Page 11 of Big Obsession

I run a hand over my chest, right over my heart. “I promise I’m okay. This is just part of the contract. You get hurt, you get checked out. I won’t get to ride again until they get a clearance, so I’m just going to go get cleared and then I’ll be home. Can you stay with Ace? Or if you’d rather take him to your house?—”

“Tucker Yates, I’m coming to where you are.”

I try to calm her. “Honey, you don’t know how much I appreciate that you want to be with me, but I promise I’m fine. I’m going to get checked out and then I’ll be home. That way Ace can finish his practice and you guys can eat.”

She blows out a breath. “Fine. After practice, I’ll pick up dinner, stop by my house and pick up an overnight bag, and then we’ll head out to the ranch.”

Even in the condition I’m in, my manhood hardens. “So you’ll stay the night? At the ranch?”

“Yes, is that okay?”

I’m nodding my head even though pain is shooting through it. “That’s more than okay. Look, honey, I gotta go. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

She sounds rushed, as if she wants to say something before she hangs up. “Yes, but if you need anything, anything at all, just call me, Tucker. I can get my mom to stay with Ace while I come there. I just need you to be okay.”

I’ve fallen hard for this girl, and I know it for sure now. There’s no turning back: One way or another, Dolly is going to be mine. “I promise. I’ll be fine.”

It’s two in the morning when I finally make it home. I had Rick drop me off at the hospital because I knew it was going to be a long wait and I wanted him to go and take care of Bullet for me, so I called my friend Jace to come and pick me up.

I should have known the moment I called him it was a mistake because he’s never going to let me live this down.

We’re almost to the ranch, but Jace still hasn’t let up. “What the hell were you thinking, man?”

I lean my head back on the seat with my eyes closed. “I was dumb to do the barrel racing event. It requires completely different skills than bull riding, and I hadn’t trained with Bullet for any of it. I knew better, but for charity, I couldn’t say no.”

I turn to look at Jace. “What are the chances of you not telling the guys about this?”

He starts to laugh. “I put your phone on silent at the hospital. You already made the group chat, Tuck.”

I grab my phone from the console and start to scroll. From the texts, the guys are all worried and were going to come to the hospital, but Jace told them I was fine. Stupid but fine.

I can’t even get mad about it. My actions were stupid.

Eyes tired, I stop scrolling. “Shit, I’m never going to live this down.”

Jace laughs again. “Nope, you’re not.” He clears his throat. “Ace know what happened?”

“Yep, he called me while I was at the hospital. He was worried, but he’s okay.”

Jace just grunts in response.

We pull into my long drive, and I’m looking at the house. When I see Dolly’s little car parked in front, my pulse starts to pick up.

I’ve been hurt many times. I get bandaged up and go on my way, but this was the first time that I wanted someone with me. And not just any someone: I wanted Dolly.

Something catches my eye, and I see Dolly coming out the front door and walking to the bottom step of the porch. She has on shorts and a T-shirt, and her feet are bare. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to come home to her every day.

As we get closer, Jace starts to talk. “You ever going to get your head out of your ass?”

I don’t even take my eyes off Dolly. “What are you talking about?”

He points toward the house. “Her. She obviously loves you, and I know it’s complicated and messy, but trust me, a love like that is worth it.”

I know what he’s saying is true, but I still have to bust his balls. “I swear you’ve gotten all soft since you got with Delaney.”

He just chuckles, not taking any offense at all.

When he parks, we get out of the truck, and I walk straight up to Dolly. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, and she instantly buries herself into me. I’m not sure who is clinging to who, but neither of us seems to want to let go.

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