Page 70 of The Hearts We've Broken
“Horse racing?” I asked.
“Wildhorse racing,” Ellison answered. “Last year, Colter, Reid and Mikey won it.”
“What exactly is it?” I asked.
“Here, let me show you.” Jake grabbed his phone and pulled up a video of the wild horse racing.
My eyes widened. “Oh?”
Jake smirked. “Looks fun, doesn’t it?”
“You and Hayden can do it with Mikey this year, then. I’m not doing that shit again.” Reid shook his head, raising his hands in defense.
Hayden also shook his head. “I’m good.”
“Aw, come on, guys. You’re no fun!” Mikey whined. “We could win the whole thing again!”
“Easy for you to say, you didn’t have to try to hold a horse last time.” Reid paused. “That’s what I don’t understand. You said you’re afraid of horses, but last year you rode one!”
“To be fair, I was pretty drunk.” Mikey shrugged.
Ellison and I exchanged amused looks as the men engaged in a back and forth debate of why they should or should not participate in the Bucking Horse Sale tradition.
“I think I have to work anyway, so I won’t get to witness it.” I spoke the realization out loud.
“There you go, then.” Reid gestured with his hand. “No need to show off for your girlfriend.”
“I’m sure ol’ Rudy would let you leave for an hour,” Mikey protested.
I shook my head. “I’m not going to do that to them. It’s all right, I’ll see it next time.”
Mikey’s head snapped toward me, surprise flaring in his eyes. We both knew there probably wouldn’t be a next time, but we could at least pretend, right?
“Anyway, no one’s really filled me in on this event, other than it gets rowdy and I can expect the bar to be packed.” I changed the subject.
“Rowdy’s an understatement.” Ellison rolled her lips. “How many times have you been arrested during it, Mikey?”
“Pfft. Only once…or twice…or thrice.”
My mouth gaped. “Three times?”
“In my defense, two of those times were because I was defending my friends. I can’t really speak for the other one, though.” He laughed, and the other guys snickered under their breath, clearly recalling whatever inside joke they had.
“Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not,” Hayden admitted with a soft smile.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
mikey
Don’t feel pressured to get on a horse or anything today.” I squeezed Juniper’s hand as we drove out to Reid’s place.
“What if I say I’ll only get on a horse if you do?” she teased with a wicked grin on her face.
“Then theredefinitelywon’t be any horseback riding from either of us.”
She scoffed. “That’s so lame. I thought riding horses was good for bull riders. I read that it helps with rhythm.”
