Page 34 of Hung Up
Jesse’s hand raises like he’s going to grab me, but he thinks better of it at the last minute and lets his hand fall away. He gives me a grateful nod before rolling his shoulders back, and that confident expression I’ve grown used to reappears on his handsome face. I grin as his smile grows and a sense of calm seems to wash over him just as the announcer calls his name.
“Thank you,” he whispers, readjusting the hat slightly. “I’ll pay you back for this.”
“No need,” I tell him with a shrug. “Consider it a thank you for the boots.”
“Let’s go, Hayes. You’re up!” Wyatt yells from beside the chute.
Jesse gives me a wink before he saunters away, and I hastily follow behind him so I can find a seat in the stands. I have to climb a couple rows higher than I wanted, but it gives me a perfect view of the arena. Jesse has just settled onto the bull, and the second he nods and the door flies open, the entire arena erupts into cheers. It’s a different feeling, being surrounded by it versus hearing it from down below. The electricity, the energy… I don’t think anything could compare to this.
And suddenly his drive and love for this sport make a little more sense.
He lasts the full eight and leaps off, landing on his feet this time, and everyone around me jumps up and starts chanting his name. I can’t help the laugh that tumbles out of me as I climb to my feet and search for him below. He’s scanning the area where he knows I am, and once I’m standing fully, his eyes land on mine. Jesse smiles widely and winks, and I can’t help it as I hold a thumbs up.
I squeeze past a few people to reach the stairs and descend back down below, giving the security guy a nod as he spots my lanyard and opens the gate. Jesse is there immediately, the grin he’s sporting enough to light the entire stadium. He forces his hands into his pockets, almost as if he knows that if he doesn’t, he’d do something he shouldn’t.
“Told you,” I tease, the corner of my mouth tilting as I lean against the wall. “See how easy that was?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he muses with a playful roll of his eyes. “What do you want?”
I bring my thumb and pointer finger to rest on my chin, acting like I’m deep in thought. “A thank you and maybe hearing I was right would suffice.”
“You really need me to say it if you already know?”
I shrug. “Sometimes it’s nice to hear.”
“Okay, Sweetheart.” He chuckles. “You were right, and thank you.”
“Music to my ears.” Jesse laughs again before gesturing with his head for us to walk. “Alright, Pretty Boy. I have a write-up I need to do. Would you like to give me a short and sweet snippet to add?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You want a statement from me?”
“Apparently, I’ve been picking favorites,” I tell him with a scoff, replaying Alicia’s words from our meeting this week. “I need to get someone other than Kai.”
“Finally, someone else who realizes we are all just as great.” I raise a brow and cross my arms. “Okay, sorry. I’d say tonight’s ride was easy thanks to you. And I’d say it’s not always about just riding the bull, there’s a lot of shit that comes before that which can easily impact whether or not you have a good ride. Sometimes people don’t realize how even one negative thought, no matter how brief, can really throw everything off.”
I think back to that earlier conversation I had with Kai a few weeks ago when he was telling me he never allowed himself to worry about the bull because it’d only mess with his mental state beforehand, and that’s what could cause injury. I remember Stetson telling me about his lucky socks, and I think back to Jesse with Wyatt not being there to watch, and tonight with the platform and his hat.
I think I finally know what the heart of my big article is going to be.
“That’ll do, Pretty Boy. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I begin walking off toward the media room when Jesse runs to catch up to me. “We’re all going out afterward. Want to join us?”
“Can’t,” I inform him. “Need to finish this article and then I need my beauty sleep. I have a few meetings in the morning before the next rides.”
“Rain check then?”
I shake my head. “I refuse to say rain check after Kai made me take shots.”
“Not all of us abide by that stupid rule.”
“I thought these ‘stupid rules’ were the only thing you cowboys agreed on.”
He shrugs. “Depends who you ask, I guess.”
“I give up trying to understand,” I murmur, which makes him laugh. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I leave Jesse to his own devices and disappear into the media room. An hour later, I have half of the article written and decide it’s time to head back to the hotel room. Grabbing my bag and coat off the back of my chair, I make sure I grab the box with my boots and the bouquet of lilies from Jesse before I leave the arena. The walk to the hotel is short—only a few blocks—and the second I’m in my room, I slip out of my heels.
