Chapter 39
Miles
The past month has been a whirlwind of recovery, physical therapy, and endless discussions about my future, or lack of one, on social media. The injury still lingers and the ongoing reminder of how quickly everything can be taken away.
I wasn’t qualified for the win. Instead, Noah Montero took it. I saw the smug grin on his face in the photo that flashed across my feed, God, he looked so damn pleased with himself. But I saw his message too.
Hope you get better soon, man, it said. Sorry about the news.
I responded with Thanks but let’s be honest deep down, Noah was probably celebrating my injury. It meant one less competitor, one less person standing in his way.
But I’m here now. I’m here with the two people I love endlessly—my little wild child Riley, and Vivian, the strongest woman I know.
Together, they’ve shown me what unconditional love is.
These past few weeks, I’ve spent most of my time at Vivian’s, where the three of us built a little world of our own.
They took care of me when I was bedbound the first couple of days, curling up beside me with blankets and movies.
Mostly Riley’s Disney favorites, but I never minded.
Not when I got to see her light up, singing at the top of her lungs, Vivian joining in with that soft laugh of hers. In those moments, it felt like home.
The evenings spent in their company were…different. Comforting. The kind of calm I didn’t even know I was craving. Vivian was incredible. Strong, tender, fierce.
And yeah, Vivian and I…we shared more than a few moments that were private, just for us.
We had our sweet moments, but we also had our hot sweaty ones too and since I could barely move, she decided to do all the work, and god…
the way she moved while she was riding me…
I could lose myself in her, and for a while, I did.
Got some news about Mya’s career now that she won’t be working for me, but rather Noah fucking Montero.
Not exactly her idea, but she was the best candidate and the only one currently available.
I don’t know how that’s going to go, but if I hear he’s disrespected her in any way, he’ll be the one out of the arena for a while—and not because of a fucking bull.
I have no doubt she’ll smash it, though. I’ll miss her but at least she’ll still be around.
Greg and Mindy are still as they’ve always been, tangled up in each other but pretending they’re not.
John and Maria have come over twice to visit us, and I can’t tell you how much it’s meant to me to see Vivian so at ease with them. They absolutely adore Riley, and seeing her with them, laughing and playing, makes me feel like we’re building something good here.
Dahlia…well, she’s sticking around. Decided to stay in Bluebell Hollows for a while after finally realizing how much of a piece of shit her fiancé was.
She’ll be staying at my house for the moment until she finds her own place, but she needs a job, and I’m thinking maybe I could help her out with that.
There’s an old friend of ours who might need some help…
I’m not sure where that’s headed, but we’ll see.
Eric, Vivian’s dad, has been by a couple of times too.
It’s been nice. We’ve spent time watching games together and talking about Vivian’s childhood, she’s got her fair share of embarrassing stories that I can’t wait to tease her about one day.
But for now, it’s just small moments with her family, learning to fit into their world.
Cameron, as grumpy as ever, still calls me every week. He complains about the house, his lack of sleep, but then he tells me about little milestones his daughter, Ashley, has hit. I love hearing it. We bond over our girls now, a connection I never thought I’d have with anyone.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Vivian’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as we hop into the truck.
I glance at her, a smile tugging at my lips.
She’s looking at me like she always does, like I’m the only thing that matters in the world, and somehow, she makes me believe it.
She looks beautiful, more stunning every day, like she’s glowing from the inside out.
Today, she’s wearing a brown dress that hugs her waist perfectly and flares out just enough at the bottom.
Her hair is loose, cascading down her back in soft waves, and the red gloss on her lips catches the light.
The cowgirl boots she’s wearing make her look like she just walked out of one of my daydreams.
Riley’s in the back seat, humming happily to herself, her little hands busy with her sticker book. She’s wearing a cowgirl hat again, and a white dress that’s probably not going to stay that clean for long. She looks up at me with those bright green eyes, her smile infectious.
I shake my head softly, turning back to Vivian.
“Just life,” I say, my voice low. But it feels like so much more than that. Every moment has been a gift since I found them, since I let myself admit how much they mean to me.
