Chapter 52
Laughter fills the air after the photo is taken as the kids all rush to see the photo their friend took.
Funny, when I wished I could have family pictures I sure as fuck didn’t mean present-day mistress, run away daddy, and Rhett to be in it.
The arena is saturated with happiness, and yet, all I feel is numb.
No one.
Nothing.
Exactly what I’ve always been to him, I just never heard it out loud.
I thought it would hurt more. Thought it would make me feel more broken or sad, but here in this moment, I feel very little for the stranger who shares my last name. I scan over him, a familiar gaze looking back at me, but the resemblance ends there. At least, as far as I’m concerned.
Wrinkles now cover his tan skin, his once freshly shaven jawline now bears a five o’clock shadow, and if you look hard enough, just past the arrogance that seems to cover his features you can see it.
Hollow.
His words, his opinions, his purpose. He’s a shell of a man. One who I let take over a great deal of my life because I wanted his love. Either of my parent’s love, for that matter.
The redhead on his arm shifts uncomfortably as we stare at one another. She grasps his hand with both of hers, her body slightly behind him, confusion glimmering in her dark eyes and through her body language. She doesn’t know what’s happening and I find something about that funny.
“Do you know each other, Honey?” She repeats her question, this time a little stronger with her tone. It’s not entirely her fault. I’m sure when they met he sprinkled his lies smoothly. Told her stories that made her interested in who he wanted her to see, not who he actually was.
He frowns, a true sign that his charade is exposed. And even through denial, he can’t move forward without planting a seed of doubt that this woman will surely have now that he’s made the stupid mistake of not only acknowledging me, but also saying my name.
I smile, and it’s genuine, because all those years ago he walked past me, made me feel invisible, and then I became that.
I didn’t force myself into his space, because I didn’t want to be anywhere I was unwanted ever again.
Unlucky for him, I no longer care, nor do I consider anything his. He can get fucked.
“She’s my daughter." His words come out filled with spite, as if it’s my fault he now finds himself here.
Shock beams as her eyes widen. “Daughter?”
“I…” the cool, self-absorbed cowboy who always seemed to have words when a camera was shoved in his direction, now finds himself mute.
“I’m not his daughter,” I cut in. “That’s a title someone gives to someone they wanted. We may share the same DNA, but that’s where our connection stops. I’d rather be run over by a semi than claim this man.” I toss my hand in the air toward him.
He steps forward and away from the redhead as she glances between the two of us in disbelief. Anger glows in his eyes like hot coals.“You better show some respect, Kaylee-girl.”
He outstretches his arm to grab my shoulder, but his hand is quickly forced down by another.
“Touch her and you’ll wish ya did the same.” Anger oozes from Rhett. He’s always been a save the day kind of guy, but this runs deeper. He’s angry, not because this is all unraveling in front of him, but because he can’t stand men like my dad.
My dad huffs, crossing his arms, sizing Rhett up like he’s considering the fight. He’s pathetic.
Extending her hand, the redhead says, “Hi, I’m Jolene.”
Fitting.
This woman is tone deaf. Who the hell would see this as an introduction? This isn’t that. We aren’t meeting on friendly terms. We aren’t catching up. We’re merely strangers who sit much closer to enemies than we do family. This man is not a dad, he’s a loser.
“Well, you sure know how to read the room, Jolene,” I say, staring at her hand and she slowly pulls it back.
“I’d say nice meeting you, but it’s not.
” I look toward my dad. “And seeing you was beyond unremarkable. Have a nice ride, though, or don’t,” I say, dismissing him.
“At least, there’s something you don’t have to cheat. ”
“Watch your tongue, Missy.” Out of nowhere, the woman grows a pair, no doubt from my insults, but I could give a shit less.
“If my Dad—” I air quote the word dad because he’s nothing more than a sperm donor at this point.
“Could have kept his to himself, maybe we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
And before you try and act like his savior, try and remind yourself that even his dumb ass isn’t fighting too hard to defend something he caused. ”
I’m past the shock of this, I’m officially irritated.
Her chest raises as she takes in a breath to speak, her manicured finger pointing threateningly at me.
But then she exhales, almost like she thought better of what she was about to say.
Daggers shoot from my eyes and I’d like to believe my look alone tells her I’ll break that fucking finger if she touches me. “You’re not worth it.”
Really? That’s all she’s got?
I cross my arms and raise my brow. “So I’ve heard.”
Funny that she thinks tossing out a comment like that will get to me, as if I haven’t had my entire life to work through what he’s done to me.
The announcer’s voice brings the sound system back to life, sharing the first set of contestants in the calf-roping competition.
“Gonna kick some ass today, Slayton?” A fan questions my dad, who breaks eye contact with Rhett at the chance to boast about himself.
I guess getting old means that bull riding is out of the question for a rodeo star.
I never really considered the fact that he had probably not only moved on from us, but also the only thing I’d ever seen him do.
Funny how the objective is to tie something down, when he never tied himself to anything.
“Come on, Honey. You’ve got a competition to win,” Jolene says, tugging on his arm and leading him toward the lineup. Without hesitation, he swivels on his boot and begins to leave.
He stops, turning to face us a few steps away. “Rogers, right?” he questions, but Rhett just glares toward him like he’s looking at shit on the bottom of his boot. “Don’t forget where the gold’s at.”
He continues his pace away from us and Rhett takes my hand, pulling me back into a hug.
“Makes a lot more sense why that buckle was in the trash.” His voice hums low. “That hat I’ve got is goin’ to find itself nestled in one soon too.”
