Page 99 of The Hearts We've Broken
I pulled the bull rope tight, and Maverick wrapped it around his hand, tucking the end of the rope between his ring finger and pinky.
“Suicide wrap?” I raised my brows. While that kind of wrap made the rope tighter and more secure, it could be risky if he got thrown off and was unable to get his hand free.
“Confident in this one today,” he muttered back.
“Let ’er buck.” I dipped my chin in support, and he focused his attention back on the bull, taking a few deep breaths before nodding.
The gatemen swung open the gate, and the bull burst out with a fire, bucking his legs out behind as he spun in a wild circle.
I glanced up at the clock.
Three seconds.
Four.
Five.
Maverick expertly held on, spurring the bull to let the judges know he was in full control.
The buzzer rang out at eight seconds, and he waited for the perfect time to let the bull sling him off his back. He landed on his feet and ran over to the arena fence, hopping up to get to safety.
“How about that! I bet that ride felt pretty good, and I’m sure it’ll feel even better with ninety-three-point-five points! He’s your number one bull rider tonight! Let’s hear it one more time for Maverick Oakes!”
Once Maverick was back behind the chutes again, I gave him a fist pump.
“Hell of a ride out there.”
He nodded at me. “Thanks, brother. Next time it’ll be you.”
Despite the warmth that spread through my chest at the compliment, I nodded back, keeping my cool. I said my goodbyes then went to find the rest of the crew to get out of here so the real fun could begin.
While most people stayed behind to watch the fireworks show, the boys, Ellison, Isa, and I found a table at one of the local bars.
“Good day out there today, eh, boys?” Jake raised a glass for a toast.
Colter and Reid nodded, offering their cheers, and everyone looked at me.
“Sorry you couldn’t compete these last few weeks, Mike,” Reid offered.
I shrugged. “Shit happens. I’ll just come back stronger after this ankle heals.”
“That’s the spirit, buddy.” Colter patted me on the back as he slid me a beer.
“So,” Isa started. “What exactly happened between you and Juniper? I liked her!”
Ellison elbowed her in the ribs, earning her anOw!
“We just decided it was best to end whatever it was we had.” I rattled off the bullshit excuse I’d been giving everyone. “Everyone knows it was fake, so there’sno use in lying about it. We had an agreement and those terms were met.”
She tilted her head. “Are you sure it was fake?”
The rest of the guys paused their conversations and looked at us like they were interested in what I had to say. I raised my brows at her, and she continued.
“I mean, I’m just saying, it didn’tseemfake to me. I know you want to seem all tough and nonchalant like you don’t care, but you seemed to have something real together. And don’t say it’s just me being a romantic!”
I chuckled. “I wasn’t going to say that. Yeah, maybe it felt real to me, but in the end it was always going to be temporary.”
“If it was real, then why aren’t you doing something about it?!” Isa groaned in frustration, and Reid laughed as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to whisper something in her ear. Whatever he said must have calmed her down a bit, because she mumbled a quick apology.
