“Congratulations, Knox. You are officially a World Champion. Tell us how you’re feeling right now,” the interviewer prompts me as they hand me my gold buckle. There are thousands of people watching me as the lights focus on me, standing on stage in the center of the Thomas and Mack Arena, but I only feel Kacey’s gaze.
“It’s a dream come true. This is a goal I set for myself when I was a little kid. I never would’ve been able to accomplish it without help from all my friends and family, but I want togive a special shout out to an amazing woman. Kacey, you’ve been my rock all season—through the good times and the bad. You deserve this buckle every bit as much as I do. I love you, sweetheart.”
The crowd lets out a collective, “Aww,” as I raise my buckle in the air and point up to Kacey. She will come down in a few minutes and she’s the first person I want to share this moment with. She’s the person I want to spend every moment with for the rest of my life.
After the awards ceremony, I hurry back into the tunnel under the arena stands. I make it halfway to the locker room when I see blonde hair and green eyes running my way. I meet her halfway, scooping her up in my arms.
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you. I love you.” She vibrates with excitement in my arms.
I pull back and kiss her—not a quick peck, but a real kiss. I grip both sides of her face, my tongue finding hers, before leaning back to whisper, “I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Kacey
Two years later
The bell above the door of the Plot Twist Café jingles. Carson, Trey, and Jessie file in, the latter two animatedly arguing about something, per usual, while Carson just looks annoyed.
“This better be good,” he grumbles as he claims a seat at our table.
I keep my hands laced together in my lap under the table as everyone sits and Lainey heads our way from behind the counter. I instantly see Carson relax, like her presence brings him a sense of calm—Lainey’s smile has that effect on people. She pulls up a chair next to him and they all look at Knox and me expectantly.
We texted everyone early this morning, asking to meet us here.
“We have something we wanted to tell you all—” Knox starts.
“You’re pregnant,” Jessie blurts before he can finish.
Carson’s eyes go wide, and Trey looks at Jessie like she’s somehow betrayed him by keeping pertinent information from him. Lainey rolls her eyes at the lot of them.
Knox lets out an exasperated sigh, but he’s used to Jessie by now. “No. Just let me finish.” Everyone at the table relaxes at his words as he continues. “Trey and I leave for the summer run in two days, so Kacey and I wanted to tell you all in person.”
I slowly unclasp my hands and lay the left one on the table. Letting the sun glint on the oval cut diamond ring. Jessie and Lainey’s eyes instantly snap to my ring finger, both letting out little squeals, making Trey and Carson jump. They aren’t nearly as quick to catch on and exchange a glance, confused.
“Look down,dumbasses,” Knox deadpans.
When their eyes find the ring, Carson smiles up at me—the big brother, I’m-proud-of-you-smile.
Trey, however, isn’t so subtle. He jumps up, sending his chair crashing backwards, throwing his arms in the air, whooping. “Finally!”
Knox laughs, then the group collectively stands to embrace us both. After the congratulations, hugs, andooohsandawwwsfrom the girls admiring the ring, both Lainey and Carson head back to work.
We have one more thing to tell Trey, and Knox isn’t sure how he’ll take it. He has thought about it for months, discussed it with me, and even talked it over with my dad. But ultimately, it was his decision.
“Trey, I—” Knox has to clear his throat. I know this is hard for him, but he knows it’s time. “I’m not going to publicly announce it yet, but I wanted to tell you now, before the summer run. This is going to be my last year riding, I’m going to retire at the end of the season.”
Trey blinks.
Jessie looks from Knox to Trey and back again.
I grasp Knox’s hand under the table. His body is tired, and he’s ready to come home. He won a world title, qualified for the finals six times, and won countless rodeos. He’s had a career most can only dream of, and I’m so proud of him.
“Okay. Congrats, man, we’ll be sure to make it one hell of a summer.”
I feel the relief roll off the man next to me. I tried to reassure him Trey loves him and wouldn’t be mad, but he couldn’t let go of the feeling that he’s abandoning him. They have been best friends and traveled together for years. When Knox moved here to be with me, Trey never hesitated, he just packed up and followed. Knox likes to joke, saying it’s because he owned the house in Oklahoma, but it’s more than that. They’re brothers—there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for each other.
It’s safe to say our family dinners have grown in size since that first night Knox came over, but my dad loves it. And now, with Knox’s sister and nephew visiting for the spring, the ranch has never felt more like a family.
