Cleo cleared her throat and forced a smile. “Thank you. It’s mine, too.”
“Mommy and Daddy did my whole room in blue. It’s my favorite room ever.”
I couldn’t be sure, but I swore I saw a tear slip down Cleo’s cheek. She wiped it away quickly. “You’re so lucky to have them,” she said quickly, turning to us. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to get back to work.”
“You good?” I asked, reaching out to stop her. It was a stupid question, but I’d hate it if I didn’t ask.
“Yeah, it’s just a lot,” she said.
I dipped my chin. “It is. You know where to find me if you need me.”
Cleo placed her hand on my shoulder, whispering thanks before disappearing into the crowd. She wasn’t headed toward Cook, and no one stopped to question her motives for leaving. Even if Doug and Ruby didn’t know why, everyone at this damn table could see there was history between them.
Lawson shifted on his feet, looking ready to go after her, butstopped as his daughter spoke again. “Daddy, let’s go find Mommy.”
“Alright, baby girl,” he said, adjusting his hold before facing us. “I hope y’all enjoy the show and have a good night.”
They walked back toward the stage without another word, leaving us all silent. To no one’s surprise, Lennox broke it.
“Well…” she drawled. “I think we know why he did the show for free now.”
lennox
. . .
On principle,I stayed toward the back of the crowd with my family as Lawson’s band took the stage. They’d been performing for about an hour, and the sun had finally set.
After they’d gone on, Josie and I tried to find Cleo. We looked everywhere we could think of, but it was like she’d simply vanished. Then we started calling her over and over to see if she would answer. It wasn’t until the thirtieth attempt that she finally told us to leave her alone and that she’d talk about it later.
I didn’t believe a single word, but if it made her feel better, then I’d go along with it.
Mom and Dad had been on the makeshift dance floor for nearly every song, leaving Bishop, Lincoln, Josie, and me behind. We’d drunk our fair share, poking gentle fun at the couples that looked like newborn foals who didn’t know how to work their legs.
“That looks so painful,” Josie said, grimacing as one guy stepped on his partner’s toes for the fifth time. “Her poor feet are going to be destroyed. Thank God you can dance because I wouldn’t marry someone who couldn’t.”
Lincoln wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “If I didn’t, I’d have taken lessons just for you.”
Josie scrunched her nose. “I don’t think I’d like someone else teaching you, so nevermind. I’d endure it, but only because you’re a quick learner.”
“Is that theonlyreason?”
“Oh my god,” I said, tipping my head back. “Don’t start. Go dance and say all that lovey-dovey stuff out there.”
Josie and Lincoln laughed, but he pulled her into his arms. “What do you say, darlin’? Wanna go show’em how it’s done?”
She smiled, not saying a word as she dragged him out with the crowd. They bumped into our parents, and my heart ached as I watched how happy they seemed. Don’t get me wrong, I was over the moon for them. Mom and Dad had been through so much over the past year. So had Josie and Lincoln. They all deserved to smile and laugh and settle into their forevers.
But lately, I’d found myself envious of that kind of simplicity. I didn’t really know what I was doing with my life outside of rodeo, which had already taken a sideline with how much of a shit show the year had been. My days consisted of working, eating, and going to bed, only to wake up and do it over again.
I had no spark, no drive, nothing pushing me toward the greatness I always thought I’d achieved.
Except for Bishop.
As much as I hated being around him, the thought of making his life difficult seemed to be the only thing I could focus on. It helped take my mind off the perpetual doom I felt over my future. The thought of burrowing so deeply under his skin made me smile. He was just too easy to piss off. Maybe that was why I did it. Mom always said when I was little I’d rather have negative attention than no attention at all, guess not much had changed.
I didn’t want to think about any other reason.
Bishop had been relatively quiet since Cleo left our tableearlier, spending his time eyeing everyone around him like he was keeping watch. Only Lincoln’s incessant pushing and prodding seemed to bring him out of his shell.
