Chapter 61
When Austin tried to drag my sister into his shit, I was done. Cody? She was a grown-ass woman. She might not deserve that shit, but she could take care of herself. Isabella? Naw. No one messed with my sister. She was off-fucking-limits.
So the moment that fuck-nugget was gone, I hurried across the alley and up the stairs on the other side to where Cody and Isabella had their heads bent and serious expressions on their face. I didn't stop long enough to see what they were sayin', though.
"Why are you over here?" I snapped.
Isabella's head jumped up and an impish grin took over. "Came to see my favorite rider. Wanted to congratulate her on the good score."
"Score was shit," I told the pair of them.
"Cody seemed happy with it," Isabella shot back.
"I am," Cody told me.
I just scoffed. "And Cody's used to people shitting on her. She shouldn't be, but she's too fuckin' nice. All sweet and adorable and shit. But you should know better, Isa'. You know how to watch a ride."
"And it was good," Isabella told me all smug-like.
She wasn't wrong. That ride had been good. No, not Cody's best, but it had deserved a hell of a lot more than the mid-eighties. But then Cody dropped a real bomb on me.
"Your little sister is also brilliant."
"Been tellin' ya," I agreed.
Which made Isabella giggle.
Cody kept going. "Seems the moment Austin started talking, she started recording."
And right on cue, my sister passed over her unlocked phone. On the screen was a video, and while the image was of the ground, I quickly pressed play and lifted it to my face in the hopes I'd hear over the sound system in here.
Austin's voice rang out. This time, I got to hear each and every thing he'd said to Cody. It was there, recorded in high definition. Even better, Isabella had managed to catch a shot of his face as he held Cody against the wall, making it impossible for him to say it was someone else.
"Keep that," I told her.
"Oh, I was gonna TikTok it," she said. "I mean, unless I shouldn't?"
"Not under your main profile," I told her. "Do it all anonymous. You can share it after that, but I don't want the original comin' back to you, munequita."
"Can do," she hurried to agree. "I can tag you two in it, doing like a 'look at this' thing?"
"Don't have Tiktok," Cody admitted.
I gave her an incredulous look. "Really?"
"When have I had the time to doomscroll?" she asked. "Been a little busy!"
Ok, that was fair. Still, I wanted to get my hands on that video. "Tag me," I told Isabella. "Hell, tag all the bull riders you know."
"Ok!"
"And go back to your seat," I ordered. "These fuckers ain't safe, Isa'."
My sister just shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm not scared of 'em. I have you to chase them off." She looked at Cody. "Don't let him grump." Then back to me. "And smoke more."
"Not when riding," I reminded her. "Good way to get dead. Not into dyin'."
"Details," she taunted before wiggling her fingers in the girliest wave she could manage. "Ride good, José."
"Pain in my ass," I called after her.
But Cody was standing there with her lips pressed together, struggling not to giggle. I tried to ignore it, jerking my head toward our side of this alley. She made a little noise, the kind that sounded like she was fighting it hard, and moved to follow.
"Ok, what?!" I demanded.
"You are so fucking cute with her!" Cody tittered, spilling out all her giggles. "And she has you so whipped."
"Fuck off. She's my sister."
"Mhm. And here I thought I was the one who'd made you all nice and shit."
"Naw," I admitted. "I'm just a real good guard dog, rookie. I bite on command."
Which made her flash me a smile. "Sure explains the thing with the good boys. Now who's the goodest boy ever?"
"Fuck off," I said, but it came out wrapped up in a laugh.
But that video was playing in the back of my mind. The things Austin had said to Cody didn't feel like he was just talking shit. That felt personal. And if I was honest, it was scary as fuck. Then again, Cody didn't seem real worried about it.
That made me think she'd heard that shit far too many times.
And that pissed me off all over again, but I was barely up the stairs before Kaleb found me. "Ty says your bull's loaded," he panted, making it clear he'd run. "J.D., you're up."
"You still talkin' to me?" I asked.
