Be that as it may, it was time to tell him how she really felt.
And this time, he was going to listen.
Her heart hammered against her ribs the whole way toward the stands. The roar of the crowd crashed over her like a wave, vibrating deep in her chest and making her stomach twist even tighter. She clutched the thick scrapbook against her body like it was a shield, terrified she might drop it and lose three years of her heart right there on the concrete.
She found a seat high up where she could see everything and hugged the scrapbook closer to her chest. She’d wait until after his rides. She didn’t want to distract him. Not when he was this close to winning the whole damn thing. And then he would be done. This was his last rodeo. He’d promised.
Junie’s breath caught as Tanner and Halo exploded into the arena. The big bay moved as if he were part of Tanner, as if the two of them shared one heartbeat. She couldn’t look away. Tanner leaned low over the saddle, guiding Halo through the tight cloverleaf turns in a wild, graceful dance that made her chest ache with pride. The seconds blurred together. Her heart hammered so high in her throat she could barely breathe.
When the announcer’s voice boomed across the arena, calling out his time as the fastest of the night, pure joy burst through her like fireworks. She shot to her feet with the rest of the roaring crowd, screaming until her throat burned raw.
Only bull riding left. Tanner’s favorite event.
Her plans flew out the window. She couldn’t wait any longer. The thick scrapbook weighed heavy tucked under her arm as she pushed through the dense, noisy crowd toward the rider area, Nibbles safely tucked inside her bag. Every step made her stomach flip harder.
This was it.
Herpulse thundered in her ears as she scanned the area near the warm-up pens. There he was. Tanner. Laughing with one of the other riders, looking so tall and confident in his black chaps and crisp white shirt, dust already coating his boots.
“Tanner!” she called, but her voice disappeared into the roar of the crowd.
She kept moving closer, weaving between people, her eyes locked on him. And then she saw it.
A tall, blonde woman with dangerous curves and bright red lipstick grabbed the front of Tanner’s shirt, yanked him down, and kissed him like she owned him. Junie’s stomach plummeted straight through the dirt floor.
For a second, she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. The thick scrapbook suddenly felt like a lead weight as she pressed it hard against her chest.
That wasn’t just a friendly kiss. That was deep and hungry and way too familiar. The woman laughed softly against Tanner’s mouth, low and throaty. And he smiled. He gave that womanhersmile. That same crooked, heart-stopping smile Junie had been in love with for years.
Something hot and ugly rushed up her neck and flooded her cheeks. Her eyes burned fiercely as she fought the sting of tears.
You knew he wouldn’t stay,her mother’s cruel voice whispered in her head.Why would he want to be yours when he can have her? He’s not yours and never has been.
Doubt and shame wrapped her in a vise-like grip. No way would he kiss a woman like that if she was just a buckle bunny.
She tried to tell herself it didn’t mean anything. But it did. It meant he was kissing other women. Women who looked nothing like her.
Everything in her screamed for her to turn around right then. He hadn’t seen her. She could spin on her heel, run back to her car, and drive the entire two days home with her heart in pieces.
But she’d come such a long way. So instead, she forced her feet tokeep moving forward. She had to tell him she was here. She had to at least try. By the time she shoved through the last of the crowd and got closer, Tanner was already climbing into the chute. The bull beneath him was massive and mean, tossing its head as if it were itching for blood.
“Tanner!” she yelled, louder this time, her voice cracking with desperation.
He didn’t hear her.
The gate flew open.
Junie watched in horror as the bull exploded out of the chute, spinning and kicking with terrifying power. How could Tanner possibly think riding a beast like that was fun? Somehow, he made the full eight seconds. The moment the buzzer sounded, he tried to dismount. Then everything went wrong.
The bull whipped around faster than anyone expected. Tanner slammed into the dirt. Before the bullfighters could reach him, the massive animal charged and brought a heavy hoof down hard on Tanner’s leg.
The sickening crack cut straight through the roar of the crowd. Junie’s stomach lurched. Her heart seized.
“Tanner!” she screamed, shoving forward through the crowd.
People were everywhere—security guards, medics, other riders shouting instructions. Junie fought through the chaos, desperation clawing at her chest, but by the time she finally broke through the crowd, they were already loading Tanner onto a stretcher.
Her heart shattered.
