Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
BO
September is flying by. We’re on a hot streak of winning games, and I’m having the best season of my career. My psychology class? I’m acing it. It’s because of my hot, amazing tutor.
After the night we slept together for the first time, I got a B on my test, which brought my grade up to secure my eligibility. I’m not sure I really need tutoring anymore, but Coach said I can continue for the whole semester, so I’m gonna take it. As much time I can spend with Chelsea, the better.
I attribute all the good things happening to her. She’s my lucky charm. I even started calling her Lucky. At first, I don’t think she liked it much, but now, she does. She just won’t admit it.
We spend most nights together at her place or mine.
Our friends didn’t even blink when they saw us cuddling together on the couch one night.
It was as if it had always been like this.
And in a way, it does feel like Chelsea’s been in my life longer than she has been.
I’m loving every minute of being with her. And she seems to be happy too.
This weekend, we have a bye week, so as a group, Chelsea, Casey, Noelle, Charlie, Brooke, Silas, and I came to the Oklahoma State Fair. It was the girls’ idea. They wanted to come see the rodeo.
I’ve never been to a rodeo. And I have to say, I’m already impressed.
The arena is packed. Rows of seating circles the center of the arena, where I assume all the action takes place.
There are banners and flags hanging from the ceiling, and there are chutes at one end, where I guess they hold the animals before they come out.
It smells like a barn in here, which is to be expected, but not all that pleasant, if I’m being honest. There are cows walking around the ring, their handlers holding on to them by ropes.
It looks like they’re walking a giant dog.
“Here’s our section,” Charlie calls out and starts up the stairs, Brooke following behind her.
A little boy wearing a Walker T-shirt steps up to me before I can start up the stairs and asks me, Casey, and Silas for an autograph.
He hands me the rodeo program and a pen.
I sign it, then pass it to Casey to sign, and he hands it to Silas.
His little eyes light up when Silas hands his paper back to him.
It’s fun to see fans like this in public, but I want to just be with my friends tonight and not worry about eyes on me.
As we climb up the stairs of the stands to find our seats, Chelsea is walking in front of me.
It’s taking all of my self-control not to throw her over my shoulder and find a dark corner somewhere.
She looks so fucking hot right now in her skintight jeans, cowboy boots, pearl button-down shirt, and a cowboy hat that she borrowed from Charlie.
Her hair spills down the back in gorgeous black waves.
I come up right behind her while we wait for Casey and Noelle to make their way down the packed row. I flip my baseball hat backward and lean into her, moving her hair off her neck, and drop a kiss just below her ear. “You’re killing me in those jeans, Lucky. I can’t wait to peel them off later.”
She shivers and looks over her shoulder and winks at me. “That sounds like fun, Callaway. But first, let’s watch these cowboys try to tame these beasts! I’m so excited.”
If I were a less confident man, I might be jealous. But I know she’ll be coming home with me and in my bed tonight, so I just laugh. “Maybe I should try it sometime.”
“Bo, no, absolutely not.” She sits in her seat next to Noelle.
I sit down next to her and take her hand in mine. “Why? You don’t think I can do it?”
“Oh, I’m sure you excel at everything you do.” She kisses my cheek. “But your coach wouldn’t be happy. And not to mention, you’re way too tall to be a cowboy.” She shakes her head.
“What do you mean, too tall? Is that a thing? Is there, like, a height restriction on cowboys?” I chuckle. “I don’t think that’s a thing, baby.”
“Well, I don’t really know, but I feel like you have all”—she waves her hand up and down my body—“this. Long limbs, muscles for days. I’m sure it wouldn’t be easy.”
I turn toward her and cup her face in my hand. “I think I know why you really wouldn’t want me to do it.”
Her eyes twinkle as she looks into my eyes. “Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”
I lean in close to her face. “Because you would be too worried about me.” I tuck a loose piece of her hair behind her ear. “Because you like me too much, and to even think about me getting hurt bothers you. It’s okay, you can admit it.” I place a soft kiss on her lips.
“Bo, I have to watch you get out on that football field every week. That’s just as big of a risk as riding in the rodeo.” She places her hand on top of mine and kisses me this time.
Noelle leans over. “She’s right, you know. We have to watch you guys get out there every weekend, risking your safety. As much as it’s a blast to watch you guys play, it’s never easy, seeing any of you get taken to the ground.” She winces.
Casey takes her hand and chimes in, “Aww, pretty girl. You know I’m too fast to let anyone get to me.” He kisses her on the cheek.