The kid gave me a tired look. "No. I fucking hate your guts or something. Yeah, I'm talking, and I'm tellin' ya to get your ass to your chute!"
"Rope," Cody ordered, thrusting out her hand.
"I need my glove," I realized.
"Then get that, and give me your rope!" she snapped. "J.D., you're winning today. That's part of the plan, right?"
"Wait, there's a plan?" Kaleb asked.
"Yeah, to win," I told him even as I pushed past him to grab the gear I'd left on the ground when Austin had started pushing Cody around.
But I wasn't sure I was gonna win. If I was honest, I hurt.
My ribs were still weak, and my abs had been cut up by that damned doctor.
Sure, I was fine for most things, but bull riding was not most things.
Then again, I didn't feel like being honest today.
Nope, I'd already met my quota with that kiss I'd given Tanner.
"Here," I told Cody as I passed over my rope. "Make sure that goes on Speed Bump."
She nodded like some kind of soldier on a mission. "Yes, sir!"
I worried about getting my glove taped on and my helmet in place. I couldn't do another concussion. Doc said that if I did, I might stop remembering at all after that. My brain was just a little too close to being scrambled eggs as it was.
But I'd drawn the number two bull of the series. This, right here, was my big chance to make things right with both Tanner and Cody. I had to ride this one, and I needed to ride him hard so I could end up on that bullpen at the end of the night and tell the world how it really was.
I made it to my chute in time to see Cody climbing across. The rope was on. The riders were going out, and the score board was filled up. This shit was moving fast tonight, but I was ok with that. I needed the win.
Just this bull. Just this time.
Speed Bump was lounging in the chute, ignoring everything that was going on around him. His sooty head and rusty back made him stand out on the circuit. His manners in the chute were calm and collected - thankfully.
"Get that shit tight!" I snapped at Cody.
She didn't bother replying, just pulled the tail of my rope harder. This was my real test. I wouldn't tell Cody, but I needed to make sure I could strap in good, because if that was too much, then I wouldn't be riding at all this weekend, and that didn't work for my plan.
I also didn't want to spend more time in a hospital, so I sure as shit hoped this worked.
I dragged my glove down the rope hard. Cody didn't budge. She held, her shins braced up against the gate panel, so I did it again. My goal was to pull hard enough to make her tip a bit. That would be the point where I'd know if my broken body could fucking do this shit.
"J.D., it's warm," she snapped.
"Hush," I grumbled, then yanked again.
Finally, she tipped. Now, I was hoping real hard she'd gotten stronger lately, because this woman was making me work for it.
But I didn't tell her that. Naw, I didn't need her worrying.
Instead, I focused on my handle, listening as music blared out, letting me know someone else was getting their ride out of my way.
"Tail!" I ordered.
She leaned in, offering the end of the rope to me. I took it, laying the thing in my palm, then wrapped it around the back. I could probably go twice around, but should I? Would it be better to get bucked off or yanked around?
I knew Tanner was out there, and he'd save my ass, but I was tired as fuck of being saved.
I was sick of hurting. I wanted this ride to work, which meant I had to trust myself a little, so I only wrapped it once.
I wasn't gonna bother with no fancy wraps or shit.
Nope, today was me against me. Nothing else.
"You're up!" the chute attendant announced.
I looked up at Cody. "You're the best rookie, girl. Kinda why I love ya, but get the fuck out of my way."
"Ride hard," she said as she stepped back to the safe side. First, I checked to make sure she was good. Next, I looked out at the arena, making sure Tanner was there and ready. Finally, I looked up at the scoreboard, surprised to see Jake and Ty tied for first place currently.
Then I yanked both feet off the pipes I was standing on, dropped down behind the hump on Speed Bump's back, and nodded for my gate.
The clank was loud, and this motherfuckin' piece of beef did just what he was known for: he went up. Way up. Fuck, he lunged so hard I felt the strain from my pinky down to my tailbone - and a grunt slipped out. Yeah, I was still tender, but too late to fuckin' worry 'bout it now.
