Thirty-Eight
Lamont
We just landed.
Tuck
Great. Our ETA: 2 hrs.
Chris
I just got to baggage claim, so I should be checked in and settled by the time you two arrive.
Lamont
Do you need a ride? I rented a car.
Chris
A gas guzzler?
Lamont
No, Mr. Conservative. An EV.
Tuck
Guess you don’t want to hear we’re driving diesel trucks.
Chris
That’s too much to unpack in a text.
“Who are you texting?” Piper asked.
Tuck looked up, hoping he seemed normal. He didn’t want to spoil the surprise. “The guys.” It was the week of the Derby, and festivities were already going on in Louisville.
“How are they? I haven’t talked to Nevaeh in a couple of days.”
“They’re all good.” He shifted in his seat. “How are your folks? Your mom’s coming, right?” Maybe a shift in topic would distract her from asking more pointed questions.
“I don’t know. She was oddly silent when I got home the other day. All she said was she talked to Daddy. Nothing else.” Piper frowned. “Of course, Daddy can’t come.”
“I’m sorry he’ll miss it. Did your mom say how long he was there?”
“No. Do you think the conversation didn’t go well since she hasn’t moved out?”
“I don’t know. She could still be processing.”
Piper nodded. “Yeah, I honestly don’t know what to think.”
“Did your dad say if he could go to the racetracks as a spectator?” Or was the man truly banned from all racing events?
“Actually, we didn’t really talk about that. I just assumed he was banned completely.” She frowned.
“I’m sure your mama’s coming. She knows how much this means to you.” Tuck had half a mind to call Mrs. McKinney and make sure she’d be there. Surely she’d put up with the press in order to support Piper.
He squeezed her hand. “Are you excited about the festivities?”
“Somewhat. I’m too antsy to really look forward to them. They’re just distractions from the main event.”
“Fun distractions.” Tuck slowly rotated his shoulder. It felt weird to be out of a sling. He’d been allowed to remove it the day before they left with advice to still be cautious. His physical therapy wasn’t over. “You’re sure there isn’t an event you’re excited about?”
“Hmm.” She tilted her head. “The gala. I can’t wait to show off my dress.”
Tuck knew the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala was the event in Louisville society. This would be his first time attending. “I can’t wait to see it.” Piper would make any dress look good.
“After we get the horses settled, what will we do next?” she asked. They’d also brought the filly Tuck had been training for the Kentucky Oaks, held the day before the Derby.
“Go to our rooms, change into dinner clothes, then ... food.” Where their friends would show up to surprise her.
“All right. I’ll set aside some worry for some fun.” She blessed him with a smile.
“Good.”
There was a welcome wagon when they arrived at Churchill Downs. Also journalists milling about with photographers hoping to get a comment from the trainers and owners—or anyone who would stop and give them the time of day. In silent agreement, Tuck let Piper go ahead to the stables as he walked up to the reporters.
“Jim Bleu with the Louisville Sun Times.” He pronounced the city Loo-a-vul, like most Kentuckians did. The others said Loo-ee-vil like the French pronunciation of King Louis XVI’s name. “Mr. Hale, can you tell us what your plan is for Dream going forward?”
“We’re gonna introduce him to the track and see what he can do. I’m sure after the first run, everything will look good.” Tuck tried to remain ambiguous, remembering all the times he’d seen famous trainers offer similarly vague lines. As a viewer, it had been frustrating, but as a trainer, he understood their desire not to give anything away.
“When can we get a photo of Dream?” Bleu asked.
“Come out tomorrow. He’ll be running early.” Tuck would probably have the colt on the field about six or seven in the morning, depending on how many trainers had the same thought. Then again, hadn’t Churchill sent a schedule of track times? He’d have to recheck his email inbox.
“Thanks for talking with me.” The reporter held out a hand.
Tuck shook it, trying to hold in a wince when a jolt went through his arm. The OTC meds didn’t make his pain go away, just lowered it to tolerable levels. His right arm wasn’t used to such vigorous movements.
When he first visited Nutcracker after the incident, Tuck had to convince the gelding he was okay. His horse hated seeing Tuck with a sling. He’d been out to the stables the other day to show him he was fine now, and Nutcracker acted like his usual self. Tuck still wasn’t allowed to ride, but he would be soon.
Tuck texted Piper to let her know the interview was over and he’d be in his room. He wanted to hurry and change, then find his friends.
Tuck
Chris, you make it to your room?
Chris
Yep. You guys finally here?
Tuck
Yeah. Just finished talking to a reporter. I don’t know yet if Piper is at the stables or headed to her room.
