AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re insane,” Jesse says, shaking his head.
“No. I care, dummy. So please, please,pleasego to school. That’s all I’m asking. That’s your job right now. The three of us have to stick together and help each other out. No one else is going to look out for us, so we have to do it. If you don’t careenough to go to school for you, do it for the sheer fact if CPS comes, I can’t guarantee Dad will fight for us. Which meansIwill have to.”
And that means my dreams are put on hold for another eight years. At least.
I’d do it. But I’d rather not have to.
It’s the rare moment I’m off the clock and don’t have anywhere to be for another hour—and the sun is shining. I’m tucked behind the stables on an old workbench, sprawled on my back, boots swinging and hat tilted over my eyes when a shadow falls over me.
“Case said you might be hiding back here.”
My lips spread in a smile beneath my straw hat. Maria.
“Hey, girl. You’re blocking my vitamin D.”
“Scooch over, then, and share the wealth.”
I squirm to one side, and she settles in next to me. I slowly ease to face her, the warm sun making my movements lazy. “Were we supposed to meet today?”
She blocks the sun with one hand, squinting. “Nah. I knew today was a Garrett day. I was in the neighborhood and was hoping a certain sandy-haired friend of Case’s might be loitering around the ranch.”
“Pax?” I ask, surprised. “I think he has a girlfriend. Ish,” I correct after a beat.
Maria shrugs a shoulder as if “girlfriend” is an insignificant detail. Which, the more I get to know the rodeo queen, it probably is.
I snort, tipping my hat down again. “Hell. I’d give my whole car for an ounce of your swagger.”
Maria throws back her head in an elegant laugh. “Your car is a piece of shit, no offense. You’ll have to do better than that.”
I elbow her in her side, and she barely reacts, but I feel too comfortable to care.
“Seriously, Sutton. I’m shocked you make it out of the parking lot every day.”
“Truthfully, same. I once ran over a nail and got a flat, and the repair guy told me the replacement tire was likely worth more than the rest of the car put together.”
“You know who can afford new cars?”
I groan. “Don’t.”
“Winners.”
“Fuck you, Santos.”
Maria laughs. “Just saying. A few races could pay for new tires. Or a pair of those boots you were telling me about.”
“Or Mab,” I say softly, imagining it so easily. Yearning surges in my chest.
“Or Mab,” she agrees, turning back to me, her dark brown eyes penetrating.
I yank the hat off my face, shaking off the longing and rising to a seated position, wrapping my arms around my knees.
Maria nudges my shoulder with a small smirk. “Though, as long as you’re sidelined, my and Duchess’s path to the NFR is clear.”
I nudge her back, pleased balance is restored between me and my new friend. “As long asyou know, deep down, if Mab and I were there, we’d be kicking your ass at every turn.”
“Deep, deep down, maybe,” she concedes. “But don’t you be thinking I’m gonna admit that to anyone else. Pure deniability from this point on. You want to beat me, you’re gonna have to get out there and prove it.” She pats my shoulder beforejumping down from the workbench, brushing off her jeans and smoothing her gorgeous blue-black locks. “I think I hear my future boyfriend.”
I grin, relaxing back on the bench and replacing the hat over my face. I’m glad for the reprieve. “Get ’em, tiger.”
