Page 71 of The Hearts We've Broken
My brows rose. “You’ve been researching bull riding?”
“Just to understand it better. Don’t let it go to your head, tough guy.”
Oh, I wasabsolutelyletting it go to my head. Both of them, actually. I’d never known anyone else to show that level of interest, not enough to go out of their way to learn more about the sport. Most girls were just interested in the fact thatIwas a bull rider, not the actual act of bull riding. And coming from Juniper, a girl who was probably the least sports fan I knew, it meant the world.
“Tough guy, huh? That’s a new one.”
Juniper tapped her lips with her finger as she tilted her head to the side. “You know, I take that back. A tough guy would face his fear of horses and get on the back of one.”
“You don’t think riding bulls is tough enough?” I teased, and her entire face flushed.
“Well, yes, but I just think if you can ride bulls, then a horse should be nothing.”
“The day you get on a bull, Peach, will be the day I get on a horse. Deal?” I dared. “And not a mechanical one.”
“Are you sure you want to wager that? I’m braver than you think, Tucker.”
“I don’t doubt it for a second.”
When we took the turn onto Reid’s property, I could already hear them bantering in the arena, throwing around playful insults.
I parked the pickup behind Colter’s and killed the ignition. “Ready?”
Juniper nodded, and I hopped out of the truck, locking the doors before she had the opportunity to open it herself.
“You still haven’t learned, have you, Peach?” I teased as I grabbed the door for her, helping her out of the truck, even though I knew she was fully capable.
She shrugged. “Guess I’m just not used to it.”
I shook my head. Who was the asshole who let her open her own door? Didn’t matter who she was, if I was pissed at her, or what she’d done to me. I was still holding the door for a lady.
“Well”—I planted a kiss on her cheek—“better get used to it.”
I reached for her hand as we walked over to the arena where Reid and Colter were getting in a run. Colter roped the head as we stepped up to the arena fence, and Reid quickly caught the legs.
“Damn,” Juniper whispered. “They’re good at that.”
I nodded. “They’re in the top fifteen in the world for a reason.”
Even though we competed in different events, I found myself in awe of Colter and Reid often. I knew they didn’t like to talk about it—just like I didn’t like to talk about my feelings—but they had shit that they’d dealt with in the past five years and still managed to come out on top and win gold buckles. And they were able to do it with the support of Ellison and Isabelle by their sides.
I knew there wasn’t a rush or a perfect timeline on settling down. There wasn’t a magical age to get married and start having babies. I also didn’t think I was ready for it yet—felt like I still had a lot of life left to live on my own—but the past couple months with Juniper had me thinking it was at least possible.
More and more, I was wanting that future to be possible withher.
But I also knew she was young and had a lot of life ahead of her, too. I knew at twenty-two that I didn’t want to get married yet. That obviously still rang true at thirty-one. Juniper was smart, damn smart, and I didn’t want to get in the way of her goals. I had a feeling she wouldn’t expect me to give up bull riding for her if we were in a real relationship, and I sure as hell wasn’t expecting her to uproot her life for me any more than she already had for this arrangement.
“What are you thinking about?” She squeezed my hand, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, you know, deep shit like existence and the meaning of life.”
Juniper rolled her eyes, and I winked, knowing it was all bullshit but not quite wanting to let her into that cornerof my brain. Those would stay inside thoughts. For the sake of both her heart and mine.
I told myself it was because I didn’t want her to get her hopes up, but really, I think it was just a reminder for me.
Rule number four. Absolutely no—under any circumstances—falling in love.
Too bad that ship had already begun to sail.
