Clarke
Apollo was too tight around the first barrel; so close that his side gently rubbed against the stained wood. I swore under my breath but made sure to keep my position firm. I was the one in control, not him.
“C’mon buddy,” I urged, digging my heels into his stomach slightly. “Last turn about, just a little looser this time around. Okay?”
The golden horse blinked slowly, no other expression on his long face but still, I felt something shift in him. His strides her longer and more evenly spaced. Soon, the space between us and the last barrel became shorter and wider. He had listened after all.
It was all over in a second. A quick and silent second; and then, the strangest thing happened.
The crowd collectively rose to their feet, hands clasped over their mouths.
The hush was haunting as Apollo raced back out of the stadium.
The world around me blurred at the edges, my fingertips tingling as the adrenaline surged through me.
For a moment, I wondered if this was shock—the kind that made your ears ring and your breath catch in your throat.
Somewhere beyond the haze, Mayor Townsend’s voice boomed over the speakers. I tried to focus, but the pounding in my ears drowned out everything except the tail end of his announcement.
“—with a stunning sixteen seconds flat. Not a millisecond before or behind.”
Sixteen seconds. Flat.
I blinked hard. That couldn’t be right. I needed to see it for myself. Guiding Apollo toward the wide gate, I kept my head low, avoiding the stares of nearly a dozen cowboys. They were all looking at me—some shocked, some impressed, some unreadable.
I’d never liked being the center of attention here. Onstage, in front of thousands, I had something to offer—a voice, a performance, a purpose. But here in Opal Springs, I wasn’t Clarke King, Grammy winner.
I was just Clarke. C.K. Annie. Colton’s kid sister.
Every move I made reflected on my family, my house, my name. And the weight of that had always been heavier than any trophy.
I halted Apollo in the center of the arena. A thousand eyes bore into me, waiting. I scanned the crowd, searching for the one pair of cobalt eyes I needed to see. The ones I’d once sworn I never wanted to look at again.
Avalon stood between Brie and Ethan, a crooked smile tugging at her lips. She waited for me to find her—and when I did, she lifted her arm and pointed toward the scoreboard.
My heart slammed against my ribs. I turned. There it was. My name in bold block letters. And beside it: 16.00.
Time froze—then shattered. The crowd erupted. Horses thundered into the arena. Mayor Townsend shouted over the chaos. People called my name from every direction.
I had done it. I had actually done it. Beating Colton wasn’t just rare—it was practically mythic. But the proof glowed bright on the scoreboard.
A firm shake at my knee snapped me back to the present. Colton stood beside me, pride written across every line of his face.
“You fucking did it, Kid,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “You broke another record. How’s it feel?”
“I—I…” The words wouldn’t come. My body still hummed with disbelief. “For Melody,” I finally breathed.
Colton’s expression softened, his jaw tightening with something deeper than pride. “For Melody.”
We’d agreed before the race that no matter who won, the victory belonged to her. Another year. Another miracle. Another reminder that the impossible was only improbable.
This trophy would sit beside the others in her room—a timeline of her strength, her stubbornness, her life. The feeling was overwhelming. Exhilarating. I wanted to hold onto it forever.
Avalon practically dragged me through the front door, her excitement buzzing through her fingers where they laced with mine. She’d been handsy all evening—tugging at my shirt, brushing her fingers along my arm, leaning into me every chance she got. It was adorable. And distracting.
We’d slipped away from the bonfire without anyone noticing. Colton and Delia had disappeared together almost immediately after the race, and Brie and Ethan were… well, very publicly occupied. Arabella’s sulking glare had been the only thing keeping me from laughing out loud.
But now, with the door shut behind us and the house quiet, Avalon’s energy shifted. Her hands slid up my chest, undoing the buttons of my show uniform with a confidence that made my breath catch.
“I never thought I’d find this so sexy,” she giggled, rising onto her toes to nip at my neck.
My body reacted instantly— too instantly—and I forced myself to breathe, to stay grounded, to keep my head clear. She had no idea what she did to me. Or maybe she did.
“I think that’s my new favorite non-sexual turn-on,” she whispered.
I laughed, the sound rougher than I intended. “A non-sexual turn-on?”
She nodded, cheeks flushed, mouth tugging into that crooked grin that always undid me. “Yeah. Something random that just really—really turns me on.”
Her fingers tugged at my shirt again, pulling me closer. My knees nearly buckled.
“Press your back to the wall,” I said, my voice low.
Her eyes widened, anticipation flickering across her face. “What are you going to do to me?”
There was something in her tone—not fear, but vulnerability. Trust. And I felt that trust settle deep in my chest.
I cupped her face gently, brushing my thumb across her lower lip.“I am going to eat that sweet little pussy of yours until you’re dripping down my face, begging for me to stop.”