Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GABE
The auditorium was stuffy, my collar was too tight, and I felt naked without my hat. I’d had to remove it because it was apparently blocking the view of the person behind me.
“Are you alright?” Celeste asked, keeping her voice low as another group performed their dance.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Because you’re squirming all over the place. It looks like you've got a wedgie that you’re too afraid to pick,” she said, leaning in to whisper the accusation.
I snorted a laugh, and a lady with pearl earrings the size of marbles turned to give me the stink eye.
Holding my hand up apologetically, I mouthed sorry.
She very distinctly turned her nose up at me before facing forward again.
I curled my lips inward and pressed them together to keep from laughing.
“Stop it,” Celeste chided, trying to suppress her laughter.
“Me?” I asked incredulously. “You’re the one who said wedgie. This is your fault.”
“Would you two keep it down?” Celeste’s brother leaned forward to scold us, his glare bouncing between Celeste and me.
“Maybe if you two could’ve laughed like this while you were married, you wouldn’t be divorced now.
” He fell back against his seat in a huff, and I sobered.
Even though it had been the right move and we were both happier, I still felt a twinge of guilt at not being able to hold my family together.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s just salty I’m dating Owen.
” She rolled her eyes, dismissing her brother’s jabs at our failed marriage while simultaneously rubbing it in his face that she was seeing his best friend, the man who’d ushered in the demise of our marriage but also set us both free.
His responding scowl had us tittering like schoolgirls.
The crowd erupted in applause and we followed suit, cheering for the tiny performers. They bowed before their instructors ushered them off the stage. The next group walked onto the platform in their matching costumes.
“There’s Rory,” Celeste said. Our daughter caught sight of us in the crowd, and her face lit up like it was Christmas morning. She offered us a little wave before getting into position, and Celeste waved back at her exuberantly. I saluted her, and her grin doubled in size.
She was amazing. And I wasn’t just saying that because she was my daughter. She really had a knack for dance. All the lessons Celeste had insisted on her taking had paid off.
“Dad,” she said, running up to me after the recital and launched herself into my arms. I caught her in midair, and approximately a pound of glitter erupted from her body and landed on my clothes when she slammed into me. I didn’t mind, though. My baby girl was happy to see me.
“You were incredible, Pumpkin.” I squeezed her tight for a long moment before placing her on her feet.
“We killed it,” she said, balling her hand into a fist and yanking her arm down in a celebratory motion.
“You sure did,” I agreed.
“What are we doing now? Can you stay for a little bit? You don’t have to go home yet, do you?” She popped her questions off in rapid succession, not giving me a chance to answer.
“I’m actually staying in Nashville for the rest of the day, and you’re coming with me.
I’ve got a little surprise for you.” I’d messaged Celeste earlier to ask about taking Rory for the evening.
When I told her what I had planned, she agreed to pack the necessary clothing and instructed me to have her home by bedtime.
“Really?” she asked on a gasp. “What is it?” I let out a guffaw of laughter and slung her bag over my shoulder.
“I can’t tell you. It will spoil the surprise.” She tilted her head thoughtfully and tapped her forefinger on her chin.
“You make a good point,” she replied matter-of-factly before turning to Celeste.
“Bye, Mom. Love you,” she said, hastily pulling her into a hug.
She repeated the process with her uncle and Celeste’s parents before slipping her hand into mine and leading me toward the exit.
“Let’s go,” she demanded, and I complied.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the jam-packed parking lot of the arena, and already, you could hear the roar of the crowd from inside. The energy I’d once thrived on was palpable. It crackled in the air, causing goosebumps to erupt over my skin.
When Jasmine asked me to come to her race, I hadn’t realized it was in Nashville or that Rory’s recital would be over in time for us to watch her compete.
I was surprised she hadn’t mentioned it knowing I would be in town.
Woody was the one who told me where she would be and suggested I come by to watch, seeing as Jasmine was my former student and Rory thought she hung the moon and stars.
“What is this place?” Rory asked as we walked to the entrance.
“You’ll see,” I replied, and she scowled.
As soon as we walked inside, her eyes grew wide.
She took in all the sights and sounds, her head swiveling from side to side.
I presented our tickets to the clerk and proceeded toward our seats.
The arena floor came into view, and Rory gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as her eyes sparkled with delight.
“Is-is this one of Jasmine’s races?”
“Mmm hmm,” I replied, nodding. She released an ear-piercing squeal and jumped up and down like we’d just won tickets to Disney World.