Vivian’s smile widens as she turns the truck down the road, and we start driving toward the cemetery.
As we drive, the sun is beginning to set, the skies slowly changing to a light orange, casting a gentle glow over everything.
It’s a peaceful sight, but as we reach the entrance to the cemetery, a weight settles in my chest. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel right now.
I don’t belong here, not in the way Vivian and Riley do.
They’ve shared so much with Trevor’s memory, and I can’t help but feel like an outsider in this moment. But I push those thoughts aside. I know this is important to them, and I won’t let my own discomfort stand in the way.
The air is still warm from the summer heat, and the breeze stirs the tall grass as we walk into the cemetery.
It’s quiet here, the kind of silence that speaks volumes.
I follow slowly, the pain in my body reminding me of my limitations.
My ribs still ache, my collarbone and back sore from the accident.
But I keep going, determined. I’m recovering, slowly, but still here.
Riley leads the way, her small feet skipping along the path as she heads straight for her dad’s grave.
She knows exactly where to go, and I watch as she kneels down, pressing a kiss to the headstone, her little hands carefully placing a paper she’d been drawing on during the drive.
Stickers and doodles cover it, her way of sharing pieces of herself with him.
“Hi, Daddy,” she says softly, her voice filled with the kind of love that makes my chest tighten. She glances over her shoulder, looking up at us as we make our way toward her.
Vivian’s next to me, her hand in mine, steadying me as I take each slow step. She’s there, strong and steady, just like always. When I wince slightly, she gives me a soft, understanding look, the kind that tells me it’s okay to take it slow.
We reach the spot where Riley stands, and she excitedly continues her chatter.
“Daddy, this is Miles. He’s the coolest cowboy ever!
” she says, beaming up at me. “He’s very nice and funny too.
He always tells me stories, like the one about Thor, the protector of the sky…
” She goes on, her voice a bright, innocent melody, and I can’t help but smile at the way she speaks about me.
I can’t help but feel a warmth fill my chest. This little girl, she’s already become such a big part of my world. And hearing her talk about me like this? It makes me feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Vivian kneels down beside Riley, placing the picnic basket and blanket on the ground before gently touching the headstone. “Hey, Trev,” she murmurs, her voice soft but filled with a strength I’ve come to know so well.
I take a moment, watching them both, my heart full.
“You okay?” Vivian asks quietly, her eyes searching mine. She’s always been able to read me, to know when something’s on my mind.
“Yeah,” I say, squeezing her hand gently, trying to ignore the dull ache in my body. “A little sore, but happy to be here with you.”
Vivian’s eyes soften as she smiles at me, her fingers brushing lightly against mine.
It’s a small gesture, but it feels monumental.
There’s a peace that settles in my chest, a warmth that spreads through me like sunlight slowly making its way into a cold room.
The kind of warmth you don’t know you need until it’s there.
The quiet hum of the world around us fades, and it’s just the three of us, Vivian, Riley, and me, sitting in this space, sharing stories, and basking in the moment.
We talk about everything, even the hard stuff.
I tell her about my injury, about how bull riding came to be my life.
The way I didn’t know where I’d end up, but I always knew it was meant to be this.
We laugh, and it feels easy, like we’ve been doing this for years.
Then we talk about the beginning, when Vivian couldn’t stand me.
She was so sure she’d never let me into her life.
Riley laughs loudly at the thought, her high-pitched giggle cutting through the air like a melody. “Mommy didn’t like you at all at the start, Miles!” she teases, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Nope,” I say, pretending to be offended. “She was real tough on me. But I can be persistent when I want to be.”
Vivian rolls her eyes but the soft, knowing smile on her face tells me everything. She’s here now. We’re here now.
The sun begins its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The moment feels sacred, like a pause in time that I wish would never end.
But it’s time to go. We gather up our things, and I can see the way Riley’s little hands tug at Vivian’s, ready to leave.
Vivian turns to me, her voice soft. “You coming?”
I hesitate, glancing at the truck where they’re waiting. “I’ll catch up with you,” I say quietly. “Just need a moment.”