I wrap my arms tight around him, my cheek pressing into his chest while people pass us by on every side.
Closing my eyes, I breathe in the warm sandalwood and sage scent he always wears.
And though I’m angry with my dad, this entire situation feels like closure.
I’m not sure if it’s because I finally got what I felt off my chest, or if it’s that he simply acknowledged me.
“Guess they’re right about never meetin’ your heroes.” He says it so matter-of-factly, not sad in the way I expected since he saw my dad as his idol, but more like it doesn’t come as a surprise at all. “That why ya didn’t tell me?”
I peer into his eyes but there is no anger there. Truly there never has been, besides moments ago. “I just didn’t want to ruin something that literally started your path. It felt unfair to take that from you.”
His stare is soft, forgiving as he says, “No more secrets. No more holding back. I get why ya did it, but ya didn’t have to.”
My heart squeezes tight. This wasn’t exactly how I wanted to tell him, I hadn’t really wanted to at all, but it’s funny how things work out. Sometimes forcing us on paths we’d never choose to remind us of the ones we should be grateful for.
“Yeah but I think there’s a difference between seeing and believing. Had I mentioned how he is, I don’t think it would have resonated like this, so I was just scared to say anything at all. But you’re right. No more secrets. I promise there’s nothing else you don’t know.”
He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear before cupping my cheek. "You mean more to me than any of that shit." And while he’s not angry, there’s an intensity to his tone that sends a rush through me.
Dear God, I’m falling for him. Maybe I already have.
I release my embrace and Rhett grabs my hand, pulling me toward the fence surrounding the arena. “I gotta make a last minute run for somethin’, can I leave ya here just a sec?”
Reluctantly, I nod.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.” He kisses me not once, but twice. The second holding a bit more urgency than the first.
I watch as he jogs off before returning my focus back toward the riders. The first two contestants are unfamiliar names to me, but given this rodeo is one of the last big events of the year, I assume they are some of the best riders out there.
I see my dad climb atop his horse and circle toward the steel gate he will enter for the competition. As always people fawn over him, scream his name and cheer.
If only they knew.
His horse takes off like a bullet from a gun.
In the course of a heartbeat, he swings the rope over his head.
My eyes don’t blink, I can’t seem to look away in the hopes he performs poorly.
With a final revolution, the rope sails through the air and right around the steer’s horns.
Damnit. I was hoping he’d miss. He wraps the rope around the horn of the saddle as his horse slides to a stop in the deep arena sand.
The determination on his face is more than evident as he jumps from his seat, racing for the now struggling calf.
In a split second, he has it on its side.
Everything happens so fast, it’s hard to register if he’s making the right move or not.
A familiar touch rests on my lower back and I meet Rhett’s gaze before we both focus on Dad.
As much as I hate to admit it, it’s kind of mesmerizing to watch.
Brutal. Fast. Intense. He ties the calf’s feet and takes a step back, the timer going off to signal the end of his run.
Three long seconds pass with the steer laying tied up on the ground, and then the entire place erupts with praise.
From the sounds of it, his run went flawlessly, but I find myself wishing he would have failed while I’m here to witness it.
“Damnit,” I huff. “I was hoping he’d do bad.” My gaze returns to Rhett, my statement coming out more irritated than intended, since it’s not like any of this changes that he’s good at what he does.
“As far as I’m concerned, he did,” Rhett whispers as his lips curve ever so slightly upward.
I rotate my body toward him, grabbing the collar of his shirt, and pull him down for a kiss.
“Thank you for not being angry with me. I should have told you everything. I just have avoided my feelings and thinking about him for so long, I thought maybe I could pretend my life before leaving home never existed at all. It honestly didn’t even feel like it began until I met you. ”
“Angel, ya don’t have to explain.”
My dad exits the arena and forces his reins at a guy who must do all the tending to his horse.
A cocky smile resides on his face, as always, as he strides through the crowd.
He could have stayed with the riders, like the other contestants did, but I think he finds this win as a reason to rub it in my face.
Jolene scurries back to his side and sticks her nose in the air, as if she has anything to do with his talent. He’s pompous, but she’s a close second. They are perfect for each other.
Rhett and I lean against the steel rungs as they walk back in our direction. A few people try to stop him, but he ignores them. The second he stands in line with us, I hear Rhett clear his throat and feel myself tense.
“Hey, Slayton.” He speaks loud enough that anyone close pauses to listen. Their attention alone would stop me from pressing forward, but he pays them all no mind.
My dad turns toward us, question and arrogance crinkling around his eyes. “What?” he hisses.
Rhett takes a few steps closer to him and tosses his old buckle at his feet, the sound of metal clicking as it rebounds off the dirt and hits my dad’s boot. Everyone’s eyes follow it, then find their way toward my dad’s face.
“Ya couldn’t spot gold a mile away.” He says it with such disdain you’d think he spat in dad’s face.
This isn’t just a gesture to show me he isn’t afraid of my dad or that he is willing to fight my battles, it’s a promise that he sees me as more than the thrill of the rodeo.
Shockingly enough, he doesn’t retaliate, he picks up the buckle and brushes the dirt off its surface.
I can tell by the look in his eyes he knows what buckle he’s holding and he frowns.
He tosses it back on the ground and walks away.
Proof that even one of his greatest accomplishments doesn’t mean anything to him.
Some people gasp, while others laugh. They don’t understand the depth of what Rhett just did. To an outsider looking in, it’s just another rodeo dick-swinging contest. One champion pitted against another. But to me it’s much more.