“This is the best day ever!” she declared and threw her arms around my waist. I felt like dad of the year in that moment. I squeezed her back, soaking in her love and excitement.
“Let’s go find our seats.” She released me and slipped her hand into mine.
Spotting an opening down by the edge of the arena closest to the chutes, I shouldered my way through the crowd with her hot on my heels.
We had a perfect view once we settled into our seats.
Our line of sight was just above the top rung of the metal rails enclosing the ring, and we were almost close enough to get hit with the dirt kicked up by the horses’ hooves.
Rory practically vibrated in the seat next to me when the announcer's voice came over the loudspeaker. The race was about to start. Jasmine was sixth on the roster. Rory and I both clapped loudly as her name was announced, cheering her on the entire time. She was incredible. Her horsemanship was impeccable, her posture perfection. Every turn around the barrel was tight and precise. There was no way she wouldn’t take the lead with this run.
“Whoo, Jasmine!” Rory encouraged as she tore down the final stretch.
My daughter’s voice caught her attention and her head snapped up, searching the crowd.
Her eyes landed on us and widened in surprise just before she disappeared through the gate leading back to the chutes.
“Dad, I think she saw us!” Rory said, tugging on my arm.
“I think you’re right, Pumpkin.” A few minutes later, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to find a text from Jasmine.
Jasmine: You came
I smiled down at my phone, sensing her surprise and excitement through her message.
Me: I did. I brought Rory with me too. She’s been over the moon since we got here.
Jasmine: I thought you couldn’t come because of her recital.
Me: She finished up just in time for us to make it to the show, and Celeste was kind enough to let me take her for the evening.
Jasmine: I’m so glad you both made it.
Me: Me too. You killed it out there. That run was perfection. No notes.
Glancing up at the monitor that displayed their times, I saw that Jasmine was in the lead. I hoped it stayed that way.
I was just pulling into my driveway when I got a text from Elwood.
My brow creased with confusion. Why would he be texting this late?
Panic surged through me. Was Jasmine okay?
Had something happened to her after we'd left?
My hands shook as I swiped open my messages.
When I did, my stomach sank and panic morphed into fear.
Woody: Come to the house. We need to talk.
Oh fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
This was bad. This sounded like I was in trouble.
Did he know something? Had he found out about me touching his daughter, about how I’d gripped her waist to lift her off the feed bin then proceeded to hold on far longer than necessary?
Did he know how close I came to letting her kiss me?
Maybe there were cameras in the barn that caught the whole thing on video.
Shit. I’d never even considered that. I was probably about to lose my job and my best friend. Hell, I might be walking to my death.
I had to take several deep breaths to calm my racing heart and still my hands before I could type my response.
Me: Be there in ten.
It usually took me at least fifteen minutes to make it to the ranch, but I got there in nine.
Normally, the house would be dark and quiet this time of night, but damn near every light was on.
I swallowed hard as I stepped out of my truck and walked up the front steps.
Gently rapping my knuckles against the front door, I secretly hoped no one would hear me and I’d have an excuse to turn around and go back home.
No such luck.
The door swung open, and Elwood’s massive frame filled the doorway. Anger radiated off him in waves, his face tight with rage. I fought the instinct to cower and instead straightened my spine. Whatever fate awaited me, I’d face it like a man.
“Come in,” he instructed, stepping to the side. I obeyed, crossing over the threshold to possibly meet my end.
I followed him into the living room where RaeAnne sat in the armchair, a handkerchief pressed to her mouth.
Her eyes were red rimmed and wet, her cheeks and nose flushed from crying.
Before I could open my mouth to offer a comforting word— or apologize for the wildly inappropriate thoughts I’d had about her daughter— Elwood’s booming voice resounded through the house.
“Jasmine, get in here.”
My heart seized in my chest, and my legs nearly gave out on me when she entered the room a moment later, her tear-stained face matching her mom’s.
I gulped as her uneasy gaze bounced between her dad and me.
She worried her lip and wrapped her arms protectively around her middle.
She was so far removed from the fierce, brazen woman I knew that my gut twisted with dread.
It felt like we were about to face the firing squad together.
I wanted to reach for her and pull her against me to shield her from whatever was about to come, but that would only make this worse.
Elwood curled his fists then flexed his hands like he wanted to hit something but was fighting the impulse with everything he had. Then he met my eye, and his next words nearly had me pissing my pants.
“We’ve got a problem.”