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"Don't worry, I'll be right there with you," Ty assured me.
So I pulled out my chaps and strapped those on. I left off my spurs, because those were a pain in the ass to walk around in. My rhinestone belt was a little worse for wear, but without my protective vest to cover up half of it, I was pretty sure I was making the impression I wanted. Then, shoving my hat onto my head again, I was as ready as I would ever get.
The guys showed me the shortcut through the halls to an exit at the side where Sharpie markers were provided for the taking. That put us right in the middle of the insanity. At least a hundred people - and who knew how many more - were wandering around. Booths had been placed all over, offering the typical PBR memorabilia. Shirts, hats, posters, cups, and more were offered for sale.
Some were for the entire circuit, but plenty of things were centered on a specific rider. When I saw a black shirt with pink on it, I was surprised, because that was for me! It was just a line drawing of a rider on a bull with some color splashed across it, but I was impressed that the rider was an actual woman. Made me feel like I was coming up in the world. Unfortunately, there wasn't a long line at that booth like there was at most of the others.
Then we waded in. Within seconds, J.D. was pulled away by a group of girls squealing for him to sign their shirts - the ones they were wearing. His smile was a little lecherous, but that was exactly what I'd expected of him when we'd first met. Now, I knew it was just him being a shit and playing his part.
For the most part, the crowd didn't seem to care who they were walking past. It felt like a carnival of sorts. People were laughing. Food was the handheld kind. Everyone had on a cowboy hat. The only thing that set us bull riders apart from the general populous were our chaps. They made a couple of people look over, and a few guys smiled at me the way J.D. had those girls.
Immediately, Ty put himself between me and them, playing the bodyguard. He wasn't hanging on me, but he was hovering, and definitely aware of anyone who looked in my direction. Since I had no clue what was going on, I decided it had to be ok. Besides, he could see over most people's heads, whereas I couldn't.
In the distance, music was playing. Country, of course. A man's voice broke in every so often, and while I couldn't make out what he was saying, it sounded like the typical stuff for an event: buy this, look for that, or enter to win something. With the hum of excited conversation all around us, making out any one thing was basically impossible.
"Where are we going?" I asked Ty, since he seemed to be leading me somewhere.
"My booth always ends up over this way," he explained.
I just nodded, but my head was on a swivel. A little part of me hoped someone would stop us for an autograph. How cool would that be? When I saw Jake Cunningham surrounded by a group of guys, I may have been a little jealous, but I knew I'd get there. Right now, I was a nobody. Soon, I'd be a top rider.
Then the first fan hit. "Ty McBride!" A guy pushed his way closer, holding out a poster. "Man, you're my favorite!" Then his eyes landed on me. "Girlfriend?"
"Competition," Ty corrected as he quickly scrawled his name across the side of the poster.
Then he turned me away before that fan could say anything else. I'd intended to tell the guy who I was, but Ty hadn't given me the chance. Well, he knew what was going on here more than me, right? So maybe I'd missed something?
"You know," Ty said as we kept walking, "I think I can handle this protector gig."
Oh, so that was why he'd hurried me away. I tried to give him a smile, but it was a little weak. If this was a chance to get fans, then I wanted to use it to my benefit. After all, the more people cheering for me, the more likely the sponsors would be to slap their labels on my vest, right?
"But Ty," I said, "I need to get my name out there too."
"It's not that big of a deal," he assured me. "Half these people don't know who any of us are. They just want to check out your tits." And he leaned a little closer to my ear. "Which look real nice in that shirt."
I rolled my eyes. "Same shirt I wear every weekend."
"Trust me," he promised, "I know. I also can't stop thinking about that table."
The one he'd fucked me on. Yeah, that earned him a real smile, but we couldn't say much with the crowd packed around us. J.D. was long gone, but over there was Wes, one of the lower-ranking riders. When I saw that even he had a collection of people around him, I started to think I was doing this all wrong.
Then a girl pointed at me and squealed, yanking at the arm of the guy beside her. For a split second, I was sure I'd been recognized, but Ty shifted to that side, giving the cowboy a glare that was threatening enough for the fan to pull his girl in the opposite direction.
"What are you doing?" I snapped.
"You know these guys are thinking the wrong thing," he explained.
I huffed. "Why, because you do?"
I turned away, intending to put a little space between us, but Ty caught up in only a few steps. When he grabbed my arm and yanked me to a halt, I had to clench my jaw to keep from screaming at him.
"How the fuck am I supposed to keep hands off you if I'm not at your side?" he demanded.
"I don't need you to do that," I insisted. "Fan event, right?" I asked, gesturing around us. "Let me have a few fans, Ty. One or two!"
"Shit, like I have any either," he grumbled. "Cody, relax. This is just bullshit. What matters is the event in a couple of hours."
Maybe to him, but with my scores going down, I didn't want to take any chances. Sure, Max said he'd handle the sponsors, but I had to do my part too. I needed to be a 'real' bull rider, not some sideshow - which was what Ty was treating me like right now. The worst part was that he didn't even realize it. He seemed to honestly think he was helping!