“Oh, really, Ironman? How’s that bruise on your ribs healing?” She leans back and lifts her eyebrow at him.
“That was a shady hit. I’m fine. Besides, you kissed it and made it better.” He grabs her by the neck and pulls her in for a kiss.
“Eww, that’s gross, Case. I don’t need to have that thought in my head.” Charlie leans over and joins the conversation. “I guess this is my payback?”
“Actually, no. But it’s not fun, is it?” Casey turns and wraps his arm around his sister’s neck, tipping her cowboy hat forward.
She pushes it off, but laughs. “Whatever.” She straightens her hat, then turns to talk to Brooke.
Chelsea squeezes my hand to get my attention. “To answer your question, yes, I do like you too much. I don’t like seeing you get hurt.” She swallows hard after she says it, like it was difficult for her to admit.
One thing I’ve noticed about her in the time we’ve spent together is that she doesn’t like feeling vulnerable. She’s cautious and likes to be in control, none of which I mind. I’m completely gone for this girl, and I will gladly drop to my knees anytime she demands. And I do.
The announcer comes on through the speaker system, announcing the next event before I can answer her, so I just kiss her again instead. While they announce the riders competing, Silas elbows me.
“Dude, I think I could do this. We had horses back home. I bet it’s not that much different.” He nods and has a smirk on his face. “I mean, I go up against three-hundred-pound linemen. I could handle a cow.”
Chelsea leans around me, laughing. “Silas, those aren’t cows. Those are angry bulls, not at all happy about having someone on their backs. I think it’s a whole lot different.”
“Eh, I think I could handle it.” He waves it off.
Silas has become a good friend, and he’s an interesting guy for sure.
He’s funny, but there is a serious side to him that we see at home more than in the locker room.
He plays it off like he’s a goofy guy with the girls around, but what they don’t know is that Silas is actually insanely smart. He’s an all-American scholar athlete.
“I think we could both do it, but my girl is right. Coach would have our asses.” I hold out my fist for him to bump.
The rodeo starts, and the first rider lasts about three seconds before getting tossed. He bounces back up quickly, and the pickup men wrangle the bull back into the chute. It all happens so fast, and then the next guy flies out.
Charlie and Brooke are standing at this point, clapping and cheering for each rider. There is definitely an intensity to the sport that’s unlike any other. Chelsea has her arm linked with mine, and her hand is resting on my thigh. She’s watching each rider with awe, flinching when they get tossed.
“Scoot over, man. I’m going to hang with Charlie and Brooke.” Silas stands to move by, and I’m too tall to shift my legs, so I stand too, letting him by.
Chelsea also stands and leans into me as he passes. “Do you notice how he’s been staying around more when Brooke comes by the house or hangs out with us?”
I haven’t really noticed, to be honest. I’ve been so wrapped up in her, football, school, and the filming of the docuseries. “Interesting. No, I haven’t really, but they actually seem like a fit.”
“I was thinking the same thing!” She leans up and kisses my cheek. “We should go eat after this. I had my eye on a funnel cake when we walked by the stand. It smelled so good. I might try a fried Twinkie too.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Lucky, I’m sorry, but that just screams diabetes.” I laugh when she mock pouts. “How about this: I’ll buy you whatever sweets you want after we eat some real food?”
“Deal. But I’m not leaving without at least a funnel cake. It’s calling to me.” She winks, then turns her attention back to the arena.
Noelle has a pamphlet in one hand and grabs Chelsea’s hand with her other. “Oh! They have a mechanical bull in one of the tents. We should do that!”
“Yes! That would be fun! But you go first.” Chelsea laughs. “Just so I can scope it out before I do.”
Noelle holds out her hand. “Deal. But you’ll do it with me, right?”
Chelsea takes her hand. “Yes, I’ll try it with you. Although I’ve never even ridden a horse. So, I’m sure I’ll fall off before it even starts.” She laughs.
“No, you’ll probably nail it, and I’ll look like the idiot. I don’t care though. It looks fun.” Noelle shrugs.
“I’ll do it too,” Brooke chimes in. “I’ve always wanted to try that. My friends and I went to a country bar a few weekends ago, and there was one there, but the line was too long, so we didn’t bother.”
Now that Chelsea mentioned Silas’s attention on Brooke, I look at his face while she talks. He’s got a little smirk going on while he listens to her. Maybe there is some interest there. I’ll have to ask him later.