Page 39 of Fool for You
That was one thing I didn’t factor in—how would Wyatt fit into my routine. I guess, in the back of my mind, he would do his thing, and I would do mine. There wouldn’t be anything to question or plan. We’d go our separate ways. Nothing to overthink.
“You’re supposed to say something different. Like you want to go to Disneyland or buy a new pair of boots. Didn’t you ever see those commercials after the Super Bowl?” He ran his hand down Charming’s bare back, giving me a wink which I promptly returned with an annoyed glare.
“You’re channeling a commercial from the nineties, before I was born, you realize. I’ve never been one for Disneyland, and I have too many boots, plus I like to shop for hats.”
“Last chance, Wyatt!” April’s voice came up to my side, singing as she got closer to us. If she drew out his name any longer, she’d run out of air. “Come out with us?”
I looked over at her mid brush, my hand stopping on Charming’s coat. She slowed her pace, her eyes heavy on Wyatt. Wyatt met my gaze over Charming’s back, raising both of his eyebrows.
“Quinn can come, too. I’m sure we’ll all have a great time.” She placed her hands on her hips, a tilt to her stance. “For old times’ sake?” she begged, her bottom lip popping out in a pout.
Wyatt gave her a small chuckle. “Thanks for the offer, but I have a horse to take care of. You’re going to be in Phoenix, yeah? Maybe then.”
April met my gaze, then turned her eyes back to Wyatt, “Okay, okay. Tomorrow night then, in Phoenix.” She begrudgingly accepted defeat. “Great ride today, Quinn.”
I gave her a tight smile, definitely not thinking about how I beat her in the back of my head. “You too.”
She scrunched her nose and rose to her tiptoes, kissing Wyatt on his cheek before leaving us alone. I saw the faintest tint of pink spread across his face after her small kiss, and he inhaled long and slow, holding his breath for a few seconds before exhaling through his lips.
Was he wanting to say something else to her? If he wanted to go, he could. I wasn’t going to stop him. My plans after a ride were always the same. I relaxed in my own way. I’m pretty sure Wyatt’s plans always consisted of a different bar, a different girl, a few hours of sleep, and then back on the road while his brother drove. I told him this was strictly business between him and me, and there were no stipulations as to what he did after the rodeos. As much as I was beginning to enjoy the time we spent together, I had zero control over what he did…or…whohe did.
That thought settled uneasy in my stomach, a knot forming. Yet another feeling I wasn’t sure how to explain.
“You can go, you know,” I finally said to him, my arm moving for the first time since April had arrived. Wyatt was basically done brushing his side of Charming, while I had only touched a small spot.
“Nah.” Wyatt tossed his brush back into the tack bag, taking mine from me to brush out Charming a lot faster than I was. “I’m beat. Plus, we have a busy day tomorrow and have to leave early for Phoenix. I’ll go out tomorrow night if I feel up to it.”
“Just don’t stop on my account.” I took a step back, my hand gliding on Charming’s coat as I walked around him to unhook him from the trailer.
The corner of his lips lightly tugged. “You’re not stopping me from doing anything. Except for wearing my hat.”
I grinned, catching sight of him before stepping into the trailer with Charming. He never once took off his cowboy hat, well, that I was aware of, and I still stood by what I said that morning. That hat suited him. He looked damn sexy in it.
Wait…nope.
I did not just have the thought that Wyatt was sexy.
I inhaled, and like Wyatt did a moment ago, I held in my breath for a few beats before exhaling. I hooked in Charming and left the trailer, making sure to walk on the opposite side of the truck from Wyatt. He was barely climbing into the passenger seat as I started up the engine, twisting his torso to buckle up. I blinked and returned to the conversation we were havingbeforemy thoughts went somewhere they weren’t supposed to.
“We should just toss the other one.” I popped the truck in gear and left the arena, catching the “Oh, hell no” that Wyatt mumbled under his breath.
Dad
Hey, Pumpkin, how was Flagstaff?
Me
Sixteen point nine – won the night.
Dad
That’s my girl. Your mom said she saw you last weekend.
Me
Yeah, in Wyoming. Did she also tell you I lost that night?
Dad
