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"Then what?" he pressed.
This time, when I pushed out a heavy breath, I let my cheeks puff with it. "Tanner, I rode the shit out of that bull and got an 85?"
"Well, 85.25," he reminded me. "Fifth place, which made you happy enough last night."
"But myscoreis lower," I pointed out. "The sponsors won't be impressed with that! I'm trying to fill up my vest so I can make some money here, and we both know I'm going to have to work harder than the other rookies, and I feel like the guys are trying to do it for me, which doesn't help that whole 'easy mode' complaint at all."
"Because you're a girl," he said, nodding to show he was keeping up. "Ok, um..." Tanner's brow furrowed for a second, and then his mouth split into a wicked grin. "Talk to your agent guy. That's what J.D. would do."
"Max," I breathed, realizing he had a point.
So I whipped out my phone and sent off a text. While I was at it, I sent one to my father as well, letting him know I was one of the few still in one piece tonight, but I had some stuff to do. When I got an immediate reply, I expected it to be my dad. Instead, it was Max.
Max:
I'm making my way out of the stands. Want to meet me in that large room behind the chutes?
He meant the room I was currently in, so I let him know I was here and would be waiting. Then my phone vibrated again.
Dad:
The guys going to be ok? Pack up their gear, Cody. Give them a ride back if they need it. You can drive a truck. Lot of riders ate dirt tonight, but I'm still proud of you. Now go be the kind of bull rider you can respect. The friend kind.
I smiled at my phone, which had Tanner leaning in closer. Tilting the screen, I let him read it. A laugh slipped from his mouth as he looked down at where I'd already packed the guys' stuff for them.
"Ok," he told me. "How about I take their gear to them in sports medicine? I took a kick in the back that I want to get checked anyway. You can come with."
"Max is about to meet me - "
"Cody!" Max called out.
"...Here," I finished, flashing Tanner a smile as I waved to let Max know I saw him.
"Then you do what you need to," Tanner told me. "I'll make sure those dumbasses are getting treated, and you can text me when you're done? Or them."
"Thank you," I whispered before leaning in to give him a peck on the lips.
Tanner caught my jaw, pulling me back before I could get too far away, then kissed me a whole lot deeper. I knew Max was right there, and I was supposed to look professional in front of him, yet I still felt myself leaning into Tanner's body, taking just a little more as our tongues danced.
"Now you can go talk to your guy," Tanner told me, bending to grab all three bags.
I looked over at Max to see the guy fanning his face playfully. "Well, looks like that's going well," he said. "So what can I possibly help you with?"
"Sponsors," I said.
"Ah..." He jerked his thumb back towards one of the emptier halls. "I'm pretty sure there are some jockey rooms down here, if you're ok with that?"
"Yep."
So he guided me through the maze of concrete halls until the sounds of the bull riders, the crowd, and even the cattle faded to almost nothing. Then, cracking open a door, he gestured for me to proceed him into a quiet little room. Inside, it had a couch, a few chairs, and dozens of pictures of racehorses on the walls.
"Sponsors," Max said as he dropped into one of the chairs. "What's the problem with them?"
"My scores!" I insisted, taking a chair of my own.
He nodded slowly. "Your scores are fine."
"Are they?" I shot back. "C'mon, Max. We both know selling me isn't going to be as easy as selling one of those guys. I'm a controversy dressed in pink. They made it clear at that meeting that they were only interested in me scoring well enough."