Lamont
This is Nevaeh. I saw her in the hall. She almost saw me, but I hid behind a wall!
Tuck
What room are y’all in?
Both replied in quick succession.
Tuck
How ’bout we meet in the guys’ room?
Chris
Sounds good.
Lamont
I’m already here so works for me. I can’t wait to see my girl!
Tuck
She’ll be happy to see you too.
Tuck grabbed his key card and entered the room. Fortunately, a porter had already dropped off his luggage. He took out his garment bag and hung the nice dress pants, tux, and dinner jackets in the closet. Tonight they’d be eating at a place Lamont booked for them. All Tuck had to do was get Piper over there after their friends arrived first.
Truly, he probably didn’t need to go to the guys’ room before he saw Piper, but he hadn’t seen his friends since last July when he and Piper traveled to California. As great as texting and the occasional FaceTime chat was, he’d rather see them in person. The likelihood of any of them moving to Kentucky was slim to none, so he’d have to settle for the occasional visit.
He grabbed a blue blazer and paired it with his dress jeans, cream button-down shirt, and dress boots. He’d leave the Stetson behind for once.
Tuck opened the door and froze. Piper stood there in some kind of jumpsuit that was classy and breathtaking all at once.
“Wow.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded. The emerald color did something to her skin that made it seem like it was glowing. “Definite yeah.”
“Were you racing out of your room to mine?” Her grin emerged. “I figured you’d still be getting ready.”
“Uh ... yeah.” Think, Tuck. “I thought you’d still be getting ready.” Banked on it, but obviously he’d been wrong.
“Nope.” She shrugged. “Our groom had everything under control with Dream, so I came back to the room and got dressed.”
“Cool.” He made a show of patting his pants pockets. “Forgot my phone. My wallet too. Give me a sec.”
She nodded and stood in the doorway. He stepped to his suitcase, pretending to look for both. How could he text the crew without Piper knowing?
His cell rang, and he pulled it out of his jacket. “Oh, snap, it was here the whole time.”
Piper laughed. “Thank whoever’s calling. Otherwise you’d still be looking.”
“No kidding.” He answered Lamont’s call. “Hey, Gabe, you make it in?”
“Oh, Piper’s there?” Lamont said in a low voice.
“Yeah. Will you be ready tomorrow?”
“We’ll leave right now.”
“Fantastic. See you then.” Thank goodness actors recognized cues. “Okay. I’m ready now.”
As he drew closer to Piper, she laced her fingers with his. “You know I have a wallet in this purse filled with credit cards, right?”
“I can’t ask my girlfriend on a date, then expect her to pay.”
She rolled her eyes. “You can if you lost your wallet.”
He pulled it from another pocket. “Lucky I didn’t, then.” He smirked at her.
“Men,” she scoffed. “Don’t even remember what you’ve put in your pockets.”
“Yeah, but you love me.”
She beamed. “I really do.”
This woman! He fingered the ring box in his jacket pocket. He’d been praying ever since he bought it. Every time he was with Piper, he’d ask God, This time? and wait for a response. Except right now. He didn’t want to go down on one knee in the hallway of their hotel and have to tell their children and grandchildren that’s how he proposed. So he said nothing as they walked into the elevator.
Hopefully, Lamont, Nevaeh, and Chris were already in their rented car and headed to the restaurant. He couldn’t wait to see Piper’s face when she realized their friends had flown across the country to support her. He hoped she’d shed tears of joy and then spend the rest of the evening laughing over their antics.
They drove in his truck to the restaurant in silence, and the closer they got, the quieter Tuck became.
“Are you okay?” Piper asked from the driver’s seat. “Did something happen with the reporters?”
“No, it was okay. They didn’t ask anything about the drug situation or your dad. I gave the standard line.”
“You pulled the ol’ ‘We’ll have to see how it goes after I introduce him to the track’ nonsense?”
Tuck chuckled. “Something like that.”
“Infuriating.”
“But no less expected.”
She pulled into the circular driveway of the restaurant. “They only have valet here?”
“It’s cool. I can afford it.”
She frowned. “Who said I wanted someone driving my truck?”
“You let me drive it.”
“It’s you, Tuck.”
He smiled. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go eat.”
Once they’d handed over the truck, Piper threaded her arm through Tuck’s and leaned in close. He should have texted Nevaeh to tell her to record Piper’s reaction. Or maybe even Chris. He was a bona fide YouTuber, after all.
But it didn’t matter. When the hostess led them to their table, Tuck knew the instant Piper saw them. Her body tensed, and her breath hitched.
“Surprise!” Nevaeh practically shouted.