Page 79 of Untamed
“No.” He laughs, lightly, but I can tell it’s a nervous laugh. “I’m not married and don’t have a girlfriend. Just a kid.”
I step closer, unsure of what’s happening. Everyone around us loses interest, but I sense Britany’s eyes on me, she too, is waiting for my reaction. “So the mom?” And then I wait to see what he’s going to say next.
His eyes dart from mine, to Britany, then back. My stomach flips. Waiting. “B’s his mom, but we’re not together anymore.”
“How old is he?”
His jaw’s tight, a certain grit to his voice. “Two.” He lets out a breath I didn’t realize he was holding. “I really did mean to tell you, but I wasn’t sure when to bring it up.”
I nod, because I can understandwhyhe didn’t, in part, and then the other part of me is kind of unsure about it all.
“Is it a deal breaker?” He looks broken, terrified even that I might say no.
“You’re not with her anymore?”
Grayer shakes his head. “No. It’s kind of a complicated situation to explain, but we were friends and you know,” his voice drops even lower, “it just sort of happened and she’s with Reid now. And happy.”
Again, all I do is nod. Haylee bumps me from behind. “Let’s get out of here. We can talk at the bar, right?” She looks to Grayer. “You can get us in there?”
“I can.” His eyes don’t leave mine. “You coming?”
I wait. I’m being silly letting this get to me, because it’s clear his intention was never to lie to me. He just didn’t know when to tell me, and that I can definitely understand. I reach for his hand. “Let’s get a drink, Eight Seconds.”
Relief washes over him, his smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. He motions down the long hallway. “Lead the way, honey.”
On the way to the bar, Grayer has me ride with him in a separate car from everyone else. Haylee goes with Ty, Reid, and Britany. I’m still on a high from what I’ve seen during the bull riding, but also, I’m so confused. Being here, Grayer, it’s nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Any of this. “Is it as hard as it looks?”
“What?” He’s got one hand on my knee, the other on the steering wheel of the truck he’s driving. It’s brand-new, probably a rental, or maybe his truck he usually drives. I don’t know. It’s pretty clear I don’t know much about him at all. My eyes catch the stereo, bright red, blue, and green lights displaying the song. It’s “John Deere Green” by Joe Diffie. Grayer reaches forward, twisting the volume down a few notches.
“Bull riding,” I say, unsure if that’s what I’m really asking.
He laughs, the action shaking both of us because I’m sitting right beside him, refusing to allow any space between us. “Yeah, it’s tough competition. Bushwacker performed tonight, but you never know if the bull you draw is going to. You can be as good as you can be, but it’s never easy.”
“Why do you do it?”
“The rush. It’s unlike anything in the world. The adrenaline . . . it’s fuckin’ incredible.”
I smile. He’s giving me a little more insight into him. Clearing my throat, I straighten my posture before addressing the elephant in the truck. “So, Wyatt . . . I um, wow. Wasn’t expecting that.”
He nods, the look on his face indescribable. “I know you weren’t and I’m sorry. That was a dick move. I just . . . I wasn’t thinking, and I got caught up in wanting to see you again. It wasn’t until I was on my way home that I thought about what it might mean to have you come here . . . and everything with Wyatt.” He pauses and shrugs, so much tension in his shoulders.
“I get why you didn’t say anything. I just wanted to know there wasn’t something where I needed to worry about the mom, or, you know. . . .” My voice fades, unsure. “I don’t even know what I’m saying.”
His hand on my knee tightens. “Britany and I don’t feel that way about each other. She’s his mom, and absolutely a great person, but we’re not together and she’s not going to make you feel weird about it.”
I sneak a peek at him, lifting my eyes slowly over to his. “Does she know about me?”
His eyes pierce my soul, so bright, just like his presence in my life at a much-needed time. “She does. I told her about you that first night.” Taking my hand, he brings it to his lips. “I’m glad you came.”
“I am too.”I think.“Did you guys try to make it work after he was born?”
He raises an eyebrow, like he’s done with the questions, but still answering them. “No. I mean, I thought about it. It would have been the right thing to do. But it’s better this way. We’re better off friends or it wasn’t going to work at all.”
“That’s actually noble of you guys.”
He shrugs. “It’s about Wyatt and what’s best for him. He didn’t ask for this and all that matters is that he’s taken care of.”
The after party at the bar is about ten miles from the arena and Grayer’s right, they don’t question our age. We’re with professional bull riders and it’s clear they’re never questioned once people find out who they are. It’s also something where it’s an after party put on by the event sponsor, so I suppose to some degree they were expecting them.
