Page 8 of The Chances We Take

“Yeah, yeah, he already tried to pull that shit on me.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s fine, really. It’s only at night. And hopefully he has the sense to not bring girls up to our room.”

Jake started whistling and Hayden kind of pursed his lips, not wanting to address my comment, as Colter said, “Well, now that you’re down here, should we go find something to do before it starts getting crazy?”

“Yeah, Isa won’t get here until tomorrow morning, so we’ve got time to kill,” Ellison agreed, changing the subjectaway from Mikey and his activities. Which was for the best, because I think we all knew I’d probably get exiled to someone else’s room—likely Jake and Hayden’s—at least once this trip.

We ended up in one of the casinos and each decided to put a twenty-dollar bill into a slot machine just to try our luck.

“So, this best friend of yours?” I turned to Ellison, who was playing on the slot machine next to me.

“What about her?” She didn’t look at me as she continued to make her bets.

“I feel like I’ve never heard much about her.” In fact, I didn’t know if Ellison had really ever talked about her best friend when she was with us. But then again, she had only come up to Montana to visit a few times between the Fourth of July rodeo and now. Colter returned the favor and visited her a few times during the rare weeks we didn’t have anything going on.

She cursed as she placed a few more bets, not winning much on any of them. “Isabelle and I are polar opposites, but it works. We balance each other out. Kind of like you and Colter. Or maybe more how Colter and I balance each other out.”

“She’s fun, I think you’d like her.” Colter popped his head around the slot machine he was on. “Easily excited, though.”

“Can’t wait to meet her.”

A high-pitched squeal triggered a ringing in my left ear as Ellison leaped up from the table we were sitting at for anearly morning breakfast, practically sprinting over to hug the source of the scream: a short, blonde girl.

“I’m so glad you made it!” Ellison squealed. I couldn’t think of a time I’deverheard Ellison make that kind of noise.

“Thank you for inviting me. I’m so excited.”

I looked at Colter and raised my eyebrow before mouthing,Isabelle?

He nodded before the girls came over to the table.

We all stood, and I realized justhow shortshe was. Her head barely came above my shoulder, and I was basically staring down at her, even though the shoes she was wearing gave her a bit of extra height.

“Guys, this is Isabelle, my best friend. Isa, these are the guys. Colter, as you already know, Mikey, Hayden, Jake, and Reid.” Ellison introduced us as Mikey shook her hand and Hayden and Jake both tipped their hats, exchanging handshakes after.

“Pleasure to meet you, Isa.” I took off my hat to shake her hand.

Her face tipped up, and her eyes, a deep chocolate brown color, met mine. A flush of pink spread across her cheekbones, but she quickly replied, “Nice to meet you too.” She looked so flustered as she continued grasping my palm. It was kind of cute. I swore I saw her swallow before she cleared her throat and dropped my hand.

Ellison looked at her with an amused expression, and I caught the death glare Isabelle gave her before her face went neutral again.

I couldn’t help but stare at her. It was obvious she had caught the attention of every guy around us, especially after she screamed in the middle of the restaurant. But while most people would earn a disapproving stare, shehad their eyes lingering. Her smile was contagious, and her waist-length hair bounced with her shoulders every time she laughed with Ellison. The two of them had an interesting contrast, proving Ellison’s statement from yesterday to be true. They were opposites, and not just in appearances. Ellison could sometimes be seen as cold and guarded, but Isabelle was pure sunshine.

“Ay, Reid, come on! We’ve gotta get to the Thomas & Mack!” Colter laughed as he called for me.

I shook my head, snapping out of it, then took off after Colter, hoping no one noticed me staring at Isabelle. I needed to focus. This was the moment we’d worked for all year. Even though it was unlikely for us to win a world championship this year, we still had a shot at winning the NFR average if we performed well.

CHAPTER FOUR

isabelle

Welcome to night one of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!” the announcer boomed as roars from the crowd filled the arena.

I’d never been to the NFR before, but Ellison had convinced me to go because Colter was competing. Not that it took much convincing on her part. Cowboys were hot…and there were a lot of cowboys in Las Vegas right now.

She officially introduced me to Colter’s group of friends earlier that morning.

“Guys, this is Isabelle, my best friend. Isa, these are the guys. Colter, as you already know, Mikey, Hayden, Jake, and Reid.” One by one, they all tipped their hats and shook my hand.

“Pleasure to meet you, Isa,” the last one, Reid, said as he did the same.

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