CHAPTER 88

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W e decided to roll with it and retaliate by feeding specific information about West’s history to news outlets. Of course, I slowed the fucking process by demanding it all be run by West first. Nathan was ready to fire away without hesitation—try to get ahead of it all as much as possible. But me? I wasn’t about to do anything West didn’t want, even if it meant torching my career.

West didn’t hesitate. Maybe he felt guilty or maybe he trusted me to make sure it was handled properly. I wanted to say it was the latter, but in my heart, I knew it was because he felt guilty.

And Nathan had a good point. We either released the correct information or the press could have a field day making up whatever shit they had with their half-assed information.

West wasn’t a convicted murderer and that wildfire I wanted to put out quickly. He’d been through enough. I worried about what would happen to him when he headed back to Double Arrow while I continued on the circuit. The least I could do was make sure some of this shit was handled right .

All of that filled my fucking day until I was left standing and waiting for the bull riding event to start.

“You’re in fringe,” West commented. I refused to look at the fucker. He was judging me. “I mean I… I watched you on TV but shit… it’s so much fucking worse in person. And assless chaps.”

“I look fucking good like this, thank you very much,” I retorted under my breath. “Besides, we’re all wearing them.”

“I know you think that makes it better, but it doesn’t,” he replied. I glanced at him. The far-off expression on his face as he stood with his arms over his chest tight bothered me.

“You good?” I asked quietly. I knew the rodeo was loud and full of cluttered noises. I didn’t understand much about what got to him, but I knew those two things did.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I just… you’ll be safe, right?”

“I always am.”

“Okay,” he whispered. I watched how he nodded slowly and could see the wheels in his head turning. What I wouldn’t have given to know what the hell he was thinking. “I’m going to find the girls.”

“Hey.” I stepped in front of him when he tried to leave, speaking quietly because we were surrounded by people and prying eyes. “I’m coming back to you, baby.”

“You better, cowboy.” His lips quirked slightly at the corner for the briefest moment. I would’ve killed for a real smile out of him in that moment.

I watched him head toward the bleachers for as long as I could before drawing in a deep breath. I had to get my head in the game. Burger may have been stupidly named, but he was a damn fierce bull.

And me? I was aiming to impress tonight.