I counted on my fingers. Three months until Reno. “For the entire week?” I asked, my hopes rising slightly even though I knew in the back of my mind there was a ‘not so good’ portion of this news.
“Well, that’s the thing.”
My shoulders slumped. Dude didn’t miss a beat. “I saw your name in the running, but they haven’t decided yet. Lucas is head of the committee this year, and he and Archie are pretty good friends…” He trailed off, not even needing to finish his sentence.
I rolled my neck back, closing my eyes. Of course, Lucas Tuck was friends with Archie Rollins, AKA the man I punched and caused to black out after breaking his nose.
“That’s the catch,” I grumbled. “So, my name may be there, but it’s not gonna happen, is what you’re telling me.”
The knock on my hotel door forced my attention. I heard Quinn’s faint call of my name, and I stood, grabbing my hat from the bed and giving myself one last look in the mirror. I didn’t dress up like I would if I were working, but I still wanted to lookpresentable. Hell, people know my name, and if what Hawkins was telling me was true, people were starting to see me again. My focus tonight would be on Quinn and her horses—that’s why I was there. But I wouldn’t complain if someone came up and talked to me.
“That’s what I’m tellin’ you,” Hawkins sighed. “I’ll keep hyping you up, man, but—”
“Wyatt, are you ready?” Quinn called from the hall.
“Listen, I have to go. Thanks for calling me and letting me know. If something comes of it, great…if something doesn’t,”—I opened the door and came face to face with Quinn—“great.” That lastgreatcame out differently than the first, and I gathered it had everything to do with the stunning woman standing in front of me. “Thanks, Hawk.” I lowered my phone and took Quinn in.
I had seen this girl dressed up and playful in a bar, beating my ass at a game of pool. I had seen her in a T-shirt with jeans and worker boots, her hair pulled into a tight ponytail as she cared for her horses. I had seen her in lounge pants and a tank top, reading a book as the world passed her by. And now, I was seeing rodeo Quinn. She was dressed in full uniform, a turquoise button-up that had her sponsor patches sewn in, with a belt buckle from a win last year shining on her waist. Her hair was lightly curled under her hat, and her eyes…fuckher eyes. Emerald green and beaming with confidence. I could get lost in those eyes…
And apparently, I was staring.
“Ready?” She chuckled, her body swaying to break me from my stupor.
I cleared my throat and gave her a nod, grabbing my coat before shutting the door behind me. In one swift motion, I put on my hat and slipped my phone in my pocket, doing my best to shove the call away.
“Who was that?” she asked, gesturing to my phone, more or less my ass.
I gave her a smirk. “Hawkins.”
“And Hawkins is…?” She drew out the s.
“An announcer buddy. He’s been keeping me up to date on all the committees, trying to get me back in the game.”
“Are you not already ‘in the game?’” She air quoted.
“It didn’t occur to you that I haven’t been working lately?”
I pressed the elevator button, my gaze drifting to the numbers rising as the elevator came up. I listened to the mechanics of it, jabbing the button again with my finger, willing it to come a little faster. I most definitely didn’t want to be talking about my employment status with Quinn—or anybody for that matter—and I was taking it out on the elevator button.
“You haven’t been working?” she answered, offering me a frown with a hint of confusion spreading across her features. “I figured you were taking the winter season off.”
The doors opened. I let Quinn step in first, then followed, once again jabbing the L button to the lobby.
“Did something happen?”
I twisted my lips and frowned. My inner monologue screaming,Well, she’s gonna find out somehow. But…I really didn’t want to go into specifics. That ‘somehow’ was not in the elevator.
“Remember how we came to the conclusion I’ve done some pretty stupid things?” I gave her a side eye.
“Yeah?” She huffed.
“Let’s just say my most recent stupid thing topped every other stupid thing and…” I heaved a sigh. “I’m not announcing.”
“You didn’t lose your card, did you?”
I shook my head. “Nah, not that drastic. But stupid enough to cause a rift in my career.”
An astronomical rift.
