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"No," I said. "There's not. I gotta make it to finals, Max. That's it. Just to finals."
For a little too long, there was silence on the other end. "Ok," he finally said. "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to take care of Cody," I told him. "Judges fucked her again yesterday. I don't even know what she ended up placing."
"Thirteenth," Max said. "Grace with Under Armour? She's pissed. Sounds like she already had words with the PBR's representatives. That one's really on Cody's side, J.D. We've got her covered."
"Good," I breathed. "And I'm gonna be on the sidelines today. Stuck in a fucking wheelchair, Max. Can you believe they're doing this shit to me?"
"Do you need me?" Max asked.
I smiled, unable to stop myself. "Naw. Cody's daddy showed up. He's makin' sure I'm all good. I just didn't wanna forget ya, since you take such good care of me. Knew you'd be worrying."
"Yeah, I kinda was," he admitted. "I wanted to come check on you, but the hospital made it clear that wasn't going to happen. The updates I got were press releases."
"Shit. Sorry." I really should've made sure Cody called him.
"Not your fault," Max assured me. "I had a feeling your partners would be taking care of you. I'd just get in the way."
I huffed, that being the closest I could really get to a chuckle. "Yeah. Well, I'm basically useless now. So, you make sure Cody's good, ok?"
"Can do," he said. "I'll touch base with Grace today. The two of us have been making some plans for her, so we'll focus on that. You? Get some rest, J.D.?"
"Gotta do my part to take care of my girl," I countered. "Then I can rest. Thanks, Max."
I managed to get off the phone just as Dean sauntered out. He had a whole handful of papers to go with the bag of pills. When he climbed behind the wheel, the man began rooting around in there, then pulled out a small bottle of water and two different bottles.
"One of these," he said, passing me a pill. "One of those." Another. "And something to wash it back with."
Yeah, I wouldn't ever say it out loud, but I was kinda liking this. I hadn't ever had someone around to take care of me before. Hell, I hadn't had a daddy since I was a little tyke. Combined, it was making me feel a bit warm and fuzzy.
"I was just gonna have some cannabis back at the hotel," I admitted, palming the pills.
"Doc said that's for inflammation and infection," Dean told me. "Pharmacist says it's ok with marijuana. That means you take them." And he gave me a look.
My mama did that look. She was better at it, but Dean's version worked well enough to have me popping the pills in my mouth and sucking them back. And when that was done, the man backed the car out and made his way around the parking lot.
"There's a restaurant over here," he said. "We're gonna get you some real lunch before you even think about going to the show."
"Event," I corrected. "Rodeos have shows. Ours are full-fledged events."
"Don't give a shit," Dean said as he parked the car and got out.
The man made it around to my side, pulled the wheelchair out of the backseat, and set it up. Then he braced one arm on the roof of the car and offered me the other like some kind of handicap rail.
"Get your ass in it," he ordered.
I just nodded, becausethatwas the kind of attitude I could work with. Grabbing his arm, I figured out how to turn myself without making it hurt too bad. Then I stood, clenching my jaw hard enough I knew I'd need more dental work. I still did it, and when I dropped my ass into the wheelchair, I kinda felt like I'd just won some sort of prize.
"And here we go," Dean teased, closing up the car and pushing me up to the front doors.
One of the employees saw us coming and hurried to hold it open. Then we got one of them special tables that were made for wheelchairs. A cute young thing - a guy this time - got our order, and then Dean leaned back, kicking his legs out before him.
"So," he said, "you gonna give me a little more about this whole mess you got my little girl in?"
"The PBR?" I asked.
He just shook his head. "She told me it's complicated. She says you and Tanner are good with it. She says..." He lowered his head and hit me with eyes the color of his daughter's. "...That she doesn't think this is just some fun on tour."
