“Yes,” I said positively, giving him a sure nod.
I had this in the bag.
Probably.
I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a small flutter of nerves in my stomach. I was top in the nation for earnings. I was predicted to come out if not first, then second or third, and I had a lot of eyes on me. I had been to the NFR as an attendee before, watching from the stands, so I knew exactly how many people were out there. I knew how big the arena floor was, and I knew they were all watching me. I think if I weren’t nervous, that would be more of a problem.
I had already seen the rodeo queens, which meant I had already caught a glimpse of my mom. Even though I tried to brush it off and ignore the fact that she was here, the small wave and smile she gave me told me one thing—she was starting to try. So, I smiled back and gave her a wave. It was the sweet little kiss she blew me with her fingers that threw me for a loop. So much so that I blew her a little one right back.
“Just remember—” Cash started with his routine trainer points. Not too loose, not too stiff. Don’t cut the corners too close…blah…blah…blah.
I let him ramble, pretty much knowing his entire speech by heart. I was just happy he was here. I listened as best I could, giving Hook more focus than Cash. I tightened his saddle by a millimeter, turned the stirrup, ran my hand along his coat as I walked behind him, and once I reached his nose, I dug in my pocket for the peppermint that I had begun to carry with me. I offered it to him, loving the way his furry lips felt against my palm, and I kissed his snout.
That’s when I heard it.
That familiar laugh that never left my mind.
I glanced up, my vision catching Wyatt like a bee to honey.
The noise of the entire arena faded, and all I heard was his laugh as he joked with announcers, his hands moving as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with pure joy, handsome as ever in hisWrangler jeans and T-shirt. I held on to Hook’s reins a little tighter.
When he showed up at my house, the last thing I expected was for him to hand me my dream on a piece of paper. I expected a‘please take me back’ move—not‘here’s two hundred and fifty acres, you’re my everything’.Those three words stuck with me more than the numerousI love you’she’s given me before. I had never been someone’severything, and I was his. When he left, I stood frozen, studying the blueprints, wishing he had stayed a little longer—and when Abi showed up five minutes later, she had that knowing look on her face. The first thing I told her was “I love him.” She simply smiled and said, “Yeah, you do.”
What I wouldn’t give to have him next to me. All it would take was one shout of his name, and I knew he would come running. But no—there was time. There was more time. I had a ride to get to, and he was obviously caught up in something that made him happy. It could wait. It really…really could wait.
Right? It could. What did he always say…we had more than—
“Quinn?”
My attention flew back to Cash. “Hmm?” I hummed.
“You listening to me?”
“Yes,” I lied.
“Then tell me exactly what I said.” He folded his arms and waited.
I heaved a sigh. “Not too loose, not too tight. Make sure you round the barrels and keep your toe in. Make sure you’re not cutting those corners. Use your spurs. Hook’s fast, but he’s only as fast as you make him. Don’t pay attention to the clock…just focus on your horse and the dirt in the air.” I mimicked his light Southern accent, something I knew drove him crazy. “Oh, and I’m living vicariously through you, so make sure you make me proud.”
If he raised his brow any higher, it would disappear under his hat.
I gave him a cheeky smile. “Youareliving vicariously through me? Right?”
“That’s not what I said at all.”
“At least part of it was.”
“I stopped talking when I saw you looking at Wyatt. I got to ‘don’t cut the corners too tight’ before I noticed you weren’t even paying attention.”
My eyes widened. “Oh. Well, it’s not like I haven’t heard your speech before.”
Cash huffed. “You good?”
I nodded. “I’m great.”
I couldn’t even try to hide it. I was semi-gawking, and he caught me. As if on instinct, my eyes darted to Wyatt, then quickly back to Cash.
“Do I need to get him over here?”
