Hannah #2
Tucsan is so hot in July that everyone hides out inside until the sun dips down.
Queen is grateful for the air conditioned practice arena that we’ve spent most of the day in.
Despite being across a walkway from the rodeo grounds, I can hear the crowd as if we were all in the same space.
I’m smiling for a few different reasons tonight.
I feel a little less…uptight. A few of the other barrel racers and their horses are circled up in the middle, laughing and talking while we wait.
I tap my heels against Queen and walk us slowly into the group.
“No you didn’t!” one of the girls whispers. “Mallory! You little slut!” she teases, the group erupting into a fit of giggles.
“Shut it, Steph. You would, too!” Mallory points a finger in the girl's direction before wiping the tears running from her eyes from laughing so hard.
“What did I miss?” I ask, I lean back on my hands, resting them on the saddle behind me, trying to hide the shake in my fingers.
I’m friendly, but I don’t go out of my way to make friends, and I’m sure it’s a shock to them all to find me suddenly interested in their lives.
But no one says anything or looks at me in any other way than welcoming.
All of them look in my direction, their faces full of unspoken welcome, then push their horses a little wider apart to include me.
A warmth I didn’t realize I was living without spreads in my chest.
“Mallory here,” the girl I’m assuming is Steph nods in Mallory’s direction, “hooked up with a cowboy last night.” My eyes bulge a bit, but I bite my tongue from jumping in with a no way, me too!
“Ohhh, who’s the lucky guy?” Leaning in, I look around the group for answers, but they all look at Mallory. Guess I’m not the only one left guessing.
Mallory’s eyes shimmer with excitement, but she pulls her fingers across her lips and throws a pretend key over her shoulder.
“Can’t say.” If Dean wasn’t in my bed last night, I’d honestly be worried she finally got her chance.
I remember the way she looked at him that night a few weeks ago.
Jealousy swirls its way through me, but memories of Dean looking down at me while I had his dick in my mouth washes it away just as quickly.
“Hey!” I look over toward to voice and find Mia, a girl I grew up riding with.
Her bright blue eyes stand out from under her jet black hair.
She grew up a few cities south of Oakley, so we’d often find ourselves in the same events growing up.
Mia has always been kind, and I realize how much I’ve missed her energy.
A calm that I remember always put an ease to my pre-race nerves.
She leans over and puts her hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Mia.” I return her smile. “Let’s get together after the season ends, ok?” Her eyes round out before she nods enthusiastically.
The announcement that our event is up next breaks us apart, and we all give Mallory a look of annoyance before we separate.
“This isn’t over, Mallory!” Steph calls over her shoulder before taking her place as the first rider.
Laughter fills the arena, and I find myself laughing right along with them.
Another first place under my belt feels good, but it would feel better if Dean were standing across the stage from me tonight.
“Good ride tonight, Hannah.” Kasey throws his arm over my shoulder as we walk down the steps of the stage. Both of us placed first in our events, mainly because Dean wasn’t here to win the bare back event, but I don’t point that out to him.
“You too. Finally got your win.” I look up at him and see why girls fall over themselves. He is charming, with perfect, white teeth and bright blue eyes that twinkle when he smiles. His energy is intoxicating. And honestly, I’m happy that he’s wiggled his way into my non-existent circle of friends.
“Hannah!” The wind is knocked out of me when a denim-clad woman with a black mass of hair about tackles me to the ground.
“Mallory,” I mumble as she squeezes me. I peel her off me with a groan.
“Congrats, girl, you did it again!” It’s such an odd feeling to have your competitors cheering on your win. But it feels good to be celebrated by people who care.
“What about me, Mal?” Kasey looks at her with hearts in his eyes, and I look between the two of them.
“Yeah, yeah, James. Good job. Glad you didn’t break that pretty face of yours,” Mallory calls over her shoulder, pulling me towards the parking lot with her. But her cheeks turn a cute shade of pink the moment she turns away.
“OH MY GOD!!” I turn to her and hiss. She gives me a pointed look and I snap my mouth shut. I then mouth the words him? The wild look she gives me is all I need to know to confirm my suspicions that Kasey is the mystery cowboy from last night.
“We’re celebrating tonight.” She turns to me with a hopeful look in her eye.
“Please say you’ll come with!” Bouncing on her toes, she waits for my answer.
Any other day I’d pass and spend the night in my trailer watching Friends .
But I need the distraction that Dean isn’t here, and it’s been years since I’ve gone dancing.
“I’m in.” Her high pitched squeal of excitement is enough to cause bodily harm.
“You’re driving, James,” she calls over her shoulder.
I can't help but burst out laughing, walking arm in arm towards Kasey’s truck.
He rounds the hood, and opens the door for Mallory.
I give him a wiggle of my eyebrows and he responds by slapping her ass when she hops in the passenger seat.