Page 73 of The Only Seconds that Matter
“I’m actually busy at that time,” Victor said a bit too loudly.“But thank you for the offer.”
“Busy with what?Ain’t you comin’ to the rodeo?”Johnny asked.
“Yeah, but I’ll be on a, uh, date.”
“Awhat?”Diego and Johnny said at once.Diego’s was more inquisitive, but Johnny seemed offended, and the perturbed look on his face gave Victor a pure vindictive thrill.
“Yup, a date.So whatever you guys wanna do, that’s up to you.But I’ll be otherwise occupied.”
“Good luck with that,” Camila said, perhaps the only one in the group completely oblivious to everything and acting with appropriate cluelessness.“A rodeo sounds like a nice date.”
Johnny scowled.“You didn’t tell me about anythin’ like that.”
Victor shrugged, and Camila drew Johnny back into a conversation about where they might be able to meet up before the rodeo in case they wanted to sit together.Diego and Victor caught one another’s eyes, and Victor suddenly felt like laughing.What a fucking predicament.
“Fry?”Diego offered, and with a chuckle, Victor took one.
“Gracias,” he replied, popping it into his mouth.
“Good luck on the date,” Diego said under his breath.
“Thanks.”
“Anything I need to worry about with my wife and your friend?”
“Probably.He’s a real lady killer.”Victor laughed at Diego’s expression.“Try being six-foot-three sometime.”
“I’ll have to work on it,” Diego grumbled.
Victor laughed again, then glanced at Diego out of the corner of his eye.He couldn’t explain the sudden lightness in his chest, but it felt a little like finding peace.Maybe he wanted the best for Diego and his wife.He hoped Diego lived the dream he’d once shared with Victor.At least one of them should.
“I should probably get back to work,” Victor said, but he couldn’t help but touch Diego’s arm briefly.“It was nice seeing you again, Diego.”
“Yeah.”Diego glanced at Victor’s hand on his arm, then back into his eyes.“You seem happy, even if I don’t get it.So…that’s nice to see.”
Victor nodded, then moved away toward a horse stall so he could start filling buckets.He collected a few gas cans he’d bought new for transporting water, threw them in a wheelbarrow, and headed out to find the water spigot.As he waited for one to fill, he spotted Johnny striding his way.
“Enjoy meeting your fans?”Victor asked.
“You didn’t tell me about any kinda date.”
“You didn’t tell me about Daisy.”Victor lifted an eyebrow and met Johnny’s challenging gaze.“Why would I tell you about this?”
“This is different.Daisy ain’t nothin’ serious.”
“Neither is this.”
“You told me you wanted somethin’ serious, a commitment.”
“With you.I didn’t say I wanted that with everyone.”
Johnny made a frustrated sound in his throat, performed an agitated pivot on his heel, then leaned in close to Victor, voice low.“You’re doin’ this to make me mad.”
“Why do you think everything is about you?It’s not.It’s about me wanting to have a fun time with a stranger while I’m in town.You should do the same with Daisy or Diego’s wife or whatever other woman salivates over you.Should be plenty to choose from here.”
“Was that guy back there really an old friend from California?”Johnny asked.
“What else would he be?”
