of making her feel seen—like her interests were important.
Maybe it was the fact that she felt like a middle child and was overlooked, but when Brent gave her his undivided attention it just felt… good.
“What made you interested in the medical field?” Brent tilted his head so he got better access to a white drip of melted ice cream on his cone.
She watched the movement for a moment before lifting her gaze to him. “What do you mean?”
He grinned. “Like, was there a moment in your life that triggered it? Did one of your siblings get hurt and you wanted to help?”
She tipped her head backward for a moment, considering. “Honestly? No. I can’t think of when it started because it’s always just… been there.” She squinted at him. “Not the answer you were hoping for, I bet.”
“No, it’s interesting,” he seemed to correct her. “How old were you when you realized you liked that sort of thing?”
“Maybe seven?”
His eyes widened and she laughed.
“What’s that look for?”
Brent leaned back, taking another taste of his ice cream. “When I was seven, I was interested in watching my favorite cartoon on Saturday mornings. Not…” He gestured toward her. “Making future career choices.”
“You’re telling me you weren’t watching cowboys on the big screen and telling yourself you were going to do that one day?”
He seemed to consider this and for a moment, she thought he might agree that she had a point. But then he shook his head. “Nope. I was more into shows like the animated Batman stuff. Superheroes were where it was at.” His cocky grin had her laughing even more.
“Okay, so you were into superheroes as a kid.” Faith took a bite of her cone and chewed thoughtfully. “When did the interest in horses start?”
Brent shrugged. “I guess the first summer my folks came to the country. I was probably about twelve? I can’t remember much besides the first night my uncle brought us to the rodeo.
” His eyes took on a far-off quality as he relived the memory.
“That first time I saw a man get on the back of an animal that definitely wasn’t having it…
” He chuckled and the sound was low and sweet.
It was how she’d describe molasses. Warm, and smooth and utterly delectable.
“There’s nothing like it in the world.” He sat up straighter his expression growing more animated.
“I saw a man who wasn’t afraid of anything. He reminded me of my dad.”
Her brows furrowed. “But your dad doesn’t…” Faith blushed and dropped her gaze but Brent knew what she was getting at.
“No, my dad doesn’t like riding. He’s more into keeping his feet on the ground. But the man who raised me? He wasn’t afraid of anything. Growing up, he was my hero.” A slight frown marred Brent’s expression. “Still is. But…”
Faith leaned in closer. It was as if the world around them held their breath. “What?”
His eyes flicked up to meet hers. “I don’t know. I feel like he’s keeping something from me. Like I said, he’s not scared of anything and yet there he is, telling me he’s scared that I’m going to get hurt.”
“But you could,” she felt the need to point out. “Being a cowboy isn’t exactly a desk job. There are dangers everywhere.”
“The same could be said about a paramedic.” He murmured it pointedly and gave her a look that she couldn’t quite read.
“So would being an electrician. Or a pilot. Heck, if I signed up for the military, that would be dangerous too. But it’s this one thing.
I can’t wrap my head around it.” Brent rolled his lower lip between his teeth for a moment then swiped his tongue along it to get the last remnants of his ice cream.
“Tripp thinks I’m just annoyed that my folks are against what I want to do.
” Then his voice lowered and he stared off at nothing. “Heck, maybe he’s right.”
Faith leaned forward and placed a hand on his knee. “You’re an adult. You have a right to find joy in your life. And if that includes having an interest in a career that your parents don’t approve… well, that’s got to be incredibly frustrating. Especially for you.”
He frowned. “How do you mean?”
When she looked at him with confusion written on her face, he clarified.
“What do you mean, especially for me?”
“Oh.” She blinked a few times and that warmth returned to her cheeks.
“I just mean that you’re one of the most dedicated people I know.
Dedicated to your family, that is. I might not know you that well, but I pay attention.
I’ve heard the way you talk about your folks.
When you told Tate and Jason you didn’t want them to be aware because it’d hurt them…
” She shrugged. “It’s sweet of you to worry about them.
But at the same time, you can’t put your life on hold or please everyone.
I’m a firm believer that we need to strike our own paths. ”
Brent nodded. “Yeah. I feel the same.”
She smiled at him but then he glanced down to where she was touching him.
Again.
Why couldn’t she seem to keep her hands to herself? Faith ripped her hand away and rubbed it on her own jean-clad knee. That was more awkward than it had to be. She peeked at him but found Brent staring off at a group of girls. They were laughing with a couple cowboys.
Maybe Brent wanted to join them. She wouldn’t blame him. But before she could make such a suggestion, he turned to her. “You want to go see what carnival games they got? I’m in the mood to throw some baseballs at fake milk jars.”
The offer, however unexpected, brought with it a surge of excitement. Brent was choosing to spend his afternoon with her. She nodded and they climbed down from the picnic table.
On the way there, Brent seemed a little anxious.
“Everything okay?”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“You just seem a little… off. Was it something I said? I don’t want you to think—”
“It’s not. I mean, it’s nothing you said.” He frowned as he came to a stop beside her. His brows furrowed in the most adorable way and she itched to reach up and smooth the lines so he didn’t seem so pensive. Refraining, she shoved her hands into her back pockets and waited.
Brent shifted in front of her then blew out a breath. “My folks know I’ve been spending more than a normal amount of time at your place.”
Her brows shot upward. “And they’re… okay with that?”
He grabbed at the back of his neck and rubbed it.
“That’s the thing. They know I’m friends with Tate and Jason, but they also know that your brothers are big into the rodeo scene.
And after that fight I had with my parents a while back…
” He didn’t have to finish his statement.
She already knew what he was getting at.
“You’re worried that they think you’re spending time with my brothers because of their interests and not just because you’re friends.”
He gave her a short nod.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Was there something more to this story? Why was he acting so nervous? As she continued to study him, she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what this conversation had to do with her.
“They think we might be… romantically involved.”
“Oh.” Then her eyes widened. “Oh.”
He nodded, his smile half-grin, half-grimace. “I haven’t corrected them. Especially after you brought those cookies and Hallie noticed us talking at that party. I just figured it’d be easier to let them believe it.”
“So…” It was her turn to feel a little awkward before him. He wasn’t exactly asking her to be his fake girlfriend. His parents didn’t think they were dating. But he was letting them believe he might be interested in her.
Faith couldn’t tell if this pleased her or if it hurt. The emotions rolling through her were hard for even her to make out.
Pinching her lips together, she glanced away.
“Are you mad?”
When she dragged her attention back to him, he was squinting at her. How could she be mad at the guy who made her feel seen. She’d already made herself out to be his alibi once without question.
She smiled. “Of course not. I don’t mind at all.” Then she plastered on her biggest smile. “What are friends for, right?”
That got him smiling again and the ache in her chest eased. “Now, I think you owe me a prize.” Faith tapped her chin as she turned toward the nearest carnival game. “Think you’re good enough to win me that purple flamingo?”
Brent followed her gaze and his smile widened further. “You got it. Anything for a friend.” Then he winked. And why did that small act make her insides flutter?
Because he was sweet and if he was available, she would have jumped on the chance to capture his attention.
Faith sighed as she followed after him. Enough dreaming. Simply spending time with Brent would have to be enough. He was fun. Sweet. And she couldn’t forget he was utterly charming. One day, he’d make some lucky girl very happy.
And that was the worst part, wasn’t it?
Because if spending the evening with Brent Gilley had taught her anything, it was that she wouldn’t be against something more. In fact, she might actually want it.