So I rode. I rode fuckin' hard. I rode the shit out of that bull.
When he landed, I pushed my ass into his back, forcing him into the spin I wanted.
Speed Bump immediately turned into my hand, but I felt his heels fly up high enough to make both him and me tip.
Damn, he was trying to flip himself over!
But I had this. Pulling my legs up, I tried to get my knees up by my ears. Who knew, maybe Tanner was into that shit. I knew the judges were, and seeing this fancy fucking pink shit flapping at the edge of my vision was kinda nice.
I barely thought that before the bull decided to double down.
It was like he was making me pay for not being all-in with him, because he doubled back, spinning the other way, out of my hand.
Muscles screamed in protest. My back popped when the bull's feet hit the ground, but he was right back up before I could decide if that hurt or felt good.
"C'mon," I grunted out between my clenched teeth. "Do it!" And I dug my heels in as hard as I could.
The bull launched, getting all four feet off the ground one more time, and leveled out at the top. I spurred, getting my legs off him so far the judges would definitely see air between me and this beast. This was the photo op the fans loved. This was the winning moment.
We crashed down together. Both the bull and I grunted as the air was forced from our lungs, and then he reared up again, still trying to make that left-hand turn. I flung my off-hand, trying to give my sore side a break, but it weren't helping none.
My side was protesting real bad. My abs were burning, but just when I was sure I couldn't take anymore, the buzzer went off, declaring I'd ridden to eight! I was done! I also needed off this bull real fuckin' bad.
With my free hand, I flipped the tail around. The other simply let go, and I didn't waste time planning my dismount. Nope, I knew I'd be ok. Tanner was there. He'd get me. He always got me.
Speed Bump bucked again.
I flew, tossed into the air by the bull's ass. When the lights were under my feet, I knew I'd just done a sad little flip, and that meant this landing was gonna hurt, but I was done. I'd made eight. I'd done a full ride!
"Ho!" one of the guys yelled, just as arms grabbed me.
Together, I crashed into the dirt with another guy. I was pretty sure it was Tanner, until he let go. I rolled, about to say something, and got a face full of yellow, orange, and red. Fuck, that was Isaac.
"J.D., you good?" he demanded.
"Yup, go!"
Immediately, Isaac took off. Thankfully, Speed Bump weren't the kind to come back for me, because I moved slowly as I tried to make it to my feet.
My fucking knee popped so hard it almost buckled.
My whole side was burning, and my shoulder had that used feeling like it was gonna hurt later.
In other words, I was not going anywhere fast.
"J.D.!" Tanner barked, making me look up to see him walking over and the bull gone. "You good?"
I waved him down, then forced my body straight. Oh yeah. I needed my vape real bad. "Old!" I called back.
Which brought a smile to his face. I sauntered that way, intending to meet him halfway. When I reached up to take off my helmet, that side protested, so I used the other. Wasn't as easy, but I was damned good at makin' do.
I barely had that over my head when Tanner stopped dead in his tracks, looking over my head. That wasn't good. Turning, I looked for the scoreboard, but my name wasn't at the top.
I was too tired to try to find it, so I turned a little more, checking the big screen on that side of the arena. It showed me paused on the dirt, and along the bottom was my score: 71.25.
"The fuck?" I breathed, checking the details of that.
They always broke it down. We didn't always look, because it didn't fucking matter. Half of that was the bull's performance, and the other half was mine. I knew I hadn't been that bad, and this bull was the second best in the world, so how the fuck did it add up to a measly seventy-shit?!
And the moment I saw it, I understood. The bull score was sitting at 47.
75. The rider score? They'd given me a mere 23.
5. Twenty-fucking-three-point-five. I read the numbers again and again, trying to make them make sense, because I'd never scored that low in my entire career, professional or otherwise.
"Eli said they hate gay more than girls," Tanner said softly as he passed over my rope. "I think the Pbr just proved it's true."
"Fuck the Pbr," I growled, staring right into the bullpen where the judges were watching me like they were bored. "This means war."