Page 46 of The Pieces We've Lost

“The guys need me,” I apologized to Ellison as I stuck my phone back in my pocket.

“I understand,” she murmured, even though she looked a little sad. Was she having as much fun as I was then? Was she also dreading the moment I’d have to pack up and drive away from Houston?

We started to walk back to our vehicles, hand in hand, through the park and by the ice cream place we had just been to. I was going to miss this girl like hell when I left in two days.

When we got back to her car and she let go of my hand, I held it out palm up for her. She gave me a quizzical look and I nodded my head to her hand. Reluctantly, she gave me her hand, like she thought I was about to trick her. No funny business here, though.

“I’ll see you later.” I brought the top of her hand up to my lips.

“Bye,” she whispered, getting into her car and shutting the door.

I pulled into the lot where the trailers were parked at exactly 4:58. The boys were standing outside like they had been waiting for me to get back. I had no idea why; they weren’t my fucking babysitters. Jake and Reid looked bored, but Mikey? Mikey looked downright pissed. God knows why. It wasn’t like we hadn’t had to wait on his ass multiple times before because he was trying to pick up a girl.

“Nice of you to show up, Carson,” Mikey grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Did I miss the memo about us doing something today besides going to watch the competition? Because it sure as hell didn’t look like you were coming out of your trailer bright and early this morning,” I pointed out.

He had likely brought home a girl last night because by ten this morning, he still wasn’t up and moving.

“We’ve been waiting foryou!” he snapped.

The fuck?

Mikey could be an ass, but he usually wasn’t like this.

“Watch yourself, Mikey.” Reid intervened. He didn’t know where I was, but he probably could have guessed I was out with Ellison.

“Yeah, Michael, have a little patience, it might do you some good.” Jake smirked.

“Yeah, yeah, patience is a virtue. Well, I have none,” he grumbled in response.

“Well, I’m here now, so let’s get on with it.” I wasn’t taking any of Mikey’s shit. He wanted me to find a woman down here in Houston? Well, I found myself one. And I wasn’t planning on sharing.

He grumbled something I couldn’t hear before walking off. I loved Mikey, he was still my brother, but sometimes he could be a giant pain in the ass.

“What’s his deal?” I asked Reid.

“Don’t ask me, dude. I’m just as confused as you are.” He shrugged.

“The girl he was with probably said his dick was small or something,” Jake snorted.

“Yeah, either that, or he’s meeting a girlatthe rodeo,” Reid added.

We all chuckled as we followed a still-steaming Mikey, who got a little grumpy at times if you messed with his sex life.

We got inside early enough before everything would start that I was slightly annoyed I rushed back here so quickly. If I wasn’t seeing Ellison again tomorrow, Iwould have been much more irritable. I wanted to soak up every moment I got with her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please join us as we rise and remove our hats—” The rodeo was about to begin as the announcer called for everyone to stand for the national anthem.

I took off my cowboy hat, placing it over my heart. The anthem and prayer were like TV static, blocked out by the sound of Ellison’s laugh and the way she called me Sparky.

I hadn’t noticed that everyone had already sat down and I was still standing with my hand over my heart.

Jake and Reid were trying to hold back a snicker as I gave them a glare and took my seat. Mikey was off doing God knows what somewhere else, so he wasn’t sitting with us.

“This girl must really have you whipped, Colter.” Jake elbowed me in the ribs. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“As long as he’s focused tomorrow, that’s all that matters.” Reid flashed me a grin.

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