by Cat Johnson
But the lecture didn’t come. Instead, he nodded. “All right.” He rubbed a spot in the middle of his chest. “Remind me to pick up some of those antacids they always sell next to the cash register. I must have eaten something that didn’t agree with me.”
“Okay.” Riley hid her surprise, just happy she’d get to eat and she hadn’t had to listen to him complain about it. “Maybe you should get a muffin or something else bland. It might help settle your stomach.”
He swallowed hard. “Maybe. We’ll see.” Her father tipped his head toward the trailer. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
“A’ight.” Darkness surrounded them as Riley climbed into the cab of the truck.
It was getting late. Time to head for home. They’d done this trip enough times since she’d become old enough to work with her father that she had the routine down. She knew they’d hit much less traffic by traveling at night. Her father would put the truck on cruise control and relax without worrying about too many other vehicles. Riley’s job was to keep him company and make sure he stayed alert at the wheel.
The diesel engine fired up, and with her father behind the wheel and Riley in the passenger seat, they pulled to the exit of the parking lot. He flipped the directional signal on. Riley noticed he was about to turn left, toward the entrance to the interstate. “Dad. The diner?”
“Huh?” He turned to frown at her. “Oh, right.”
He flipped the blinker and after checking both ways, pulled out and turned right toward town where there was a diner open twenty-four hours a day with a parking lot big enough to accommodate their trailer.
It seemed odd to her he’d forgotten their conversation about stopping. Her father was never this distracted. She glanced at him again and realized he didn’t seem right. Maybe he was tired. Or perhaps his stomach was bothering him more than he wanted to admit. She’d keep an eye on him, and if need be, force him to go to the doctor when they got home. When they stopped, she could change places with him and drive the first leg of the trip. She knew he liked to be the one in the driver’s seat, but it looked as if he could use a nap.
Maybe he’d give in just this once. “Dad. If you want, I can drive for a little bit. We can switch off later.”
“Yeah. That’s a good idea.” He’d agreed much too fast.
Riley’s brows rose but she didn’t comment. Something was definitely up. She continued to watch her father a little more closely than usual as he swung the truck into the lot of the diner, put it in park and sat without cutting the engine.
“You want me to go inside and get us both something while you wait here?”
“Yeah, you go on. Nothing to eat for me, but don’t forget those antacids.”
“A’ight.” After one more glance at him, Riley swung the passenger door wide and climbed down.
Even in the middle of the night, the lot was full. The diner must be the only place in town open. She pushed through the door and saw inside was as full as the parking lot. Spotting the overflowing table of bull riders packed shoulder to shoulder, she knew why. It looked as if she wasn’t the only one hungry after tonight’s event. A person could only eat so much arena food before it got to you.
That thought reminded her of how badly she needed food. Riley stepped up to the cash register and grabbed a roll of antacids for her father. A woman in a T-shirt displaying the diner’s name and logo came over. “Just those?”
“No, actually. Can I get something quick to take out?”
“Sure. What d’ya want?”
“Do you have something hot that’s already ready to go? Like chili or soup?” Riley needed something hot and filling in her stomach if she was going to make it all the way home. But that would also make her sleepy, so she added, “And the largest coffee you’ve got too, please.”
She might have to stop to pee sooner because of it, but she’d need the caffeine to keep her awake behind the wheel so her father could doze.
“We got both chili and soup hot in the back. Chicken noodle is the soup. And the chili was made fresh today.”
“I’ll take a chili to go, please.”
The woman turned and yelled the chili order toward the kitchen and then rang up the total. Riley paid and waited while the waitress poured coffee into a paper takeout cup.
“Cream and sugar?” she asked.
“Both please. Lots of it.” She wasn’t a diehard coffee drinker like some, but in a pinch she could make do by camouflaging the flavor. There wasn’t a fancy coffee house around here to get a gourmet flavored blend, but enough good old cream and sugar would do it.
