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It felt like he was riding for an audience of one.

The machine spun faster. Someone whooped. Colton leaned back, lifting the rope above his head.

My gaze darted to Cooper, who now stood still as stone off to the side with a bottle perched on top of his head.

What the hell were they doing?

The bull picked up speed. Colton countered with a smooth shift of his weight, muscles tightening, body moving like it was made for this. He twirled the rope overhead. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then he released the lasso and it sailed clean across the ring.

With flawless precision, it dropped right over the bottle. Colton tugged, sharp and confident, and jerked the bottle straight off Cooper’s head without so much as ruffling his hat.

The room exploded. Cheers. Screams. Someone stomped hard enough to shake the floor.

Even I cheered—laughing, shaking my head, fully impressed.

Cooper clapped once above his head with a flourish before he jogged toward the bull.

The machine spun hard, but Colton rode it out with unbothered ease—one hand in the air, body moving like he was born in the saddle. When the bull slowed to a brief pause, he hopped off in one smooth motion, giving Cooper the opening to climb on.

I wanted to see what Cooper had planned. I tried to. But my eyes refused to leave Colton.

He lingered a few feet away, chest rising and falling with the adrenaline of the performance, and I swear I caught the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. A real one. One that didn’t belong to the grouchy cowboy who hid behind sarcasm and scowls.

It made my heart pinch.

He looked…happy. The same loose, unguarded joy I’d seen that night at the bar. Another crack in that emotional armor he wore so tightly, another moment where the light slipped in.

The music kept pumping as Cooper mounted the bull, then he stood straight up on it.

The bull twisted, bucked, spun, and Cooper rode it like a damn surfboard, knees flexing, arms out, completely committed. He jumped down, landed in a crouch, climbed back up, and moved with every wild jerk like he’d choreographed it himself. When the machine gave one final dramatic buck, Cooper hopped off and landed cleanly on the mat just as the music cut out.

The audience shot to their feet, cheering so loudly it rattled the stage. Colton and Cooper met in the center, pulling each other into a hug, clapping each other on the back, sharing words I couldn’t hear.

They were glowing. Both of them.

They took a synchronized bow as the curtain slid closed.

I walked toward them with an exaggerated slow clap, a wide smile stretching my face. “Well, well. Who knew you two had such impressive skills?”

Cooper shrugged, tapping Colton’s arm with a grin. “Honestly? I only had half-faith he wasn’t going to lasso my neck and kill me on stage.”

Colton scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Dramatic.”

I laughed, and I swore I caught Colton biting one back too.

“That was fun,” Colton admitted, glancing at his brother.

Cooper stilled, and so did I. Slowly, Cooper and I looked at each other before he said, “Did you just say fun?”

Colton rolled his eyes. “Yes. I had fun. You happy?”

Cooper slapped a hand to his chest. “A moment of growth. I’m proud of you.” Then, with a wink and a bow in my direction, he strolled off, leaving Colton and me alone backstage.

I turned to him, arms crossing over my chest. “Fun?” I echoed, raising a brow.

Colton scoffed. “Yes, Eleanor. I am capable of having a good time.”