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Jake just pulled off his hat and shoved a hand through his hair. "You know, a month ago I woulda said that no girl could do this. When you showed up in Tulsa, I figured we'd get to see the ambulance haul your ass off. Now?" He slapped my back. "I'm starting to think I'm going to have to up my game."
"Was that a compliment?" I asked.
"Fuck yeah, it was," he agreed. Then he leaned closer. "I'd say I'd buy you a beer tonight, but I don't want that to sound like a pickup line, because this drama following you around?" He shook his head. "I do not wanna have Cletus trying to explain that I'm not gay."
"Nothing wrong with being gay," I shot back.
Jake just smiled at me. "Is in the PBR. It's right up there with being a girl, and people get their ass beat for that. Why the fuck do you think I'm here?"
"Playing bodyguard," I realized.
He nodded. "Watch yourself, Cody. Someone might push you into a chute. He might catch you in the halls alone. I'm not even sure who it'd be, but the guys talk, and all of it sounds..." He made a face. "Let's just say that my momma taught me better than that."
"Well, tell your momma she raised a good man," I told him. "And Jake? Thanks. I mean it. All I want is to ride the bulls, and I wish y'all would just convince yourself I'm a guy or something."
"Or something," he agreed, offering me a smile.
But I'd take it. Hell, I'd take all of this, even the dumbasses who'd convinced half the cowboys to act like my personal protection tonight. Mostly because it just proved that there were more of the good guys here than the bad ones.
Chapter19
I knewTy was sitting at ninth place. I also knew Emilio had taken it upon himself to make sure someone was keeping an eye on Cody the same way I had. From that idiot Brazilian rookie to Jake Cunningham, the guys were all watching over her, which meant I had to look after Ty. Renato wasn't here this weekend, and I'd be damned if I let my new friend have some chute attendant tighten his rope.
But the bulls were moving fast tonight. The scoreboard was full, and most of those names had points beside them. This weekend was going to shuffle around the world rankings a bit, and I was real curious to see who'd go up and who'd go down. Mostly because I needed Cody to move up a little more.
So when the next group of bulls began to fill the chutes, I left my shit sitting at the side and went to find Ty. It was as easy as I'd expected. He was off to the side, leaning over the rail and looking at the crowd in the stands. A couple of kids were walking away with paper in their hands, so I could only guess he'd been cornered for an autograph or something.
"Ty!" I called out.
He looked up. "Yeah?"
So I waved back at the chutes. "Eleven's up."
"Shit," he mouthed, jogging my way. When he got close enough, he patted my shoulder, then headed for where he'd stored his things at the back of the raised platform. I took his hat. He grabbed his rope, glove, and helmet. Together, we aimed for the new string of bulls, counting to make sure he was at the right one.
"Ty McBride," he told the attendant.
The man looked up. "Yep. Just cool your jets for a bit. We got a wild one down there."
Sure enough, someone was getting knocked around in the chute. Almost like we were sharing a brain, Ty and I both leaned over the panels at the same time. I chuckled, and he looked over to flash me a smile.
"Did you see Cody's ride?" he asked.
I nodded my head slowly. "Yeah, she got her leg out there and spurred the fuck outta him."
"She did it just like Renato told her," he said. "Bastard's not even here and he still showed us both up."
"Yeah, but that's Cody for ya," I pointed out. "She hears all we say, throws out what doesn't work for her, and adapts the rest. That's what's got half these boys so scared."
Then Ty sobered. "She was with Jake earlier."
"Yup," I agreed. "I asked him and a few others to keep an eye on her this weekend."
"Brazil is too," Ty assured me. "But fuck, J.D. Why Jake?"
"Because he's not an idiot?" I looked at him in confusion. "Why?"
He just grunted and leaned back to check the line of bulls again. "Because he's the guy who always tries to hit on my girls."
