Page 47 of Hard To Fall
I shake my head. “I’ve dealt with them before, and they’re just very demanding. Asked lots of questions about who my superior was. When I told them it was me, they didn’t believe it. They did stick for one rodeo, and the partner approached me, saying how smoothly things went. But I don’t know. Something felt weird. And now, here we are.”
“Okay, well, it’s just one. And you still have big names coming. I saw the vendor list, Lily. We’ve never had anything like this here,” Maria says, her voice softening.
“I just hope it’s enough.”
“Are you kidding? Callahans are on the lineup. Of course, it’s enough.” I look at Levi. I added Colt’s name to the list a couple of days ago and sent it out via email. But I never got a response.
“He’s riding?”
Levi deadpans. “Come on, Lily. You’ve seen this movie before. He’s going to accept, and you’re going to beg him not to. You’ll worry, and he’ll tell you it’s fine. Then he’ll win first place. You’ll run into the middle of the arena, and he’ll tell you he lovesyou—but that he can’t ride anymore. And then you’ll live happily ever after.”
The joke doesn’t land like he wants it to because all I can see is him hurting himself worse.
And now I’m worried.
Just like Levi said.
I look at him again, and he’s got his arms crossed, brow raised, just like his mom.
“You know,” he says as he leans against the doorway of the office, “we can fast forward that, and y’all can be back together right now.”
“Yeah, well, this isn’t a movie."
“It’s a nightmare,” he mumbles.
“You! Out!” Maria shoos him out of the room. “Let the women talk.”
He chuckles. “Pot roast for dinner. Right, Ma?”
“You need to learn to cook for yourself. Now, go find yourself a woman instead of worrying about your brother’s.” She closes the door, and I lean back in the chair, bracing myself for the motherly talk I know is coming.
She grabs the chair off to the side and slides it right in front of the desk. “You’re both miserable.”
“I’m not miserable. I’m functioning," I reply. “There’s a difference.”
She studies me. “You still love him.”
I begin to protest. Love is such a strong word, but before I can get the words out, it filters through my mind. “Do I love him?”
She smiles. “Do you?”
“You tell me! You said I still do!” My voice rises almost with a little panic. “I didn’t know I did!”
She laughs out loud now and rises to come next to me. “This is very out of character for you, Lily. Why are you panicking?”
My heart is racing. “I’m not sure. If I do love him, and he doesn't love me, that’s going to suck.” She laughs again. “And if I don’t love him, and he loves me then–”
“Can I interrupt?”
“Please,” I breathe out and sag on my desk.
“I know my son, and I’ve never seen him like this. Do you know what I'm getting at? He may look charming and suave, but he’s not.”
I giggle. “Yeah, that grump takes over instead.”
“Exactly. So, you’re going to have to give him grace over his fears, Lily. He’s never been here before, and now he has to learn how to love out loud.”
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