Page 62 of Roping My Rival

After a quick break, we’re back in the queue for the team ropers, and I’m fidgety in the saddle.

“Warren. Relax.”

Dane rumbles without looking at me, and…it works. Just two words and I’m back in the headspace for our event. This time we’re middle of the pack, and after settling into the chutes, I focus on the task at hand. This is our night. I know it.

With a nod, the steer bolts from the chute with me and Dane right behind him. My catch lands clean, and Dane follows quickly right after. It’s so fast my heart is in my throat, wondering if we broke a barrier.

“How about this new pair of ropers, folks? That’s a 3.4-second run for Burke and Walker tonight, and that’s the time to beat!”

Exiting the ring, Dane seems far more relieved than happy about our time and placement.

“Great run, partner,” I say as I pull up alongside him, and we watch the rest of the field. “Think we could ever break the 3-second mark?”

“That’s a mighty ambitious goal.”

“Would be cool, though. We can definitely be faster.”

“We could.”

And that’s all Dane gives me. With the final riders done, nobody beats our score. It’s a joint victory lap, and once we’ve loaded the horses and I’ve reported to the prize officials, we’re on the road to our last rodeo.

“Mind if we just order supper in when we get there? I don’t want to eat more fast food or sit in a restaurant all smelly.” I love carnival food but it gets old fast.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I brought food anyway.”

“You did?”

All I’ve seen him snack on are peanut butter sandwiches.

“Yeah. I’ll just make a sandwich, no big deal.”

It kind of is a big deal. He’s a high-level athlete, and he should have fruit and vegetables and lean meat. Hell, even pasta. But his jaw is set again, the muscle twitching, and I let it drop.

The horses get stabled for the night in a facility outside of town, and we check into our shared motel room. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a bed to sleep in and a hot shower. While Dane is in the shower, I pull up the DoorDash app, relieved I can get delivery here, and before I can overthink it, I place the order.

“Shower is all yours.” Dane exits the bathroom with a towel slung around his hips and water droplets clinging to his chest that make me extremely thirsty.

“Right. Uh, the DoorDash guy might arrive while I’m in there. The code is 1410.”

“No problem.”

He’s already rummaging in his duffel bag, so I duck in and rush through the shower with my heart in my throat. I exit the bathroom, much like he did, a towel around my hips just as he closes the door with a food bag in his hand.

“Perfect timing. Your food is here.”

Dane drops the bag on the tiny table before flopping back on his bed. I don’t even bother changing into my lounge pants in the bathroom. He’s seen it all and tasted it, so…modesty feels a little dumb.

“I found a place on the delivery app with Thai food. Have you ever tried Pad Thai?”

Dane shakes his head. “No.” He flips through the channels on the TV as I unpack all the food that covers the table before we even sit. His gaze flicks over quickly. “You gonna eat all that, Burke? That’s enough for an army.”

“I, ah…I ordered for two. I was hoping you’d eat with me?”

Jesus. It feels like the time I asked Waylon Roberts on a date at the bar when I was freshly 19. The same queasiness sits in my gut that Dane could punch me or call me names as I wait for his answer.

He inhales a deep breath before sitting up on the edge of his bed. His arms hang between his legs, and his fingers lace together, squeezing and releasing as he remains silent. My shaking hands remove the plastic covers from two sets of cutlery, and I set them on a napkin at the place across from me.

My stomach growls at the aroma from the food, and I sit with a final sad glance at Dane.