“Thanks,” Hallie whispered.
“Of course. What are friends for?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Hallie.
What was she doing here?
“Hines, you’re up!”
Jacob hadn’t expected to see Hallie at all—which in hindsight was ridiculous because they ran in the same social circles and had similar interests.
She hadn’t been alone.
“Hines!”
It was hard to tell who was sitting next to her, but from where he stood, he hadn’t recognized the guy. The hat shaded his face.
Someone pushed into his shoulder. Hard.
“Hines, jeez, man. If you don’t get over there, you’re going to miss your turn.”
Jacob glanced over at Kai then back to the crowd in time to see Hallie darting for the exit.
Guilt, raw and gnawing hit him harder than he’d expected it to. Even as he put his helmet on his head and strode forward, he couldn’t get the sight of her out of his head. Tonight was the last competition that was close to home for a while. He’d be going on the road and competing in Texas, Tennessee, then Colorado before he ended up in Vegas. These competitions were the most important ones leading up to the finals.
“Get out of your head, Jacob.”
He stiffened at Kai’s voice and found his face in the sea of people readying him for his turn. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jacob muttered.
“Don’t lie to me. I know you. Get out there and do what you came here for. Show this crowd that you’re still the rodeo star you’ve always been.”
Jacob nodded, pushing away all the emotions that had come back with brunt force when he’d caught sight of Hallie in the crowd. There wasn’t any time to let her get in his head. He’d do his job and then he’d wonder what she’d been doing here after.
“Congratulations, man! You did it.”
Hands clapped him on the back. Men and women alike shouted out their praise. This was his first big win since the accident and…
He felt nothing.
Normally he’d still be fueled by adrenaline. He’d be pulling Kai in for a bro-hug and they’d head off to celebrate another win.He’d get a call from his sponsor, telling him they were proud of all the work he was putting into his career.
And yet…
Absolutely nothing.
Hallie hadn’t stayed to see his win. She’d run from the arena before he’d been able to compete and something about knowing that made his stomach sour. He should be happy. Elated, even. Sure, he’d lost the girl, but he had everything else he’d wanted since he was a kid.
His career was back on track and after suffering broken bones no less.
Smiling faces filled the ocean of people that surrounded him as he moved his way toward the exit of the building. Kai managed to get him out to his truck without incident. “What do you say we head out and get something to eat? You were always a sucker for that pie they serve in town, right?”
Jacob shook his head. “Sorry, man. I’m just not feeling up to it.”
Kai frowned. “This have something to do with Hallie?”
Jacob couldn’t meet his manager’s eyes.
