Page 48 of The Pieces We've Lost

ellison

Today was championship day. Anticipation grew in me the moment I woke up. It had been over fifteen years since I’d looked forward to going to a rodeo this much. I debated telling my mother what was going on as I went through the pros and cons list I had made up in my head.

Pros: She would no doubt be supportive of me, happy even that I was finding my way back to the arena on my own accord. I wouldn’t feel like I was keeping a secret from her anymore when I went out to see Colter.

Cons: She would be happy that I was falling in love with rodeo again. It would create a new expectation of going to more of them. She might think I had changed my mind about the sport. She would also know about Colter.

I decided on not telling her, at least not yet. Maybe one day we’d be able to laugh about the time I accidentally caught feelings for a cowboy. Like mother, like daughter. But right now, it would only complicate things more tomorrow and in the days following Colter’s departure.

Hell, I didn’t even know if Colter and I would continueto talk. I was secretly hoping the answer was yes, even if it meant I’d potentially have to be the one reaching out constantly. I shuddered a little, thinking about the possibility. Hopefully, it would be equal and I wouldn’t come off as desperate.

I was probably just overthinking again. It seemed to be one of the things I did best, besides pushing people away and making sarcastic remarks.

I walked down the hallway into the living room. Mom was sitting on the couch, reading a book with the HGTV channel on in the background. It was rare to see her relaxing on the couch and not being a mom or the owner of the ranch.

“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her, and she turned to face me, abandoning whatever book she was reading. It must not have been that exciting if she was able to so easily tear her eyes away from it. Normally, if she was reading, she required zero interruptions, or she flat out didn’t pay attention.

“Good morning, sweetie.” She smiled, putting a bookmark into the pages and setting down the book. “What are you up to today?”

“Probably will see if anyone needs help around the ranch and then I might go see Isa later tonight,” I lied.

“Oh, you aren’t going to go see that cowboy of yours?”

Huh?

She had completely caught me off guard.

“What do you mean, cowboy of mine?” I was treading lightly. So much for my plan of not telling her.

“You didn’t think you could keep it a secret from me did you?” She laughed. “I know you haven’t been going to see Isabelle every day this week.”

“How, though?”

“I’m a mother, Ellison. I just know things. Besides, you’re not as good a liar as you think. Isabelle was here yesterday morning after you left. Brought over some of those ‘kitchen sink’ cookies she always makes.”

Damn it, Isa.

“Okay, fine. All right, yes. I’m going to the rodeo tonight. He asked me to go. Well, kind of. I lost a bet,” I mumbled.

“It’ll be good for you. I like seeing you like this.” She gave me a knowing look.

“And how’s that?” I wanted to know how she knew all of these things.

“Happy.” She went back to her book, leaving me speechless.

Ace

Text me when you get inside and I’ll see if I can sneak away to find you.

I was almost to the stadium when my phone pinged with the message from Colter. I had decided to leave earlier than normal, getting to NRG Stadium an hour before the rodeo started, because I knew his focus would have to be completely on roping and a small part of me hoped that I would get to see him before the rodeo began.

I pulled into the stadium parking lot, noticing that there were way more cars than I had expected at this time. It was championship night, though, so it made sense.

I strode through the main doors and walked through the sea of people before shooting Colter a text telling him I was here.

I didn’t want to find my seat only to sit there for the next hour, so I decided to just walk around the stadium, regardless of how strange it looked. I was on my second lap around when I thought I saw someone I recognized, so I looked away for a split second. By the time I looked forward again, it was too late to stop myself and I ran right into Colter’s arms.

“We’ve gotta stop meeting like this, Blaze.” He smirked. “Don’t run away from me this time, though.”

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