Page 7 of The Hearts We've Broken
“How’s your evening going, Livvy?” the tattooed cowboy who offered to buy the drinks when they walked in asked her.
The blond one standing beside him elbowed him in the ribs. “She’s already told you she’s not interested, Michael, leave the girl alone.”
“I’m just being nice, Flynn!” He elbowed him right back.
“Don’t mind him, Liv, he’s just being his usual self.”The youngest looking cowboy—who was shorter than the other three but taller than the tattooed one—apologized for his friend.
Liv’s face immediately flushed to beet red. “Can I get you guys anything else?” She stumbled over her words a little but recovered quickly.
“Nah, thanks, Olivia.” One of the final two who hadn’t yet spoken thanked her. “Let’s get a move on, shall we, boys? Jake and Hayden against me and Reid?”
They all nodded and grabbed their shots, making their way to the pool table in the back. Now that I was thinking about it, they looked vaguely familiar. Especially the short one.
“Who were they?” I whispered to Liv.
“Those were the Silver Creek cowboys. Colter Carson, Reid Lawson, Jake Flynn, Hayden Watkins, and Michael Tucker. But everyone calls him Mikey.”
Mikey Tucker? No fuckin’ way.
“Cover for me, will you, Liv?” I asked, earning a puzzled look from her. “I’m about to do something reckless tonight.”
CHAPTER FOUR
mikey
Ihuffed out a breath as I set down the barbell and checked my watch. It was a little after six thirty, which meant I needed to wrap up my workout soon. Luckily deadlifts were near the end of my leg day routine anyway, so I wouldn’t have to skip anything.
I trained in the gym several times a week, focusing heavily on balance and core strength, and bolstered strength training with actual practice bulls up at the community college. Sometimes the guys would train with me, but most of the time they were off doing their own thing. It was nice, though, being able to focus on bull riding and really hone in on bettering myself.
We had plans to go out to Rudy’s tonight, so the goal was to run home, take a quick shower, and maybe eat something before heading over to the Carson Ranch.
I finished my last set then gathered my belongings. On my way out of the gym, I stopped at the counter to grab a protein shake.
“Good to see you, man,” the guy working at the desk greeted me.
“Hey, thanks.” I, admittedly, couldn’t remember his name, and he didn’t have a nametag on. I didn’t want him to feel bad, so I played it off. The TV behind the counter had an old rodeo playing, and he looked up at it.
“Looks like there’s going to be some tough competition again this year.”
I let out a grunt. “Mm-hmm.” I didn’t like talking much about my rodeo career. People always had something to say.
“Well, here’s your shake, brother. Hope you have a good one. Good luck out there.”
I took the drink, thanking him. I wanted to get out of here and be home as soon as possible. I was ready for a night of fun.
The minute we stepped through the doors of Rudy’s bar, I headed to the counter where our favorite bartender, Liv, was working. A new girl—another blonde—was working, too, but she was helping one of the regulars. I swore I’d seen her before but couldn’t place where. Then again, faces kind of blurred together for me between fans, the press, and women.
“How’s your evening going, Livvy?” I jokingly laid it on thick.
Jake elbowed me in the ribs, and I elbowed him right back as Hayden apologized for me, something he didn’t need to do. Liv knew I was just messing with her. Besides, not only was she a local, she went to school at the community college here.
I got involved with a college student over in Goldfinchonce—granted she was twenty-one and in her last year—and liked to think I learned my lesson from that one. She was a bit too clingy for me, so I broke it off fast.
I didn’t miss the way Liv’s cheeks flushed when Hayden talked to her. I gave him a subtle grin, which he immediately brushed off.
“Can I get you guys anything else?”
“Nah, thanks, Olivia.” Colter scooped up his shot glass, nodding toward the pool table in the back. “Let’s get a move on, shall we, boys? Jake and Hayden against me and Reid?”