“Hey, darlin’. You heading home or staying for the night?”
The familiar voice had Riley turning. “Mustang. Hey. We’re heading home tonight. It’s easier to just get the bulls home rather than keep them in temporary housing for another night.”
His nod dipped his cowboy hat forward a bit just as the waitress delivered a paper bag. “Here’s your chili. Spoon, napkins and crackers are in there.”
“Thank you.” As the waitress moved on to other duties, Riley turned back to see Mustang grinning.
“You order the chili here, you’re gonna need those antacids.” He tipped his chin toward the roll on the counter.
“Those are for Dad. The chili’s for me, but yeah, they might come in handy a few hours down the road.” She laughed. Maybe the chili hadn’t been a wise choice after all.
“Well, y’all have a safe trip home.”
“You too, Mustang. And tell all the rest of the guys I said get home safe too.”
“Will do.” He grinned his patented Mustang grin that had won him lots of women’s hearts, or at least some other body parts, over the years.
That was, of course, before he became a one-woman man. His traveling buddy Slade too. It seemed like all the veterans were pairing off, one by one. A few of the younger guys too, like Chase and Garret. But there were still some, the former rookies who’d joined the tour about the same time Riley started to travel with her dad, who were still single and available.
Her thoughts turned to Skeeter and how he wouldn’t be on the tour when they came back from this mid-season break. He wasn’t here with the rest of the guys. The thought that he’d rather go back to his room than come out to be with his friends broke her heart. She’d definitely take a look at that touring pro event list and see what venues they were scheduled for when she got home.
Home—which was hours away. Time to hit the highway. With one final glance at the table of riders still going strong, Riley pushed through the exit door. The guys were all fueled with adrenaline, food and no doubt a few of their sponsor’s energy drinks. They could sit and talk for hours about tonight’s rides. But for her and her father, it was going to be a long, boring night.
Chapter Four
The door of their room had just closed behind their two female guests when Aaron turned to Skeeter, wide eyed. “Dude, did you do it?”
“No, I didn’t do it.” In what might be the most embarrassing night of his life, Skeeter didn’t even want to think about how he’d listened to Aaron having sex while he got Tammy off under cover of darkness in his own bed. Not to mention talk about it all afterward.
“Damn. From what I was hearing I thought—”
Good God, Aaron had been listening? “Aaron, can we please not talk about this.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not something a guy should talk about.”
Aaron’s eyes widened. “You’ve been traveling with me and the other guys for how many years now? You know damn well we talk about it.”
“That’s them talking. Not me.”
Aaron shook his head. “I have never met anyone as squeaky clean as you in my life. I swear.”
“I am not squeaky clean.” That Skeeter had done all he had with Tammy proved he wasn’t.
“Relax, Skeets. It’s not an insult. You’re just…different.”
“I’m not that different.” Skeeter’s brows drew low.
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br /> “Yeah, buddy. You are.” Aaron slapped him on the back. “I’m starving. You wanna hit up the diner next door?”
Since Skeeter hadn’t gotten to finish his meal before Aaron had arrived with the girls, he was hungry too. “Yeah, I could eat.”
Aaron reached for the doorknob but paused, glancing back at Skeeter. “Tell me you at least had a good time.”
“Yes, I had a good time.” His cheeks heated at the admission.
“Okay.” Aaron nodded. “Come on. I’ll buy.”
They walked next door and found the place hopping. No surprise there. Bull riders liked to eat. And fans liked to follow bull riders around.
Skeeter’s gaze swept the diner, looking to see if Tammy and Robin happened to be there. He didn’t want any smirks from Aaron or any of the other guys should Tammy come running up to him and kiss him or something.
This was why he didn’t like the quick hook-up thing. It seemed fun during, but not so much afterward. Skeeter wasn’t the love ’em and leave ’em type. He was no good at it. Too bad he’d let his misery, as well as his hormones and peer pressure from Aaron, get the best of him tonight.
