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I nodded. "Gonna tell me he's not?"
"He's not," Ty said, and he sounded like there was no bullshit at all in his answer. "Trust me. I fucking wish he was, because that fucker stole Cody away from me with a damned mechanical bull and a shit-ass date."
"So they're honestly a couple?"
Ty's eyes narrowed, saying more than he probably meant to. "Yep."
Ah, and there was the bullshit I'd expected earlier. He was just a little too casual with that answer. Just a bit too plain and simple. Maybe I didn't have all the pieces, but I was getting a bit too close.
"So she started dating Tanner," I guessed, "because of the rumors and because Austin had already been a dick to her?"
When the muscle on the side of Ty's jaw jumped, I knew I was right. Ty's answer no longer mattered. Tanner had made his big play because Cody was helping him out, but it seemed things between them were shifting from a little act to the real deal. Now, the only missing piece was how J.D. fit into all of this.
"She met him at her stacking party," Ty said, making me pause and rethink my assumptions. "J.D. heard the local bull riders were giving her shit, so he invited a few of us to drop by and put on a little show of support. So you know, those bullfighters can throw punches just as well as the rest of us."
"Gotcha," I said. "But don't you see? Austin's looking for something to hold over her. If I can spot it first, then I can run interference and help her out."
"Why?!" Ty snapped. "What the fuck do you get out of this, Jake?"
I couldn't stop my stupid lips from curling. "My answer won't make a damned bit of sense to you, Ty."
"Try me."
"It'll piss off my father."
"Yep," he agreed. "That don't make any sense."
"Well, let's just say my old man's a piece of shit. Pissing him off is basically my reason for living. He hates the idea of a woman in the PBR, and one that isn't a joke? A woman who's actually able tocompete?" I pushed out a dry laugh. "Yeah, that gets under his skin in a way that makes me willing to make sure Cody makes it to finals."
He grunted and turned back for the bedroom. "So you're saying you've got a bad case of daddy issues?"
"Yep," I agreed. "You would too if your old man refused to admit you existed. Worse, he tries to pull the good father shit when we're all alone. So, this is just my way of making sure he knows I'm better at this game than he is."
"And that shit is fucked up," Ty told me. "But the crazy thing is, I'm buying it." He was throwing all their clothes into that plastic bag. "I'll also keep buying it right up until you fuck up." He lifted his head and glared at me again. "But the moment you screw her over? I'm going to break your knees. Then, when I'm done? I'll let J.D. have the rest of you. If there's anything after that, the bullfighters can finish you off."
"Heard loud and clear," I promised. "And just for the record? I'm not going to fuck up. Not my style, Ty. I leave that for the rest of you dumbasses."
He grunted. "Keep tellin' yourself that, Jake. When it comes to Cody, everyone fucks up. She'll get under your skin and you'll realize she's worth fucking up for."
"Or maybe she's worthnotfucking up for," I countered. "Sounds to me like a much better option."
Chapter28
Ty came and went,leaving behind a bag with clothes for all of us. Jake wasn't with him, and when I asked Ty to give the guy my thanks, he grumbled like he wasn't thrilled about it. Still, he'd done me a big favor, so I thanked him as well.
For a moment, we stood in the hall, caught between what I'd said when I broke up with him and what he'd done after. Neither of us wanted to talk about it, but all of it was hanging there between us. Yet this was not the time, so Ty told me to take care of J.D. and left. I watched him saunter all the way down the hall until he turned out of sight.
"It's ok to forgive him," Tanner said when I stepped back into the room.
"No," I said, "it's not. It would beeasyto forgive him, but what good are boundaries if I ignore them each time he crosses my lines?"
"That's my rookie," J.D. croaked, pulling his eyes open.
"Hey," I breathed, hurrying over to his side.
Tanner rushed to the other side of the bed. "How do you feel, babe?" he asked.
"Like I got hit by a bull," J.D. grumbled. "I think my happy juice is wearing off too. My abs fuckinghurt."
