Page 114 of Never Left You

I knew the name; I knew his face. I wouldn’t consider him a friend, but he and I had gone out for drinks a few times. A bull rider. Still riding. High standings this year. He had all the girls chasing him at one point. Money. Fame. Good looks. Not broken from a riding accident. He was everything she wanted. Of course, she had gone for him, and of course he would have taken the attention. Never pegged him for a guy to steal another man’s wife, though.

“You cheated on me with Curtis Roster? Was this before or after you blocked Abi from my phone?”

Carolyn shook her head, her lips a tight line before she finally said, “I was tired of competing with her. Even when you were in that hospital bed, all you talked about was how you wished Abiwould call or come see you—never mind the fact that yourwifewas right next to you.”

“She’d been trying to reach me before my accident.” I glanced behind her quickly, fast enough to see Curtis with a small boy on his hip, a smile on his face, coming up to us. “You blocked her way before that.”

“I don’t remember when I did that…” She hummed, no idea that her husband was coming up behind her. “But like I said, I was tired of competing.”

“There was never a competition with Abi.”

“Of course there was. It was one of the reasons why I left you.” She tilted her head, putting her hands on her hips. “Wait…does she even know the real reason why I left you?” She snarled.

The real reason? I didn’t fit into her mold anymore. I couldn’t give her what she really wanted. I could give her the money, the fame, the name in lights…and I couldn’t give her—

“Who did you leave?” Curtis’s voice came up from behind her, making her jump slightly before he kissed her cheek.

“Mama!” The young boy reached out for Carolyn. Her demeanor completely changed as she turned to her son. She bent and picked him up, giving him a quick kiss to his check.

“Me. Remember?” I tipped my hat at him. “Hey, Curtis.”

“Oh…” He stiffened. “Hey Cash.”

“Carolyn and I were married, don’t you remember? And she hated my friends, she was always creating drama where there didn’t need to be. Does she do that with you?” I wasn’t holding back with Abi anymore, so why hold back here? I swallowed, took a deep breath, and let it all out. “Carolyn was competing against one of my friends who she had no reason to compete against. But I guess I should thank you, because if she hadn’t slept with you while I was out for the count—you remember my accident, right?—I would have never found Abi again.”

Curtis blinked, his arm instinctively reaching out for Carolyn.

“Yeah, well…I…” Curtis stumbled, his eyes searching the air around him for a response.

“Curtis, baby…” Carolyn turned to her husband. “Why don’t you take Peter and Jada up to your box. I’ll be right there.”

“Isn’t this rodeo a little low grade for you Roster?”

Curtis smiled. “Nah, Cash…you know how it is. I have to get those checks, gotta rack up that prize money to get to the NFR. No rodeo is too small or too big.”

“Curtis…” Carolyn reiterated. “Here. Peter, baby go with daddy.”

Curtis reached for his son once more, kissed Carolyn and then gave me a nod.

“Good to see you, Cash.” Curtis shifted his son on his hips.

“Wish I could say the same.” I narrowed my eyes.

Curtis just stood there, a vacant expression on his face.

“Curtis.” She snapped.

“Right, right…meet you in the box.” He turned finally, leaving Carolyn and me by the trailer again.

“Well, that was awkward,” I admitted. “Did he know we were still married when you started sleeping with him?”

“Yes,” she admitted, her face whipping right back to me, her hair flying. “But he knew I was planning on leaving.”

“What happens if he gets into an accident? Bull riding is a lot more dangerous than saddle bronc.”

“He won’t,” She clipped.

“I didn’t think I would either.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “For his sake, I hope he doesn’t. For your sake…I hope you get what you deserve.”

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