Maybe it’s because I know it’s wrong, and I don’t want to face the judgement. Either way, I don’t let Benji know how close to the truth he is.
19
Boone Stanton
The bar is crowded for a Thursday night, nearly wall to wall with patrons. As the guys and I all shoulder through the crowd, we make our way toward the bar so we can order some drinks. I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m already walking the line to tipsy after our little pre-game at my place. A handful of the guys came over this afternoon to help me put together the new bedroom set Jade and I got for Suzy. They’re both out of town with Jade’s sister, so it was the only time I could get it done.
Reaching the bar, Colt turns to face all of us. “What are we getting?” he asks. “Shots?”
A general grunt of acknowledgement rolls through all of us, and he turns toward the bartender and orders a round of Jameson. The whole gang is here tonight, and it’s nice that we’re all able to spend time together before we get busy with preparing for the circuit in a few weeks. Even Percy, our new steer roper, was able to make it out. He got into town a few weeks ago, and he’ll be hitting the road with us come May. It’s his secondprofessional year, but he moved here from Montana. We haven’t had any newbies since Sterling moved here a couple of years ago.
Colt passes out the shots, and with a quick toast, we throw ’em back, then order another round.
“Where’s Grady?” Xander asks in my ear, barely heard over the chatter in here.
“He’ll be here soon, I think,” I respond, as I actively try to calm the nerves that have been going haywire since I found out Grady was coming tonight. “He’s getting dropped off by his buddy he was hanging out with.”
Xander nods before leaning into something Cope is saying to him. Grady and Xander have been getting closer lately, hanging out more often, and I love that for both of them. Xander recently moved to Copper Lake last year, so he doesn’t really know many people outside of our group of friends, and Grady has his friend, Benji, who he’s with right now, but other than that, I don’t see him with many other friends.
Throwing back another couple shots, we migrate toward the pool tables, setting up a couple of games. Checking my watch, it’s a quarter past eight. I wonder when Grady is going to get here. He’s been out of the house all day. Me and Sterling play against Cope and Shooter on one table, while the other guys play on the one beside us. The music is loud, and we keep the drinks flowing. I drove myself here, but if this keeps up, I’ll have to order an Uber home. It just feels like a good night to let loose.
About midway through Sterling and I kicking Shooter’s and Cope’s asses, movement catches toward the front of the bar, and when I turn my head, I notice Grady walking in. He gives us all a quick wave of acknowledgement before he heads to the bar to get himself something to drink. I can’t help but watch him for a moment, and I hate myself for it.
“Ope, your boy toy’s arrived,” Shooter taunts in my ear. He moves out of the way quick enough that I can’t elbow him, butwhen I turn my gaze toward him, he’s sniggering as he chalks the tip of his pool stick. “You’re up, lover boy.”
“You’re a prick,” I growl, getting myself ready to take a shot. The ball makes it in, and the scowl on Shooter’s face makes it worth it. I love Shooter, but he’s one of the worst losers I’ve ever met. He’s so competitive, and he can’t stand to not be the best.
“Hey, guys,” Grady says as he comes to a stop at our table.
“Hey, you made it,” Xander replies with a grin as he comes over from the table beside us. “Wanna play a round with me, Cope, and Colt?”
Grady takes a sip of his beer. “Sure, let’s do it.
Apparently,the entire town of Copper Lake is at the bar tonight. I wasn’t aware that Thursday nights are karaoke nights here, which is very clearly a big deal. It’s nearly ten o’clock at this point, and we’ve been watching people step on the stage and give their best shots at their favorite songs for the last hour. I’ll admit, it’s entertaining to say the least.
I’ve had a couple more shots and a few beers, and I’m feeling pretty good. The person currently on stage is finishing up their horrible rendition ofPictureby Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow when Xander, Grady, and Colt push their way through our group toward the walkway.
“We’ll be right back,” Xander announces, mostly to Cope.
“Where are you guys going?” he asks, confusion furrowing his brows.
Xander gives Cope a sly little grin. “To do karaoke.”
“All three of you?” Shooter asks.
“Yup!” The response comes from Colt, and he looks quite pleased with himself. This should be good.
My eyes meet Grady’s for a moment, and he gives me a small smile before they head toward the front. We’ve been here a few hours now, and Grady and I have barely talked. A fact that’s annoying me more than I thought it would. After we all played a few rounds of pool, we put together a couple of tables, ordered some more shots, a couple of pitchers of beer, and sat around bullshitting until karaoke started. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Grady was purposely avoiding me, because the whole night, he’s been the opposite of where I’m at.
I don’t know why I care.
Watching as the three of them take the stage, it’s abundantly clear that they’re all tipsy, at the very least. Their cheeks are flushed, eyes bloodshot, and they’re giggling like a bunch of schoolgirls.
“This ought to be good,” Cope says, humor lacing his words.
The loud pop beat toWannabeby the Spice Girls starts playing and, as if on cue, our entire table catcalls and whistles, clapping our hands as the three of them on the stage bust out laughing before trying to contain themselves. It’s comical watching three grown ass men up there singing along to the Spice Girls. Especially someone like Colt, who, to the world, is this big, strong, badass bull rider.
As much as I fight it, my gaze finds Grady, and it stays on him. I can’t help but watch him. He’s since shrugged off the big, black jacket he was wearing when he got here. Now, he’s in a pair of straight leg jeans, a dark green hoodie, and a stone-gray beanie. He’s wearing high-top Converse to top off the whole look. His eyes are squinting from smiling so hard, and every so often, he’ll laugh, and you can hear it in the words he sings. Honestly, he doesn’t sound half bad.