The coast was clear of the girls, but not of the guys. Now Skeeter could worry about something new—all the sympathy and pity he’d see in the other riders’ eyes when they tried to tell him it was all right he’d gotten thrown off the circuit.
The disappointment in himself, in his performance, came back full force. He’d forgotten about it for a bit with the distraction that was Tammy—not to mention Aaron and Robin—but it was back now. He should have stayed in the room and hid. Let Aaron come by himself to eat.
“Hey! Come on over. There’s room.” Garret stood and waved to them from across the diner.
Garret and Chase had roomed together for this event. Even though Garret was Aaron’s brother-in-law since he’d married Aaron’s sister, Silver, they’d decided it would be smartest if the two single guys roomed together. That had sure been the right call. There’s no way Garret would have lain there quietly in the dark all alone while Aaron got busy in the next bed.
The table was packed with riders, both veterans and the younger guys Skeeter hung out with. Slade, Mustang, Chase, Garret—yup, every one of them had watched him fail tonight. Skeeter should have just gone to sleep.
“I was wondering where you two were.” Chase stood and eyed the empty couple of chairs at a table set for four that only had two people at it. “These taken?”
The guy shook his head. “Nope. All yours.”
“Thanks.” Chase shoved the chairs toward their table.
Aaron grabbed one and grinned. “We were uh, entertaining a couple of ladies in our room for a while. But I got hungry.”
Chase and Garret grinned right along with him, while Skeeter felt his face flush.
“Yup. I remember those days.” Slade smiled and shook his head.
Mustang let out a snort. “I remember them too. That’s something you used to do. Finish with ’em, kick ’em out and then go get food.”
Slade rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say. Don’t matter anymore anyway. Those days are long gone for the rest of us.” Slade tipped his head to indicate the four taken men at the table.
“That they are.” Mustang nodded. “But good to see we’ve passed the torch to these two.”
“Skeeter and I will gladly accept that torch and carry it proudly.” Aaron grinned.
Aaron had been right when he’d said talk about women was the norm with these guys. It had never bothered Skeeter until now, when he was the subject of the talk. “Come on, Aaron. It wasn’t like that.”
“You wanna explain how it was then?” Aaron’s brows rose as he shot Skeeter a look. It was a look that said it was best to let this topic of conversation go and move on. Skeeter couldn’t agree more.
The only thing worse than having Aaron know about his lack of experience would be for these guys to know it too. Skeeter planted his ass in the chair. “No.”
“So, what did y’all eat? What’s good?” Aaron asked. “I’m starving.”
Garret let out a snort. “No surprise. Sex’ll work up an appetite in a man.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Aaron laughed.
“The fries here are kick ass.” Chase reached for one of the few fries remaining on the platter in the middle of the table.
More than happy to have the subject move to food rather than sex, which was all Aaron seemed to have on the brain lately, Skeeter pulled his chair closer to the table. He reached out and grabbed the menu stuck between the ketchup and the salt and pepper shakers. “Sounds good to me. I could go for some fries. Or maybe some chili cheese fries.”
Slade groaned. “Go for it, kid. You’re still young, but gone are the days I can eat chili right before bed. I’d be up popping antacids like candy all night long.”
Mustang let out a laugh. “That’s funny, because Riley was just in here picking up exactly that. Chili and antacids for the drive home with Butch.”
Riley’s name caught Skeeter’s attention. He flashed back to Riley and how sweet though humiliating it had been that she’d come back to talk to him tonight.
The talk turned to bulls, Butch’s bulls in particular, which kept thoughts of Riley in the forefront of Skeeter’s mind. He wouldn’t be seeing her on this circuit for a while, if ever, but she had given him her number and said he should text.
Had she meant it? More importantly, did he really want her seeing him, probably still riding like crap if the last nine outs were any indication, while down in the touring pros after he’d been in the big leagues? He’d have to decide later if he’d text her or not.
