Rhett
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Linc whispers.
I shake my head. “Hell no. It’s a terrible idea.”
Linc and I stand off to the side, listening as Jimmy runs over the rules of riding Cheryl. Once he’s done, Mo climbs onto Cheryl’s back, settles in, and grips the handle. She tosses an arm in the air and nods at Jimmy.
“Oh shit,” says Linc. “She’s really gonna do it. Not gonna lie, dude, I thought she’d chicken out.”
Shit. I’m not sure I can watch this. I rub my hand over my eyes and take a step forward. “You and me both.”
Jimmy flips a switch, and Cheryl starts a slow rock. Mo’s smile is contagious, and I find myself grinning along with her.
“Fast, Jimmy,” she yells.
“Mo.” I give her a hard look, but she doesn’t see it because she won’t look at me. “Monroe,” I yell, trying to get her attention.
Jimmy looks unsure of what to do, but when Mo hollers at him again, he kicks it up another notch.
Cheryl’s rock speeds up, and this time there’s a twist in her movements that has Mo squealing in delight.
“I’m doing it!” Eyes bright, smile even brighter, she finally looks at Linc and me, and I’ll be damned if the expression on her face doesn’t make me go all mushy inside.
“You’re doing great,” Linc yells, earning a thumbs up from Mo. “Try going a little faster.”
I slap him in the chest. “Are you out of your mind?”
“She’s doing good, and the next level isn’t much faster.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“This is great,” Linc laughs. “I’ve never seen you like this over a woman before.”
“Because she’s not just any woman.”
“No, I didn’t think so,” he murmurs, watching Mo as she spins in slow circles.
“Crank it up, Jimmy!” she yells.
Jesus Christ. “Mo, that’s fast enough, baby. You’re going to get hurt.”
That little shit flips me off.
“Come on, let her have some fun,” Linc whines.
“You just wait. Your time is coming, and when it does we’ll get the girl you love up on Cheryl and see how you feel about it.”
“The girl you love, huh?”
My heart skips a beat inside my chest, and I look at Linc. I’ve been keeping the words close to my heart, waiting to tell her until… Well, I don’t really know what I’m waiting for anymore, but I apparently I don’t have a problem telling Linc.
“I’ve loved that girl since she shoved me in the dirt at recess in kindergarten.”
“She know that?”
I look at Mo. She’s still the same girl who knocked me down all those years ago, and I’m a lucky son of a bitch because she looks at me the same way she always has—with stars in her eyes. And if that doesn’t make a man feel ten feet tall, I don’t know what will.
“I’ve showed her every way I know how.”
“Actions do speak louder than words, but she’s a chick, man.” Linc shakes his head, his eyes on Mo. “Chicks need words. You’ve got to spell that shit out for her.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Come on, Jimmy, is that all she’s got?” Mo yells.
Jimmy gives me a pleading look.
“Okay, Monroe. You’ve made your point,” I say, stepping up to the rope. “You can get down now.”
“No. This is fun. Crank it up, Jimmy!”
The small crowd at the back of room lets out a loud whoop, egging Mo on.
“Jimmy.” I lace my voice with warning, but he doesn’t listen.
Cheryl starts moving faster, adding a little whip to her twists. Mo giggles, moving her hips along with the bull. She slides to the side, and I suck in a breath, letting it out once she rights herself.
Jerking to the left, Cheryl tosses Mo again, only a little harder. Her eyes widen, the smile falling from her face, and fuck me, this is too much. She can’t handle something like this.
I turn to Jimmy to tell him to turn it off just as Cheryl bucks, throwing her ass end up and flinging Mo into the air.
My heart lodges in my throat as Mo flies over Cheryl’s head, landing hard against the mat. Linc and I hurl ourselves over the rope as Jimmy kills the bull.
I slide to my knees at Mo’s side, pulling her into my arms. “Mo, baby, are you okay? Are you hurt?”
She brushes her hair out of her face and beams at me. “That was amazing. A little scary…” She climbs to her feet. “But amazing. The adrenaline rush was crazy.”
Linc raises his hand for a high five, and Mo delivers.
“You want to go another round?” he asks, earning a punch in the shoulder from me.
“Would you shut up?”
Mo steps away, ignoring me on her way out of the room.
“Not today,” she calls back to Linc. “I think once is enough for now.”
“Not ever,” I correct, following after her.
The bar has filled while we’ve been gone, and our food now waits at our table. We slide back into the booth, and Mo finishes off her cheesecake before devouring her burger while Linc and I play catch up.
“Doctor gave you the all clear?”
I nod, taking the last bite of my burger. I toss my napkin on my plate and set it at the edge of the table. “He did. I’m going to have to work my ass off, but a few good rides and I should be able reclaim my spot at the top.”
“You’ll get there in no time, brother,” Linc assures me. “So, you gonna be in Charleston with us next weekend? We’re leaving on Wednesday.”
“Charleston?” Mo swallows her last fry and looks up.
“That’s the next ride. You got a problem with that, princess?” Linc goads.
Always the shit-stirrer.
“Call me that again and you’ll get my Ariat shoved up your ass.”
He grins.
She scowls.
I intervene. “I haven’t been on a bull in weeks.”
Linc scoffs. “Yeah, weeks, not months. It’s like riding a bike. You’ll get right back on and do fine. We can get you into the arena tomorrow, and you’ll have five days to get comfortable again before we leave.”
Mo’s hand finds my arm. “Tomorrow?”
I cover her hand with mine and look at Linc. “I’ll let you know.”
“Your call, brother.” He slides from the booth and tosses money on the table—enough to cover all the food and leave a decent tip. “I’m outta here. Nice to meet you, Monroe. And it was good to see you, man. Can’t wait to have you back.”
I scoot out of the booth and give him a one-armed hug. “We’ll talk soon.”
I turn to Mo. “You ready?” She takes my hand, letting me help her out of the booth.
We make it halfway to the door before I get stopped.