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"I want you to ignore it when they say I can't because I'm a girl!" I shot back, matching his volume. "Because I'm here to prove it. It doesn't matter what I say. It doesn't matter what they say. It matters what Ido,and I'm right here, proving it. Don't you fucking see that?!"
"Oh."
At some point in there, I'd uncrossed my legs and was just about to stand up to match him, but his answer made everything stop. It was as if the steam had just been let out of the room, and for a moment, the pair of us stared at each other in confusion.
"Oh?" I asked carefully.
Ty made his way back to the other bed and sat down across from me. "Look, I've seen the shit these guys do to each other on tour, and I don't want that to happen to you. Shit, look at J.D.'s rope."
"Yeah, but that's not what I'm talking about," I assured him.
"So what part are you talking about?" he asked.
"Them calling me a slut," I clarified. "Them saying I'm gonna break, get bucked off, have 'easy mode,' or that I'm fucking everyone."
"And bulls." He growled in the back of his throat.
"It's just bullshit," I told him. "It's meant to get a reaction, and if they decide giving me shit gets me going, you going, and J.D. going? Why would they stop, Ty? Why? The taunts make us distracted, and you just proved what happens when you're distracted."
"I did?"
I thrust both hands at him. "You were knocked out!"
"Well, but - "
"No!" I snapped, cutting him off. "You jumped out of the chute to shove them around, got on, didn't set up again, and called for the chute to open before you were ready. You were fuckingdistracted," I told him, "Because the real Ty McBride rides a hell of a lot better than that."
So he leaned over and scrubbed at his face with both hands. "Then how the hell am I supposed to be your protector, hm?"
"You don't have to protect me," I tried to say.
He just looked up, his brown eyes so tired. "Yeah, Cody, I do. Look, there's no other reason for me to be following you around. Just... I can do this."
"Ok," I relented. "But can you do it without smothering me or making me look helpless?"
"I dunno, can I?"
"You did this morning," I admitted. "I mean, yanking my rope out of Derek's hand like that? That was perfect."
Finally, a tiny little smile touched his lips. "Ok. And I can make sure your gear is safe and help you in the chute, right?"
"Yes," I agreed.
He nodded. "So, I just have to ignore what they say?"
"Please?" I begged. "Ty, you don't understand. I am weak. I am a girl. I am different from anything they've seen before. Not because I want to be, but I am, and it feels like that's all people want to focus on. It'll get old fast, though."
"I'm not sure you'll ever get old," he told me.
This time, I was the one smiling, because I knew he meant that as a compliment. "Yeah, but pointing out I'm a girl won't be news."
He nodded. "Ok. I'll let you decide when I should beat their asses, how's that? I mean, unless they're trying to actually hurt you, then all bets are off."
I leaned over to grab his hand. "Thank you. Ty, that's all I wanted, because seeing you lying on the dirt like that? I honestly thought it was my fault."
"That I was a dumb ass?" he asked.
"For me," I clarified. "Those guys were picking on me and you got distracted. Dad always said that's the fastest way for a bull rider to get dead. If I let it get to me - or you let it get to you - then the bull will be the only one winning."
