Page 49 of The Hearts We've Broken
Shaking my head in amusement, I replied, “Guess not. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”
His eyes shone with some emotion I couldn’t quiteplace. He quickly snapped out of it, though, not letting me in on what he was thinking. “I know you won’t.”
We stood in line for the bull, and when it was my turn, I climbed up into the inflatable ring and pulled myself up on the bull.
Mikey patted the operator on the arm and looked at me as he said, “Don’t go easy on her.”
“Wait, what?” I screeched as the machine turned on and slowly started to turn. I gripped the rope like a vise, knuckles turning white as the bull sped up and whipped me around. My hair flew into my face, but I held my position, moving my torso with the bull like Mikey told me.
Hoots and hollers from the boys erupted from the sidelines, and a few cameras flashed in the bar. My ears rang, and I mentally counted down until I could be done with this ride.
I didn’t think it was possible, but the bull spun even faster, changing directions and whipping me back and forth.
Was this what Mikey dealt with every night? At least with the fake bull there was no risk of dying. A buzzer went off, signaling that my eight seconds was up, but out of the corner of my eye, Mikey told the operator to keep going.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled at him.
“Jake and I doubled it! For every additional four seconds, I get fifteen more dollars!”
The rest of the group cackled as I mentally cursed Mikey. I’d get back at him for this.
Around what had to be the twelve-second mark, I was almost thrown off, my legs losing their grip with each turn. Somehow, I managed to hold my ground, even though I almost slid off the back.
“Sixteen seconds!” the operator called out, and I decided I’d had enough.
In a dramatic show, I flung myself off the bull when it spun, landing near the wall of the inflatable.
“Hell yeah! Pay up, Jakey-poo, you owe mesixty bucks!” Mikey celebrated as he helped me out.
“I think I deserve at least half of that,” I muttered.
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ve got you.” Mikey winked, and I tried to ignore the feeling in my stomach that arose at the nickname.
He was just pretending because he won the bet.
The way he was looking at me right now—like he wanted to devour me—wasn’t real.
It was all pretend.
Fake.
But what if it wasn’t?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
mikey
Tonight is Championship Night, folks! Let these cowboys and cowgirls hear you!” The announcer’s voice echoed throughout the arena.
I sat behind the bucking chutes, doing whatever I could to get in the zone for my ride. I closed my eyes and let the rest of the world around me disappear, fading away to background noise, as I visualized my upcoming ride. From mounting the bull to the nod to the eight-second buzzer going off, I pictured every movement, envisioning perfect execution.
For a few short moments, it was just me and the bull.
No media, no fans, no competition, no pressure.
For the first time in weeks, it felt like I could finally breathe. Ironic, considering tonight was the most important ride of the Houston Rodeo.
But my thoughts were broken apart as the announcer called for the prayer, said before each rodeo to wish safety on the animals and athletes, and the national anthem.
