24
Summer
Kip:Why did Rhett send me a text saying that I’m fired?
Summer: He. Didn’t.
Kip:He did. It said, “Fuck professionalism and fuck you. You’re fired.”
Summer:Well, he’s not wrong. That certainly isn’t very professional. I don’t think you’re actually fired though.
Kip: Of course I’m not fired. That asshole is stuck with me.
* * *
Summer: How is your shoulder? Are you taping it? Do you want me to come tape it?
Rhett: Fine. Don’t come back here. It smells like sweaty balls.
Summer:Thank you for the vivid description. I was reading about pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for rotator cuff injuries. Maybe we should try it? There’s a physiotherapist in the city who does it.
Rhett:I was kind of just hoping you’d give me more massages? But topless this time.
Summer:I’ll do that if you go to the appointment I scheduled for next week.
Rhett: Daily massages. Where you ride my dick while rubbing my shoulder. Then I’ll go.
Summer: Is your shoulder that bad?
Rhett:No, Princess. Your pussy is just that good.
* * *
Watching Rhett tonight has me wanting to hurl my fifteen-dollar arena beer all over the people in front of me. Emmett went first and had a great ride, something I know Rhett saw because he was sitting up on top of the gate with Theo watching.
I saw the flash of competition in his eye. He spent all night with his dick inside of me and still looks like he could kill the guy.
There’s this tiny part of me that wishes he’d just hop off that fence and retire on the spot. I want him safe. I want him to win too though. I want that for him.
But I also want him for myself.
It’s fucking confusing. I’ve never worried about another person this way, and that’s saying something, considering I’ve spent my entire life worrying about everyone around me.
Theo hops down onto his bull now, giving Rhett a bit of an unhinged grin as he does. I watch Rhett talk to him as Theo rubs at his bull rope, nodding—listening. There’s an intensity about their conversation right now that I haven’t noticed before.
Usually, things are lighthearted and friendly between them, but tonight there’s a definite mentor feel to their interaction. It’s heartwarming and nerve-wracking all at once.
The bull slams itself against the metal sides of the chute, and where I noticed Rhett back off in similar situations, Theo grins, drops his chin, and nods.
The gate flies, and so does the bull, like a bat out of hell. Theo looks like a younger, smaller Rhett, spurs riding up every time the bull bears down. He rides like his life depends on it. And based on how riled his bull is and how many times it switches directions, I would say his life actually does depend on it.
I barely know Theo, but I hold my breath all the same. On my nights spent sitting in the stands, I’ve seen other guys get head butted and stepped on. I’ve seen them leave strapped down on a stretcher.
In a lot of ways, it’s hard to watch, in others...I can’t tear my eyes away.
So, when Theo jumps off and tosses his hat in the air, I shoot up and cheer. The bull lopes out of the ring, chasing the clown, and Theo soaks up the cheers of the crowd. He scores himself a 90, which pushes him to the top of the standings for this weekend.
When I look back over at the fence, Rhett is sitting there, grinning ear to ear. So damn proud, chest puffed out, pride spilling off him.