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“You can’t say a single word.”
“I won’t.” This must have been really juicy information if Brielle was making Faye promise to keep quiet. Her whole body tingled with anticipation.
“Back in high school, James and I had a thing.”
“James. As in JamesPratt. Constance’sJames?”
Brielle dug her elbow into Faye’s side. “Shh! Yeah. We had a thing, and once upon a time I thought we’d end up together.” She gave Faye a wistful look. “Of course, I don’t have the same feelings for him that I used to, but I will always wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t pushed him away.”
“Brielle, I had no—”
“Then, for a while there, I had thought Shane might be the guy who would pull me out of my slump.”
Faye blinked several times. “I knew you went on a few dates with Shane, but…”
Brielle gave her a sharp look. “I don’t want to hear a single word breathed about him. That was a breakup that I needed for personal reasons, but like I said. He made his mark. My point is, you can fall in love several times and it might not be the right guy. Just…” She let out a sigh. “Just do what will make you happiest. If that means going for the guy who has some questionable hobbies, then do it. There are worse guys.”
“Like Wade Keagan?”
Brielle slapped her knees and got to her feet. “Well, I’m done. Nice chat.”
Faye straightened, laughing. “What? Wait, I’m sorry.”
“Nope. Just… nope.” There was a smile on Brielle’s face, indicating she wasn’t upset. But it was definitely a touchy subject. Faye settled back on her bed. Everything Brielle had said made sense—enough that she knew she’d have to sleep on it before making a final decision.
26
Adam
Adam turned his cowboy hat around in his hands as he watched the current competitors do their stuff in the large arena. The cowboys riding the horses would get their steeds to run fast and then come to a skidding halt.
At the speed those horses were running, it was impressive to see them sliding for upwards of ten feet. He couldn’t tell why such an event was important enough to put in the rodeo, but it was nice to watch—especially if it got his mind off his own event.
His gaze swept through the arena, taking in all of those who came for the rodeo. There were people of all kinds in cowboy hats and boots. Men and women and children eating greasy food, watching the rodeo events, and playing the carnival-like games.
For the first several hours, Adam had searched for a specific group of people. He’d hoped to see even one person from Faye’s family though he couldn’t really figure out why. That family had flat-out told him he was wrong for wanting to do this.
If pressed, he would have to admit to himself that he wanted to see Faye more than anyone else. He wanted to hear her laughter, to have her cheer him on. He’d envisioned being here differently. He’d always thought she would be by his side when he finally ended up in the saddle.
Adam frowned as he put his hat on his head and strode away from the arena. He wove in and out of groups of people, not sure where he was planning to go. He’d already paid for the entrance fee. To walk away would be a mistake.
Unless being here was the mistake.
Faye knew this world better than he did. In all likelihood she was right about the dangers that the rodeo presented. And maybe he was just being stubborn. Didn’t he deserve to be happy? Wasn’t that the whole point of living? He should be able to try new things even if they were dangerous. That was what made people feel alive—the thrill of it all. And really, was the rodeo as dangerous as Faye had made it out to be? He’d been here all weekend and hadn’t seen one instance where someone needed to leave in an ambulance.
Adam continued to wander along the paths that had been carved out by the guests attending the rodeo. Food vendors and craft tables had been set up, and on the other side of the property, cowboy music played. He hadn’t been in that direction, but he’d heard there were live performances, and it wasn’t just a DJ.
Happy couples and happy families moved like the waves of the ocean. They followed the currents of the people in front of them. Children ran ahead of their nervous parents only to be reprimanded a moment later.
He eyed a family with a young girl and boy just ahead of him. Each parent held a child’s hand as they made their way toward the area where carnival games had been set up. The little girl skipped beside her father, pigtails floating with each step. She wore a small pink cowboy hat with matching boots.
For some reason he couldn’t understand, his thoughts shifted to what it would be like to have his own child—to have someone so dependent on him. Right now, the only one that would really suffer if they lost him was his father. His brothers would be sad, but they’d get through it.
And Faye.
Except she’d broken up with him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. How much could she actually love him if she was willing to throw away their relationship, as new as it was, over something like this?
A pair of cowboys and a small boy made eye contact with him, going the other direction. One smiled wide and stopped. “Adam, right?” He was familiar, but Adam couldn’t place him.
