Page 97 of The Runaway and the Rugged
“I noticed you don’t talk about your parents, any reason why?”
Treading in the water, my gaze falls to a floating leaf that was riding across a small wave in front of me.
“They both passed when I was in high school. A truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel hit them when they were on their way to dinner.”
He instantly moved toward me, no longer hesitant of the coldness of the water.
“Fuck, I’m so damn sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
He didn’t have to grab me because I was already wrapping my legs around his waist and throwing my arms around his neck.
“I don’t mind that you asked, I just prefer not to bring it up. It’s still hard for me to accept, so most of the time, I try not to think about it.”
“You can talk to me about anything, you know that? Whatever it is, I'll listen and do my best to understand and support you.”
His palms found my ass, but his eyes held an entire galaxy of sincereness.
“I know, and the same goes for you. You can tell me anything, Garth.”
Something in his gaze had subtly shifted. Barely noticeable but tugging me in closer, he leaned in until the tips of our noses brushed, creating a quiet intimate moment that made me become aware that he was about to tell me something.
“I wasn’t always a rancher,” he admitted on a breath. “Remember the hat I gave you, the one you couldn't figure out what it said?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, encouraging him to continue as I played with the curls on the nape of his neck.
“PBR stands for professional bull riding.”
My eyes widened.
A bull rider?
“Growin’ up I wanted to ride bulls like my dad. He was a damn good one too, taught me everything I needed to know. As I got older, gettin’ better and better, the money, the fame, it was all gettin’ to me. I was a selfish bastard, I wanted it all, the title, the women, and that’s when I met Grace’s mom.” I tried not to tense, but I did anyway. “I thought we had somethin’ good goin’, at least that’s what I thought it was until she had fallen pregnant with Grace, and that changed everything.”
Even in a conversation that clearly made him uncomfortable, he found a way to smile while bringing up Grace.
“I was ready to be a dad, make the changes I needed and try to gradually step away from bull riding, but as soon as she heard I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore, she gave birth to Grace and left just a week after she was born.”
My heart broke for both him and Grace. Whoever she was, she never deserved them anyway.
“God, Garth, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry that happened.”
He shrugged with indifference.
“I’m not upset that she left me. I couldn’t care less, but Grace, our daughter, how could someone do that?”
“An extremely foolish, idiotic woman who doesn't deserve her, that’s who.”
It was the truth. How could a mother abandon her family? Especially this one?
“And your dad?” I hesitated to ask, wondering whether he chose not to bring him up the same way I didn’t with my own parents.
His expression faltered for a moment, but he swiftly regained composure with the clearing of his throat.
“He passed not too long after I had won my first championship. Heart attack coroner said,” his voice wobbled. “Don’t like to bring him up much, but I’m certain he would have liked you. He was a good man—Hell, he was the best man and Dad.”
I didn’t doubt him for one second.
“I’m sorry, Garth. I’m sure I would have loved him.”
