Page 28 of Meet the Teacher

The bull starts to buck back and forth. I try to stay determined, but I can’t help but scream a little bit with each buck. The mechanical bull spins around quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it tosses me into the air. Within seconds, my back meets the padded floor. I yell breathlessly as I lie there feeling like the wind was knocked out of me. Pain throbs throughout my backside, and I consider if I’ve now broken something else.

Owww. The man stops the bull and comes over to me, offering his hand. I breathe in through my nostrils and grab hold of it to help me stand to my feet. I place my hand on my lower back and look up to see Zayn outside of the ring.

“Autumn? You okay? You doin’ alright?” he shouts out.

I give him a thumbs up. Zayn smiles and shows me a double thumbs up in return.

“You made it six seconds, Parker,” the man says.

“Thanks. That’s five more than I thought,” I admit.

Once I’m out of the designated bull-riding area, Zayn meets me. He instantly replaces my hand on my back with his, and I don’t mind it.

“Whoa there, missy! You did it. How you feeling?” he asks.

“My damn back is killing me,” I say. “But I did it, Zayn! I can’t believe it. Summer would be proud. And probably laughing her ass off, too.”

He flashes me a smile before motioning to the bartender for some water. “Actually, do you want another vodka soda?”

“Eh, if Four Horsemen shot didn’t make me invincible while dancing on a bar the other night, I’m pretty sure there’s little hope for me, now. Water sounds great.”

The bartender drops off some water. As I take a sip, Zayn asks, “You want to call it a night?”

I contemplate it for a moment. I really am having such a good time, and I’m not really ready to leave. “Nah, not yet. Maybe one more drink?”

He shakes his head and laughs. “Okay, Miss Parker. If you insist.”

“Sweet Home Alabama” starts playing as the bartender makes us another round of drinks. As soon as we get them, I take a few sips of mine and then decide to be bold. “Wanna dance?”

“Is your back well enough to do so?”

“Won’t know unless I try, right?”

“Well then, in that case, I thought you’d never ask,” he says, leading me out onto the dance floor. We dance playfully, both singing loudly to the music.

When the song ends, we head back over to the bar. I sit down at the bar to rest.

“You tired already?” Zayn says in jest.

I nod as I reach for my vodka soda, surprised to find a shot next to it. “You really got me a shot?” I ask.

He raises his hands in the air. “I did no such thing, swear.”

The bartender says, “It’s from that guy,” and points in the direction of the bull-riding station.

My eyes search for anyone, and they stop when the older man with the braid tips his cowboy hat in my direction. I mouth the words “Thank you” as the bartender tells me, “That there is Frank. You impressed him, which is hard to do. Pretty sure you’re the only gal who’s ridden that bull in months.”

My jaw drops and I look to Zayn.

“Look at you go, cowgirl. Summer must be so proud.”

It warms my heart that he says this. She would totally love this story!

I raise the shot up in the air. “To Summer!” I down the shot quickly, grateful that it was lemon drop and not straight liquor. My throat burns.

At this point, I’m feeling a quite buzzed.Ugh, I don’t need another dumb night. I’m too old for this.

He leans in close to me. “Uh oh. You doin’ okay after that shot?”

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