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This might be the last chance I had to make the world see me the way I wanted. Every inch of my body hurt, one more price I'd been willing to pay to reach my dreams, and no one seemed to give a damn. The fact that I was a woman blinded everyone else to my potential, but I'd spent my entire fucking life for this day.
This one. Right here. The moment I could show the world that I'd actually done it.
And instead, I was being pulled down and stepped on all over again. Smile pretty, act like a lady, pack your things and go home. That was all I'd gotten, and I was sick of it! I rode the bulls. I'd spurred them on this weekend, riding better than I ever had in my entire life, and not even that had been enough.
They wanted me gone. The real question was how far the people around me would go to make that happen. If J.D. and Tanner couldn't even see it, then how the fuck was I supposed to fight back? I couldn't do this alone. I couldn't make anyone like me.
All I could do was let them see my rage.
Hooking my thumbs in the waistband of my chaps, I lifted my chin. The flash went off. I let my anger show. I embraced the defiance that was keeping me standing through the pain of that beat down I'd taken. Next, I was turned to the other side. This time, I crossed my arms, fighting hard not to snarl. Again, the flash proved the photo had been taken. Then he had me face him.
Hands on hips. Head tilted down like some kind of outlaw. They didn't want to see my face? Fine! In chaps and a vest, I looked like all the other men. I'd show them that. Flash, flash.
"You are a pretty girl," the camera man said. "You could make these worth something, and instead you want to look masculine? Want to waste the chance?"
So I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. "Chance for what? To have some idiot jacking off to my photo online? To have the men in this sport laugh at me a little more? Fuck that!"
The flash hit me again, and this time Max smiled. "That's the one," he said. "That, Cody, is your official photo. I'll make sure of it."
The photographer just threw up his hands in defeat. "Fine. We're done here. I have enough raw stock to make something the PBR can use."
Giving the asshole a dirty look, I marched off the green tarp, heading over towards my guys. I didn't make it before Max was calling my name, angling his steps to intercept. That was when I realized we weren't alone in the room anymore. The bright lights and umbrella looking screens had obscured everything behind the camera from me.
"Cody," Max said, gesturing for me to come with him. "I know it's not a good time, but I have two people who want to talk to you."
"Not a good time?" a woman asked.
A few more steps got the glare of lights out of my eyes, and I realized I recognized her. "Grace?" I asked.
And beside her was a man I remembered from the meeting last week. He'd been the guy all but lying in his chair, swiveling it around like he was bored. The man who'd asked me about Mike's Hard Lemonade.
"Cody," he greeted me, offering his hand. "Troy Randolph, Mike's Hard drinks."
"And it sounds like you already know Grace Fuller from Under Armour," Max said. "Would you two mind if we find a place for her to sit down? Our little heroine has had a rough day."
"Cody?" Tanner asked, sounding like he was worried.
But J.D. caught his arm. "Those are sponsors," he said, flashing me a smile.
Grace's head twitched slightly. "J.D. Adkins?"
"Yes, ma'am," J.D. replied. "That woman you wanna talk to? She's my rookie, and about to be the best damned bull rider the PBR's ever seen."
"Interesting," Troy said, gesturing for the door. "There's a room right across the hall. Cody, you're welcome to invite anyone you want. I don't think this is actually official."
So I looked back at the guys, and that was all they needed. In a few seconds, we were sitting in yet another one of those outdated rooms, but this one had a table. It also had black-and-white photos of race horses. Not a single thing about bull riders or rodeo, though.
Grace started without mincing her words. "Under Armour is sending a contract for you to look over," she said. "Max has informed me that he's your representative."
"I am," he insisted.
"And you work for Tillman," she reminded him.
Max huffed like he wasn't impressed. "I do. I also represent my riders and I'm here to make sure they get what's in their best interest."
"They?" Troy asked.
"He reps me too," J.D. said as he reached over to gently rub my shoulder. "Still doing ok?"