She gives me a gentle nod, squeezing my hand once before taking Riley’s hand and walking away, the sound of their footsteps fading as they head toward the truck.
I take a deep breath, standing alone for a moment before turning my attention to the headstone. I’m not sure what happens after life, but in this moment, I need to get this right. I need him to hear me, if he’s listening.
“Hey, Trevor…” My voice falters at first, then steadies.
“I’m sorry you can’t be here today…I’m sorry for what happened to you.
” The words feel heavy on my chest, but I push through.
“But I’m here now. And I want you to know that Vivian and Riley are…
” I pause, bringing my hands to my waist, trying to find the right words.
“They’re full of light, full of love. I’m not here to make them forget you.
I’ll never do that. I love them…and I hope you can see that. I hope you can trust me with them.”
Tears sting the corners of my eyes. I wipe them away, but my heart aches. It’s strange, knowing about a man I never met, but in this moment, the connection is there. The love we share for the same girls is there.
I take a deep breath, my voice barely above a whisper. “I promise to take care of our girls. Always.”
* * *
Vivian
I watch as Miles approaches, my heart pounding a little harder than usual. It’s been a long day, filled with emotions I didn’t quite know how to handle, and I can’t help but feel a weight in my chest as he gets closer.
He meets my gaze, and for a moment it feels like the world pauses. The sun is beginning to set, casting golden light across his face, illuminating the lines of exhaustion, the streaks of vulnerability. My heart swells in my chest, and it’s then that I realize just how much I’ve come to rely on him.
I take a step forward and pull him into a warm embrace. His arms wrap around me almost instinctively, like we were always meant to hold each other in this way. It feels natural. Like home.
“Hey, you okay?” I whisper against his chest, my voice barely above a breath.
He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, and I can see the raw emotion in his eyes. He wipes his face quickly, but not before I catch the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.
“I’m more than okay,” he says, his voice rough but steady.
I nod, pressing my cheek against his chest once more, letting the comfort of his presence wash over me. It’s not about fixing everything. It’s about being here, together. Just being present in this moment, in the love that we’re starting to build.
“Mommy, Miles! Look!” Riley’s voice cuts through the stillness, and we both turn to her.
Her face is lit with excitement, her little hand extended in front of her. On the tip of her finger, a white butterfly rests, its delicate wings fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
For a moment, everything else fades away. We all look at the butterfly, the tiny creature that seems to carry so much meaning in this world, in its fragile presence.
I can feel the tears slowly welling in my eyes again, but this time they’re different.
They’re not just tears of sorrow; they’re tears of hope.
Hope that even in the face of loss, there’s something beautiful waiting for us.
A symbol that life moves forward, but it doesn’t mean we forget. We don’t move on from the people we love. A symbol.
A symbol of new beginnings, of healing, and of love.
We carry them with us, in every step we take, in every new beginning we embrace.
The butterfly flutters its wings one last time before it lifts into the air, flying away toward the horizon.
Riley squeals, her face glowing with wonder. I watch her, her joy so pure, so untainted by the complexities of life.
I smile softly, my heart swelling with affection.
And in that moment, as I hold Riley close, I feel Miles’s steady presence by my side.
Riley smiles at the butterfly, her face glowing with joy. And I smile too, knowing that no matter what, we’ll always carry Trevor’s memory with us.
I thought my story ended the day Trevor left this world.
The grief nearly swallowed me whole, leaving no room for anything else. But then Miles came crashing in—loud, unexpected, relentless—and everything shifted.
He didn’t fix me. I wasn’t broken. But he reminded me that I could feel again.
That I was still capable of joy, of fire, of living.
Loving again didn’t erase what I lost. It just reminded me there’s more to life than grief.
That healing doesn’t mean forgetting, it means making space for both the past and the possibility of something new.
We didn’t fall into this gently. It was wild and messy and terrifying. But somehow, we held on.
Wrangled in love, with every scar, every fear, and every piece of who we are and for the first time in a long time, I’m not afraid.