Chapter 24
Trey
Greeley, Colorado
Ishow the security guard my professional rodeo cowboys card, and he waves me through the gate.
I offered to drive the crew to Greeley mostly because I was terrified Jessie would try to drive.
Carson’s in the passenger seat, and he’s been silent the entire drive.
Granted, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise with the three women in the back seat.
Lainey jumped in at Kacey’s last-minute invitation, and their conversation has ranged from books to country music, western fashion, and Lainey’s cat.
I tried to tune them out and engage with Carson several times, but he clearly isn’t in the mood for small talk.
Eventually I gave up, refusing to let his surly mood ruin what is about to be a great night.
Because even though I can’t ride, I’m finally back at a rodeo.
I drive behind the arena to park by Knox’s camper.
Leaving my window down, I can hear cowboys hollering and panels clanging as they sort the bucking horses into two different pens.
Kids laugh as they rope each other. Generators hum, powering the many campers and trailers.
The scent of horses, dust, and diesel fuel hits me.
Fuck, it’s good to be home. It’s like putting on your favorite pair of old, worn-in jeans.
“Wow, you’re fancy getting to park back here,” Lainey says from the back seat.
I glance in the rearview mirror. Her brunette hair is curled, makeup done, and she’s wearing a green sundress. She’s a knockout. No red-blooded man would deny that. But she’s not the redhead sitting next to her. That’s the one I can’t take my eyes off.
When Jessie finished getting ready and walked out of her room earlier today, I had half a mind to haul her right back in there, strip her naked, and skip the rodeo altogether.
She is devastatingly beautiful with her hair down, minimal makeup, showing off her freckles, and heart-shaped lips—lips I long to kiss at all hours of the day.
If that wasn’t enough, her denim shorts, blue tank top, and knee-high boots almost stopped my heart.
“Perks of being a card-carrying member. Plus, I’m bound to pull a few bull ropes tonight, so I’m basically free labor at this point.”
“Not for long. You’ll be back soon,” Jessie says matter-of-factly.
I try not to let it sting. I want to be back—more than anything—but I’m not ready to let her go, not by a long shot.
Kacey makes some god-awful squealing noise and leaps out of the truck before it stops moving. She runs and leaps into Knox’s waiting arms. Both remaining women in the backseat swoon like it’s the sweetest thing they’ve ever seen.
Kacey has become a sister to me. She makes Knox happy and has always been so supportive of him.
Sometimes I get jealous, wondering what that would be like.
To have that one person, your person, who you know without a shadow of a doubt would drop everything and fly across the country to be there for you.
Until I saw Knox and Kacey together, I never wondered what that felt like, never thought I wanted it, but I’m starting to feel differently.
I’m not sure that timing is working out for me when the only woman I want that with put an expiration date on the relationship we don’t even have.
Carson crosses his arms, punctuated with a grunt—or maybe a snarl. He has definitely reverted back to his caveman self.
I jump out of the truck and turn Knox and Kacey’s sweet moment into a group hug, wrapping my arms around them both. “Ah, I’ve missed this. The three amigos. Three musketeers. The three best friends that anyone could have.”
Kacey’s shoulders shake with laughter.
Knox attempts to shake himself from my grip. “Are you done? Get off me.”
Everyone else piles out of the truck and gathers behind Knox’s Capri camper.
I release him with a satisfied grin on my face. “Long time no see, bestie. Ready to win this bitch now that I’m here?”
“To be fair, I was ready to win the moment I entered it, but I am happy you’re here.
Thanks for driving Kacey out. I see you picked up a few stragglers on the way.
” He shakes Carson’s hand and gives Lainey a side hug but stops short of hugging Jessie, noticing the glare she’s giving him. “What did I do to deserve that look?”
She points at me. “You left him at my house. For months.”
“I did not leave him. I simply placed him there for rest and recuperation. I will retrieve him shortly, don’t worry.”
“Yeah, well, you better.”
“I am standing right here. No one placed me anywhere; I am my own man.”
“No, I totally placed you there,” Kacey says dryly, drawing a rare chuckle out of Carson.
“You could leave. I haven’t tied you up,” Jessie quips before thinking it through. I see the realization in her eyes, but it’s too late.
“Oh, baby, please do. I like a little bondage now and then. Spices things up.” I wink, knowing I got the better of Jessie this round.
