Page 48 of Leading the Blind
Jason’s words made him stop and blink. Their friends knew him and Mini were…well, together, but this was new. This was just saying it, right out there.
It felt… damn fine. Even better to struggle away from Dillweed and go swing Jason up out of his chair and around the room.
Mini kept his eyes open the whole time, just like he was riding a bull. Sweet.
“Okay, y’all. Drink up.” Coke was getting his business voice on. “We need to talk bulls. I got the short list. If you can, take Mama’s Boy. He’ll make you look good and he’s on fire.”
“He is.” Mini’s expression went mulish. Jason had him read the bull stats to him every week before the event. He knew all there was to know.
“Good deal. You know who you drew for today?”
“Knocker. He’s kind of a booger, but if I can stay out of the well, I can do it.” Jason’s lips curved. “I got good balance still, at least.”
“Nate and I will do our best to keep him from turning into your hand,” Coke said.
“Y’all rock. It’ll be what it is.” And now Jason wasn’t going to talk about it anymore. Bax knew that expression.
Coke and Dillon both looked at Bax, and he just shrugged. He wasn’t gonna try to force his man to do nothin’.
“Guys, easy. It’s bull ridin’. That part I understand. It’s the part after the bull that’s a bitch.”
“Sure. We’re just cabbage heads.” Dillon whacked Coke’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go for a drive to the arena. Take a few minutes to ourselves.”
“I didn’t mean to run y’all off…” Jason looked like he wasn’t sure if he was relieved or worried.
“You didn’t.” Coke snorted. “Dillon’s just telling me we need to stop mother henning. We’ll be there when you ride, son. Don’t you worry.”
“I don’t, Gramps. You’ll always be there, telling me where to run.”
Coke’s eyes shimmered a little. “From your lips to God’s ears, son.”
Dillon rolled his eyes dramatically, but Bax knew better. He was having the feels too. They hustled out, and Bax chuckled.
“Alone again.”
“Isn’t that a song?” Mini laughed for him…or at him. It was hard to tell.
“I think so? You know that shit better than me.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You want to listen to anything? Or just hang out?” The time before they left for the arena was always just tense.
“You want to get out of here too? We could drive around.”
“Hell, yeah.” Bax set the alarm on his phone to half an hour before they would have to be parking at the event. “Let’s do it, babe.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Mini reached down and hunted for his boots, stomping right into them. “Let’s do this. I want to go home and see Momma.”
“Me too.” He wanted to breathe. Bax grabbed their go bags, as eager to get this over with as he used to be to ride.
Lord, he was getting old.
Chapter Eleven
Heavens, it was good to be home, but weird? Christ.
“Jason! Andy! Y’all made it!” Momma was already crying. “Jack made brisket. and I have all the stuff to make chicken fried steak. How’s the wrist?”
“Still broke.” Jason’d cracked it but good on his short go ride, but he’d taken the event and used the injury to keep from having to glad-hand. He reckoned that worked out.
“Well, come in and I’ll get you some ice and a pillow to rest it on.”
