Page 104 of Hung Up
Once my mother steps to the side, my eyes immediately fall on Faith as if they always know just exactly where she is. Her smile is the largest that I’ve ever seen it, her elation practically rolling off her as she takes those few steps that separate us and launches herself into my arms. One of my arms holds onto her waist, the other resting on the back of her neck as she laughs with nothing but pure happiness.
“You did it, Jesse.” She pulls back, her kiss hard and fast. “You fucking did it.”
I set her down but keep one arm wrapped around her, the other reaching into my back pocket. Pulling out the note I had written for her earlier this morning, I hand it to her. Her browsfurrow, but it’s quickly replaced with a smile as she reads the words I’ve scrawled on the paper.
It was all for you. I love you.
“And I love you.”
My attention is pulled away as I see a cameraman push his way through the crowd, Rylie beside him. Refusing to let go of Faith, I tuck her closer into my side. For the rest of my life, I want the whole world to know she’s mine.
“Congratulations on the win!” Rylie yells over the loudness of the crowd, the microphone close to her mouth, as the light from the camera blinds me slightly. “Now that you’ve won, what comes next?”
I glance over at Faith as Rylie tilts the microphone in my direction, knowing there’s really only one thing left for me to do.
“I’m taking my girl home.”
EPILOGUE
FAITH
Aspen Creek
You’d thinkeight months with someone would be enough for you to know their favorite cake flavor, but apparently, I haven’t been paying close enough attention. Loretta really came in and saved the day, baking the cake for me so I wouldn’t have to, so I could continue to decorate the house.
I’ve never been one to celebrate birthdays before, but something about celebrating the birthday of someone I love dearly and making their day as special as they make every single one of mine had me extremely giddy. I was able to get some decorations in town—although not a lot because it’s not exactly like they have a party store in a town of under one thousand people—and had to make some of my own from scratch since I didn’t have time to run out to Billings.
Since Jesse won the buckle, I’ve found myself very familiar with Aspen Creek.
A couple of weeks after the finals, I told Alicia I wanted to take the summer off. It was about time that I did something other than work and try to find something I’m passionate about, try to find a hobby or maybe even a new profession. While thathasn’t exactly happened for me yet, I have found peace here on Shadow Ridge Ranch, making it extremely difficult for me to leave.
What was supposed to be a single weekend here turned into a week, which turned into a month, and before I knew it, I found myself in the passenger seat of Jesse’s truck as we drove to San Francisco to get a bunch of my things.
And I’ve been staying in his house ever since.
I ended up accepting Ryan Beauregard’s offer, which means I still have a couple more months before I’ll be back with the PBR covering the race to the championships. While I’m not sure if reporting is going to be the rest of my life, I’m excited to try something new by sitting behind a desk. And it sounds like Jesse might be joining the panel, too.
He had surprised me a couple days after the championships by saying he wanted to retire. Jesse claimed he accomplished everything he wanted to, and now all he wants to do is enjoy the rest of his life that he gets to spend with me. So instead, he’s decided to follow in Wyatt’s footsteps and mentor new bull riders.
Speaking of bull riders, Wyatt went on to discover a month after the finals that his wife is expecting, and they’ll be welcoming a little baby girl in February. Kai is currently in rehab and is able to ride horses, but it sounds like he will have to sit out this upcoming PBR season. Bryce has been practicing nonstop after the poor performance he had this year and says that this upcoming one will be his last. Lee is back home helping his family with their ranch and hasn’t gotten on a bull since the season ended. Says that it’s like riding a bike and he doesn’t need practice. Bryce didn’t appreciate that comment.
Stetson and Rylie called whatever was going on between them quits two weeks after the season ended. She refused toeven visit a town that didn’t have a hair salon and he said he’d never stay in a city he’s not riding in.
None of us were very surprised with the outcome.
My time here on the ranch has been spent helping Loretta in the mornings with the chickens and making breakfast for the ranch hands. After we were done feeding the boys, I usually found myself back at Jesse’s with a coffee and a book on his front porch swing, watching the sunrise over the mountains. On the days he didn’t have to help Nash, we typically went horseback riding through various mountain paths or pastures around the ranch, sometimes going for a swim in a hidden waterfall that only he and Stevie knew about. When we made it back to the house, we either cooked dinner together or went to the main house to eat with his mother. And every single night we’d sit on his roof and watch the stars until we were too tired, crawling into bed together and falling asleep in each other’s arms.
Or, you know, not sleeping. It always depended on how busy a day we had.
I’d say that nothing new ever seems to happen around here. It’s the same thing almost every day, unless there’s an issue with some of the cattle or the ranch hands. But something has definitely shifted.
Stevie continues to deny it with her whole chest, acting like I’m out of my mind, and that only makes me more suspicious. Her and Dean seem to be doing this dance, a weird tension between them that I’m just waiting for one of them to realize it for what it is. The stolen glances, the banter, and how comfortable they seem with one another—I know it’s only a matter of time. Even if Jesse disagrees with me. I think he’s just being a protective big brother, even though Stevie has definitely done a lot worse than Dean Fontaine.
I’m just finishing up wrapping his gift when I hear the front door open. I spin around to see him come strolling in, settinghis hat on the hook by the door before he kicks off his boots. Like every other day, he comes up to me with a large grin, presses a kiss to my lips, and walks to the fridge to grab a water. I’m watching him nervously, a little thrown off by his lack of acknowledgment of the state of his house.
It’s not exactly like it’s subtle. Balloons cover the ceiling—and I mean cover it—the living room and kitchen various shades of blue. Streamers cover the cabinets and hang from the fireplace, the gift I just finished wrapping sitting on the kitchen island.
After he chugs his drink, he tosses it into the recycling bin, turning back around to give me his attention. This time, when he does, his eyes go wide as he scans his house. I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out of me, the relief I feel is immense at the happy look that replaces his surprise.