Carson makes some kind of gagging noise, but everyone else laughs. We didn’t plan on our entire friend circle knowing about our roommates-with-benefits arrangement, but they do, so we might as well lean into it.
“Well, if it isn’t Trey Bennett.”
I turn to find three of my bull rider buddies walking up.
“How the hell are ya?”
I shake their hands. “Ready to be back and taking all your money,” I joke.
We catch up, they tell me about the bulls they have drawn, and I introduce them to the crew. Knox has his arm around Kacey, but I see the single two of the group eye Jessie and Lainey. It irritates me. “Well, I’ll see you boys later; we’re going to head up.”
“Ladies.” They tip their hats, flashing charming smiles at the girls.
When Knox leaves to get ready, Kacey takes Carson and Lainey to find seats.
I take the opportunity to show Jessie around my world.
Each rodeo has a hospitality for contestants where they provide food, drinks, sometimes yard games or kids’ play areas.
We grab drinks there, and I’m stopped by several people who ask how my back is and when I’ll return to riding.
We pass the back pens where they’re sorting bulls before we cut between the warm-up pen for ropers and the horse barns.
We watch the announcer ride out on his horse, ready to go to work in his cowboy hat, pearl snap, and jeans with chaps.
He greets me by name and asks how my recovery is going.
As soon as he rides off, the pickup men ride out, and we repeat the process.
“Do you know everyone here?”
I chuckle. “Not everyone. But we travel all year and see each other at rodeos all over the country. You get to know and care about everyone. We’re like an extended family in a sense.”
“Trey!”
Jessie and I both whip around to see none other than Emily Gentry, the current world champion barrel racer and a good friend of mine, jogging our way.
When she reaches us, she doesn’t hesitate to hug me.
“It’s so good to see you. I’ve been asking Knox for an update every time I see him.
I’m pretty sure he’s started avoiding me now.
” She winces, but her smile is bright. Emily is one of those people who is kind to everyone, goes out of her way to help new barrel racers, and encourage other competitors.
With a welcoming personality and cheery attitude, everyone in rodeo loves her.
“Good to see you, too, Em. But I’m not back quite yet, just here to hang out.”
“Dang it. Well, I’m glad you’re here anyway. It’s good to see you.” She turns and smiles at Jessie.
“Jessie, this is my friend, Emily. Emily, this is Jessie.” I don’t explain who Jessie is to me. I’m not sure what to say. She’s more than a friend, but if I called her my girlfriend, she’d probably hit me in the nuts.
“Hi! Nice to meet you,” Emily chirps.
“Hi, you too,” Jessie says less than enthusiastically.
Emily and I catch up on her summer. We’re close in age and have been friends since before she was a world champ.
Jessie stands next to me, arms crossed and quiet.
Once Emily walks away, she takes a step away from me and asks, “So, good friend of yours?”
That’s when it dawns on me. Crossed arms, sudden annoyance, refusal to converse with us.
She’s jealous.
“Jessie Hawkins, are you jealous?” I have a huge grin on my face that only serves to piss her off more. This is the best day ever.
She scoffs. “No. Absolutely not. You can sleep with whomever you want.”
“Who said anything about sleeping with people?”
“Yeah, sure. You’ve never slept with the smoking hot blonde who acts like she’s your best friend.”
I can’t stop myself. I laugh. So hard I can’t stop and when Jessie smacks my arm, I only laugh harder. “Jessie, baby, I—”
“Do not baby me.”
“I have never slept with Emily, nor will I. We’re friends.
Believe it or not, I am capable of having female friends.
” Jessie doesn’t look convinced, but I can tell I have her attention.
“I met Emily when she broke down on the side of the interstate. She was new to rodeo and didn’t have anyone to call for help.
I gave her a ride and fixed her truck. We’ve been friends ever since. ”
“Oh.”
“And since then, she’s dated two steer doggers and one calf roper. We have never been more than friends. Got it?”
She hums and nods but doesn’t reply. We resume our walk around, and she slowly relaxes, asking a few questions, but she mostly stays in her head, observing and absorbing everything around her. Her face is passive, so naturally I’m dying to know what she’s thinking.
By the time we approach the arena, I can’t take it anymore. “Well, what do you think?”
“Of what?”
I gesture around us. “Of all of it. The rodeo world.”
My world.