TWENTY-FIVE. #2
For the next hour or so, Ever and Mina talk nonstop.
It surprises me at first—Mina can be a lot when you don’t know her well, full of energy and stories that spill out faster than most people can keep up with.
But Ever matches her easily, laughing at the right moments, asking questions, holding her own.
I have no idea what they’re talking about anymore.
I tuned out when they started talking about books they’ve been reading and got lost when “spicy” came up in a context that clearly had nothing to do with food.
I sit back and watch Ever instead, the way her eyes light up when she talks, the way she gestures with her hands when she gets excited.
Eventually Mina stands and stretches. “I need to move my legs,” she announces, then grabs Ever’s hand and pulls her up too.
Ever’s fingers slip away from mine, and I feel the absence immediately.
Mina offers to grab drinks for everyone and heads off toward the concessions, Ever right beside her, both of them disappearing into the flow of people moving up the stairs.
I crane my neck to keep them in sight. A strange tightness settles in my chest, like if I look away for too long she might vanish and not come back. Connor slaps the side of my head lightly, snapping me out of it.
“Are you in love with her or something?” he asks, half joking.
The question lands heavier than he probably meant it to. I think about the last few months: working side by side every day, the early mornings, the late nights. The happiness and the pain. I’ve held her, tasted her, met the one person she calls family. And somewhere in all of it, I fell. Hard.
“Damn, dude,” Connor says when I don’t answer right away. He leans back and lays his arm across the back of the chairs to his other side. “She’s got you good.”
“Shut up,” I mutter.
He laughs and kicks his boots up onto the empty seat in front of us. “It’s nice, man. It’s good. She’s beautiful.” I tighten my arms across my chest. “She seems to really like you too, in case you’re blind to that kind of thing. And she’s getting along with Mina, which is awesome.”
“This is our first actual date,” I admit, the words coming out quiet.
Connor straightens fast. “Oh shit, for real?” I nod. He rubs the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize. You want us to go?”
“Nah, it’s fine.”
He eases back but glances toward the stairs. “You sure? I can tell Mina we need to head out or something. She’ll understand.”
I give him a flat look until he settles again. He leans back fully this time, but then his whole body goes stiff and he groans under his breath.
“You’re not gonna like this,” he says quietly.
I follow his gaze to the aisle. Robby Burke is making his way down the steps, black cowboy hat tilted low shadowing his face, eyes locked on me, that same smug walk he’s always had. I’ve always hated this guy.
I keep my eyes on the arena floor when Robby drops into the seat two down from me. The crowd noise swells around us, but it feels distant now.
“What do you want?” I ask, voice sharp.
He glances at Connor, then back to me, that familiar smirk already in place. “Haven’t seen the two of you in a minute. Must be some sort of reunion.”
“I’m not opposed to fighting you in public, Rob. Tell me what you want.”
Connor shifts beside me, looking between us, uncertain. He knows the history. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve put Robby on the ground, and part of me hopes it won’t come to that tonight. But the other part is already calculating how many steps it would take to reach him.
“I want your pretty girlfriend’s ranch,” he says smoothly.
My jaw locks so hard I feel it in my temples. I turn and meet his gaze directly. “What the fuck did you say?”
“You heard me.” His eyes spark with amusement, like this is all a game he’s already won. He’s always been that way—confident because money opens doors most people can’t even knock on. He came here looking to get under my skin, and he’s doing a damn good job.
I stare at him long enough that the urge to drive my fist into his face starts feeling reasonable. But then movement catches my eye up the aisle. Mina and Ever are making their way back down, drinks in hand, weaving through the crowd. I pull in a slow breath and force my shoulders to relax.
“Get out of my seat, Robby,” Mina snaps. She plants her feet and glares down at him. Robby looks up at her first, then lets his gaze slide to Ever. “Don’t make me pour my drink on you, because I will.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Mina,” Robby says. He stands slowly, brushing past her. His hand grazes her waist as he steps aside, casual enough that it could be accidental, but I know better.
Connor is on his feet in an instant, fists clenched, but I’m faster. I step forward before Robby can get any closer to Ever. Because if he touches her, I won’t be able to stop myself. I grab his shoulder hard and shove him over the rows of seats in front of us.
He stumbles, catches himself on the chair backs, then hops down to the aisle below. When he straightens, his glare is pure hatred.
“Watch yourself, Toby,” he says. Then his eyes lock onto Ever. He gives her a slow smile and a wink before turning and disappearing up the stairs into the crowd.
Connor grabs the drinks from Ever when Mina guides her to me. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her in tight against my side. She looks up at me, questions clear in her eyes, but I’m too angry to speak.
The fact that Robby would walk up here and say that out loud, that he’d threaten to take her ranch right to my face, makes everything click into place. This is what she’s been dealing with. And I have a feeling it’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants. Or someone makes him stop.
“Maybe you two should head out,” Connor says quietly. I let out a long breath and look down at Ever. She seems to understand something just happened, even if she doesn’t have the details yet.
“That alright with you?” I ask. She nods without hesitation.
Mina steps closer, her voice softer now. “We’ll have to hang out again sometime. Toby knows where to find us.”
Ever manages a small smile. “It was really nice to meet the two of you.”
Mina pulls her into a quick hug, then steps back so we can pass. I keep my arm around Ever as we start up the aisle. My eyes scan the crowd ahead, then behind us, checking every face for Robby. Because if I see him again, I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk away.