Page 86 of One Last Rodeo

I won the ride. Even missing the last one before the break, I’m still sitting in first place heading into the semi-finals planned for a week from now in North Carolina. But it's just barely.

I should be celebrating. I should be drunk on adrenaline and Catalina’s kisses. I should be between her legs, kissing her pussy until she forgets every reason she’s mad at me for something I said in a blur of anesthesia.

Instead, everything we laid down in Tennessee feels like it evaporated. All because my idiot trainer, a man I consider to be one of my best friends, lined up a consult with some orthopedic doctor I couldn't point out in a line up. And apparently, I didn’t shut it down hard enough.

I should have. I know that now. But fuck, is that so bad to throw everything we've built away so easily? Or has she been plotting this for a week now?

“It felt good to be back,” I say.

He nods. “Think you’ll take the belt this time?”

“I always think I’ll take the belt.”

He laughs easily. My eyes betray me, sliding straight to Catalina at the end of the long table that’s set up in her parents’ backyard. The sun’s dipping low, turning everything out here gold. The table’s packed with food—homemade, tapas-style, the best meal I’ve had all season. Homemade by Catalina and her mama from what I've heard.

Catalina’s talking to June, letting her carry most of the conversation as usual. I know her too well. I know she heard her dad mention the belt because her lips have flattened and her jaw is clenched. It's that same tight expression she used to get with me when she was guarding herself.

I want to retreat, to hide inside my head and berate myself. I want to tell myself that she's too good for me anyway. She doesn't want me to keep riding. She doesn't respect my career just like every other woman before that I paid attention to.

The women who cared before did it for control. The ones who didn't, cared about my reputation and not me. As long as I was riding, I was popular. I was making millions. They were getting attention.

But Catalina doesn't care about any of that.She just fucking cares about me.

And other than my grandma, she might be the only person who’s ever really cared about me.

“With my daughter taking care of you,” Mr. Alba says, squeezing my bad shoulder gently, “you’ll never have to worry. She's the best at everything she touches. We're so proud of her.”

I know he's right, but I'm pretty sure his daughter won't be taking care of me anymore. Catalina must have heard that part too, because she blinks a few times and adjusts her legs like she’s been stunned by overhearing her father's compliment. Like she doesn’t quite know what to do with praise when it’s spoken out loud in front of people who don't really know her.

Have they never told her how extraordinary she is where strangers could hear it?

Just as quickly as the comment lands, Mr. Alba pivots. Changes the subject. Asks Micah about his last ride, presses Rafael abouthis family, starts joking about setting him up with Catalina’s youngest sister, Isla, who’s in her twenties and lives back in Whitewood Creek.

I already know Raf isn’t paying attention to that part since the only woman he has eyes on is June.

“I tell her all the time to move back to the West Coast,” Mrs. Alba says softly. “But you know my younger girls... they're free spirits. For some reason they all ended up in North Carolina.”

I know exactly why they did. The land’s different there. Different air. Trees and mountains that feel right. It’s the same way that Catalina opened when she saw the Smokies and the wide-open spaces of Tennessee.

North Carolina reminds me of Tennessee. I visited once a few years ago. Just passing by on my way to Charlotte. I can see why Hayes Walker, the previous number one bull-rider in North America, settled there and got married.

“We really thought Catalina would be here long-term,” Mrs. Alba continues, smiling wistfully. “She never expressed any interest in leaving California and, well… we assumed she’d have married her fiancé and started a family nearby—” She trails off.

Catalina cuts her eyes at her mother sharply, then wets her lips and swallows.

“My ex-fiancé,” she corrects her mom. Her spine straightens, shoulders squaring like armor snapping back into place before she turns her attention back to June.

“Yes. Sorry, Mija,” her mother adds before rolling right into her next story without missing a beat.

I don't think her mom meant it to come across as a slight, but I know it landed as one in Catalina's mind. Another reminder for her that she's not measuring up to her parent's expectations.Before I can think about that more, I overhear part of Catalina’s conversation with June.

“Okay, so we’ll just meet up at the bar then? Both of our guys are cute, but yours looks absolutely divine! Where did you find him at again?”

I glare at June. Then I glare at Catalina. Then I glare at both of them together. Heat floods my face so fast I feel weak.

Is she fucking serious?

Is she going on a double date with June immediately after telling me I don’t matter? After shutting me out like I was nothing but a mistake she regrets touching?