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She looked back at me emptying our second bottle of wine into her glass. Shaking it she giggled.“Not sure that’s wise after loading me up on wine but let’s hear it.”
“I was thinking of moving to Riverside. Or somewhere nearby. Before you start assuming it was for a certain someone it isn’t. It wasn’t. It won’t be.”
My words slurred together as I tried my hardest to make it clear this was a decision I was making not based on anyone else.“Every time I come out this way I pass through there. It screams agriculture and what better place to use my degree when I get it right?”
I left out the part that I had visited Gregory Orchards Farm a few times in the last two years. In hopes I might run into Bryce. Although, I did not know what I would even say. Lucky for me, he wasn’t ever around. Fate had decided we weren’t meant to be.
However, being at that farm I could see why he lit up so bright that night he told me about it. The place was spectacular. I met most of his family too. They were so welcoming and even offered me a tour when I mentioned I had been working towards my degree. Claire said they could probably use someone around there that wasn’t just winging it. That if I ever needed a job I was more than welcome to swing by.
“Not a horrible idea. I mean hell that puts you a hell of a lot closer to me. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. For you I mean.”
“Of course. Ninety-nine percent for me. One percent for when you start popping out little bull tamers so I’m around to see them.”
In the last two years, Nicole and I had reconnected in a way I hadn’t expected. We went from people who knew one another growing up to best friends again. When I passed a test or had a big moment, she was my first call. Even though we had grown close, when she asked me to be her maid of honor, it shocked me. I had assumed maybe she would squeeze me into her bridal party but not something so big.
Cole's groomsmen from what I had learned were all fellow bull riders and two of his cousins. Even though I was told most of them were single, I did not ask who they were. Looking for a rebound wasn’t on my list of to-dos. I was two credits away from gaining my degree. I just got out of an almost two-year waste of my time relationship. All I needed right now was to focus on her wedding.
“Don’t start. Cole is enough to handle. When all the boys are here, lord help me.”
“Oh, you love it. I've seen the posts. Everyone is always all smiles around here.”
Particularly a sandy blonde haired cowboy that I blew any chance I had with. I was an idiot.
“You know how social media is Han, everyone looks perfect and happy. You can’t trust everything you see. Just ask Bryce.”
Just as I went to respond, we could hear voices coming from inside.
“We’re back. For the record I kicked my shoes off outside, any mess on your floor was from him.”Cole's voice rang through the screen door separating us from the inside.
Nicole rolled her eyes. Apparently, this must not be a new thing. I could hear another voice trying to defend himself. A voice I recognized immediately. One that made my stomach bubble and the two bottles of wine seem like a single glass of water.
“Screw you. He did not Nic, he kicked them off inside the same as me. Don’t let him…” Bryce looked over at me as if I was just another person passing through the house. Before pausing as he took in who I was.“Oh, hey. Didn't know you had company.”
“Hi Bryce.”
Chapter Eight
Bryce
Cole convinced me to come by for a few drinks. His newest claim was he only had seven more days being single. Not that any of us believed him for a minute that things would be any different once he had a ring on his finger.
He was doing it so I didn’t have to go home and get inside my head again. My last few rides had been off. He knew as well as I did why that was. Stubborn assholes we were, we both refused to acknowledge it. Blamed it on the bull or something, basically anything other than the truth. Which in all honesty, I appreciated.
Gigi had been out of town for the last week and texted me early this morning that she probably wouldn’t be making it back for the wedding. I knew she was going to do that. She had been looking for ways to hurt me for a while and publically ditching me when she knew cameras wouldn’t miss the fact I was alone worked perfectly.
She was gorgeous. I would give her that. When we were introduced, she made an impression on me unlike anyone else. She was the type of girl Rowan loved. Which was why the blow job she gave in the bar bathroom twenty minutes into our meeting landed her by my side. The media caught wind of a girl by my side and things spun fast. I had only known her for a few days but as far as social media was concerned; we had been romantic for a while. Keeping it private.
She wanted more time in the spotlight and I wanted the opposite. I wanted to ride and go home to the farm in my time off. That was it.
Surprisingly, Claire and Lilly had come around to the idea of me riding. They still refused to watch me. Both claiming they didn’t need to go grey so young. My brothers and Rowan were probably my biggest fans. I hadn’t expected the support that I got. It only fueled my passion to do better each time I got out there.
Kicking off our shoes at the door we both looked down at the pile of dirt we brought in. Before I could say a thing Cole was yelling to let Nic know I was to blame. It wasn’t the first and certainly wouldn’t be the last time this happened.
Defending myself I noticed Nicole was out on the back porch enjoying the weather and a glass of wine. Stepping out the door, what I hadn’t noticed was the blonde sitting near her. Dammit if my breath didn’t catch and my heart jumped directly into my throat seeing her sitting there. I knew she was going to be around but fuck I didn’t expect her to be more mesmerizing than I remembered her. I didn’t expect her to be here right now.
Her voice was low and disappointed as she said my name. Apparently my presence didn’t bring back any of the same memories for her as it did for me. Not that I blamed her. It had been two years.
Two years of me having her number and never once calling or texting. Not that I didn’t try. It was almost a daily occurrence. Every time I worked up the nerve the little voice in my head said she would have left more than that note if she was looking for anything.