Maybe things would look brighter in the morning. He could hope. Skeeter drew in a big breath and let it out in a sigh.
Mustang didn’t miss the action. His gaze zeroed in on Skeeter. “I know how you’re feeling.”
“You’ve been kicked off the tour?” Skeeter asked.
“No. But you know I was on the injured list for a few months. Felt like an eternity. It’ll be all right. You’ll be back.”
Skeeter let out another big breath. He’d been out on the injured list himself, but that had felt different than this.
Realizing the rest of the guys had gone quiet as Mustang spoke, Skeeter wished they’d change the subject. Go back to talking about sex or french fries. Anything so that he wasn’t the center of attention.
Slade slurped from a straw in a cup that looked like it contained mostly ice and then planted the hard plastic back on the table. “It’s consistency, kid. You don’t have to make every one a ninety-point ride. But you do have to ride every one. It all adds up. Get it?”
He was right, but it didn’t mean Slade’s lecture would reach from Skeeter’s brain all the way down to his spurs. Though it needed to. Bull riding was a mental game, yes, but it was also a full-body sport. Lately, Skeeter’s body parts hadn’t exactly been working as a team.
“Yes, sir.”
“Jesus, stop calling me sir.” Slade shook his head. “I’m not that much older than you are.”
“Eh, sure you are.” Mustang grinned at Slade.
“I think you need to train.” Chase joined the conversation, which seemed to have become more of a lecture for Skeeter’s benefit. Bull Riding 101. “Put together a workout to strengthen your core. That’s what helps you keep your balance on the back of a bull. Good strong core muscles. And not just sit-ups, I’m talking Pilates too.”
“Cowboy Pilates? Yeah, all right. Get right on that, Skeets.” Garret laughed.
Chase cocked a brow at his friend. “Hey, we’re way more than cowboys. We’re professional athletes.”
“That’s true.” Aaron nodded. “And I’ve heard of football players taking ballet classes to help their game.”
“Oh, yeah? Which football player took ballet?” Garret asked.
Slade snorted out a laugh. “And had the balls to admit it?”
“I don’t know. One of those famous guys. Anyway, that�
�s not the point.” Aaron frowned at his brother-in-law.
“Then what is the point?” Garret asked.
“Eh, shut up.” Aaron turned in his chair to glance at the counter. “Where’s the waitress?”
Chase rolled his eyes. “Anyway, back to what I was saying. We have to keep in top physical condition even if we are only working in our sport for eight seconds at a time.”
“Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll try anything. I’ll take ballet or Pilates or whatever damn thing I have to to knock myself out of this slump. But I’m not sure any of that is going to work.” For the first time in his life, Skeeter was truly scared.
If he wasn’t a bull rider, what was he? For a decade, reaching this level of competition had been his sole goal. The one thing he’d worked toward. If it were all over, what would he do? Who would he be?
Suddenly he wasn’t very hungry for those fries after all.
“Skeets, look at me.” Mustang leaned forward, focusing on Skeeter.
He raised his eyes to meet Mustang’s intense stare. “Yeah?”
“We’ll help you.”
“How?”
“We’re not that spread out. Slade and I are in Texas. Chase is in Oklahoma. You’re in Arkansas. Look at a map. We’re all close by. Right there to help you.”
“And we’re all on a break for the next few weeks,” Chase added. “We can work out together.”
Garret made a face. “That’s all well and good for you all, but Aaron and I will be in North Carolina.”
“Then you’ll just have to come to us. We outnumber you and there’s more places to ride out by us,” Chase pointed out.
He was a good friend, but Skeeter didn’t need their pity. Their pity made him not want their help. And to make Garret leave home and his wife in North Carolina to come help him work out was crazy.
He had to stop this plan of theirs before it went any further. “No. It’s fine, guys. I’ll be okay on my own.”
“What are you going to do to fix this?” Mustang asked the question Skeeter had asked himself a hundred times. This time, he had a possible answer.