“Well, since you said please.” He taps away on his phone, logging into the online portal all Professional Rodeo athletes have. “You got -48 Buck Nasty. Didn’t they win a round on him at the finals last year?”
“Yeah, in the rank pen, he won’t be a day off, but I like him. Should be in the gate to the right and bucky about it.” I check my maps to make sure I don’t need to turn soon. I’m pretty familiar with the route to Weatherford, but I’d rather not be late.
“Aw, hell yeah!” He slaps the center console. “I got Matchbox 19. Didn’t you win Lovington on him last year?”
“Yeah, he’s a black and white spotted bull. He’s a fun one.”
“You got the video?”
“Yep, on my phone.” I take it off the holder on the dash and hand it to him. “It would’ve been last August,” I tell him.
A few taps later, Trey gasps excitedly. “Whois this?” He whips my phone around to face me.
It’s the photos of Kacey and me at the open rodeo. I’ve looked at them at least once a day, and I updated her contact photo to one just zoomed in on her. How could I forget and hand him my phone? Now we’re going to play twenty questions.
I reach to grab my phone back, but he pulls it out of my reach. “Dude, give me my phone back.”
“You look awfully friendly. And who’s the redhead? You know I have a thing for redheads.” Now he holds up the photo of the three of us.
“Don’t worry about it. Did you find the video?” I try to change the subject.
“She’s the reason you stayed another day, isn’t she? She’s cute, Knox. I’m pumped for you, man. Are you two dating? Does she rodeo? She looks like she rodeos. When do I get to meet her? Is the redhead single? I’d love to meet the redhead. She has that look about her, you know?” He sees the look on my face and back peddles. “Oh shit, is it the redhead you were hanging out with? Because if so, I also dig blondes—”
Is it illegal to push someone out of a moving vehicle?
“Will you shut up?” I snap in an annoyed tone. I accent the sentiment with the dad look. He would go on all day long if I let him. “The blonde is Kacey. She’s the daughter of a rancher in Colorado where I was shoeing horses. We’ve become friends, but I’m not sure if it will become more than that or not. Okay?”
He looks at me with his brows drawn together and asks, “But you want it to? To be more, I mean. Look at your face in this picture, dude. You like her.”
“Yes, I want it to be more but . . . .” I suck in a deep breath and roll my hand on the steering wheel. “She’s guarded and you know how things are for me. We take off for months at a time and they go find someone who is actually there, that theyactually get to spend time with. Hell, I haven’t even had time to call her since I left.”
He holds my phone to me. “Call her now.”
That’s just like Trey. He sees life as simple and straightforward. Ride bulls, chase women; do what he wants, when he wants. He doesn’t care about other people’s opinions or expectations. Very few things get under his skin or bother him. He lives life carefree, day by day, and it works for him.
“I can’t. She’s working cattle today and by the time she gets done, we’ll be at the rodeo grounds getting ready to ride.” I sigh and toss my head back into the headrest. “With her long workdays and my schedule, this will never work.”
“So what? Call her and leave a message if you have to. Don’t be a pussy and let this fall apart before you even give it a shot. If I can talk to seven girls at once, you can handle one. Buck up, cowboy.” He slaps the phone to the front of my chest.
I laugh at him. “Seven girls, huh? Quantity over quality the theme this year?”
That earns me a rare glare. “No, asshole. I’m just bored.” He sighs. “Once I find the right one, I won’t even look at another woman, mark my words. But until then, I will enjoy all the fish in the sea or whatever it is they say.” He goes back to typing on his phone.
“That is definitely not how that saying goes.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you dodging my question. You going to call her or not?”
“I don’t want to bother her while she’s working. I’ll try after the rodeo. She’s an hour behind us so it shouldn’t be too late.”
Trey’s right. I need to fight for this. I’ve never felt this deeply for anyone before her, and no amount of time or miles will keep me from fighting for what we could have.
We pull into the rodeo grounds forty minutes later and get checked in. The Rodeo Network reporter asks if I can do a pre-show interview in an hour. I say yes and head back to the truck to grab my gear bag and start getting ready, already anxious for the event to be over and my chance to call Kace.
Chapter 25
Kacey
Kacey
