“You need to get out of the house. It’ll be good for you.” Sammie reached over and grasped a lock of Hallie’s hair. The blue streak she’d put in it after her embarrassing confession of feelings had faded to a muted green color. “We could do something fun with your hair again. And you could get all dolled up. Sitting in your room all day isn’t helping.”
She could have asked Sammie how going to a rodeo would help seeing as that was the first thing Hallie associated with Jacob, but she refrained. Her friend was trying to help. Besides, she was right. It would be best for Hallie to get out of the house for a few hours even if it was topretendto be normal.
“Come on, Hallie. You know you should. I’ll be there and we can invite some of the other girls. I’m sure they’d all like a girls’ night.”
Hallie scrunched up her nose, fighting the burn of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. Then she sighed. “Yeah, okay.”
Sammie brightened considerably. “Okay, first things first. What color should we change this sad streak to?” She didn’t give Hallie a chance to pick when she gasped. “I know. Let’s do red. And not like a natural red or anything. We’re going to make it one of those bright cherry red colors.”
“You realize those colors don’t last long, right?” Hallie said with a laugh despite herself.
“Yeah, I know. But it will be fun for the next little while anyway.”
This event was indoorswith how cold it had gotten. Not to mention, there was snow and ice on the ground. No one wanted to attend an event outside in this weather. It was the middle of November and even though Hallie didn’t want to admit it, she was counting down the days until the big event in December.
Just the thought of Jacob made her heart twist into a thousand knots. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t hoping he’d come out on top. He’d given up everything in his life for that opportunity. She still wanted him to get what he thought would make him happy.
He’s doing that, Hallie.
He’s made his choice because he knows what he wants and what will make him happy.
And it’s not you.
There were thousands of people at this event and little chance that she’d bump into anyone they knew since Sammie had made it clear they were staying far away from where the participants hung out before and after their turn.
The noise was deafening when Jacob’s biggest competitor appeared. He held up his hands and waved to the crowd. Sammie leaned closer. “Who’s that?”
“Joe Hamilton,” Hallie yelled over the crowd. “His stats are right up there with…” A lump formed in Hallie’s throat and Sammie’s expression shifted into one filled with understanding. She patted Hallie’s knee.
“I wonder why he’s at this event. I thought it was for amateurs.”
Hallie cocked a brow at her best friend. “Really? Far from it. The last five competitors are all well known in their field.”
Sammie ducked her head, chagrined. “I guess I don’t follow the sport.”
“You can say that again,” Faith laughed on her other side. “Did you even look at the program?”
“Would it have helped?” Sammie asked.
Hallie watched them bicker and her smile returned. She’d done it. She’d made it out of the house to spend time with friends. She’d suffered through the hardest heartbreak of her life, and she’d survived.
Maybe losing Jacob was what she needed to finally get her head on straight and start dating someone who was actually available. Sure, there wasn’t anyone she was remotely interested in at the moment, but that could change. One step at a time. That was what she needed to focus on.
“Is this seat taken?”
Hallie twisted at the low voice and glanced up to see a handsome man holding his cowboy hat to his chest. His hair was darker than Jacob’s and his eyes were a steely shade of blue. His jaw was clean-shaven and the way he grinned at her should have sent butterflies swarming.
Sammie nudged her, probably thinking that Hallie was star struck. The girls who were seated back a row sure seemed to be. When Hallie didn’t utter a word, Sammie leaned over her. “Nope, that seat’s free. You’re welcome to take it.”
The cowboy placed his hat on his head and settled beside her. He thumbed over his shoulder. “Thanks, I was watching from upthere and someone spilled their soda all over my seat. The floor is a mess, too. I figured since I didn’t see anyone using these chairs that it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
Hallie swallowed hard and gave Sammie a hard look when she nudged her again. “Yeah, our other friends couldn’t make it tonight.” Wendy and Serenity had said they were up for it, but then one of Serenity’s boys got sick and so did Tripp.
Everyone knew Tripp was a big baby when he had a cold and unfortunately for him, he’d likely caught the flu from one of the many kids who called Sagebrush home. It was going through the family like wildfire.
The cowboy’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he took Hallie in from head to toe. And yet she still couldn’t muster even one butterfly.
She sighed.
