Page 80 of Leading the Blind
“Nice one.” Bax clapped Beau on the back. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. You been on fire, cher. You did good.”
Jason beamed at Beau’s praise. “Thanks, Bobo. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. You just stay out of Kynan’s way, huh? He’s got him a mad-on.”
“Poor little fuckhead,” Bax rolled his eyes. He was a goddamn cowboy, not an ‘athlete’ like Kynan. He’d clean the little fucker’s plow.
“He’ll grow up…eventually.”
“Who? Bax?” That was AJ, chortling.
He flipped Aje off, but Jase cracked up, howling with happy laughter.
“Y’all all suck,” Bax stated.
That just sent them all off laughing again.
“What’s funny?” Dillon asked, and Beau popped off.
“Bax’s sucking.”
“Oh. Out here in public?” Dillon waggled his eyebrows. The guys formed a little flanking type guard around him and Jason, moving them toward the exit, which kept everyone else away.
“Y’all be nice,” Jason chuckled. “Seriously, you don’t want to be banned from the new house.”
“Jase! You got an all-new house with the ocean!” Sam Bell clapped Jason on the shoulder. “Good on you.”
“We did. It’s real nice. Got one of them adjustable beds in the guest room.”
“Yeah, because I paid for it,” Dillon said, snorting.
“No one asked you to, Dillweed.” Not that Dillon was really complaining. Bax knew that.
“Nope. It was for my bullfighter. Who needs coffee?”
“I do.” They all said it. Lord, they were a coffee-loving bunch, as long as none of them made it.
Bax and Jason got themselves sat with Aje, Coke and Beau, while Dillon and Sammy went for coffee.
“You look healthier, Jase. Seriously.” AJ bobbed his head like Jase could see him.
“Thanks.” Mini traced circles on the table. “I’m almost healed up. A few more rides, and I’m golden, right?”
“You know it. It’s almost statistically impossible for anyone to catch you. Raul and Kynan could get close if you flopped, but I ain’t sure they could.” Beau was damn proud of Jason, Bax thought.
“I’ll make sure they can’t. I need this.” There was a ferocity in Mini’s face, a harsh need.
“You’ve always been able to get what you set your mind to,” AJ said quietly. “We’re here for you this year, buddy. Just you. Ain’t none of us worried about ourselves.”
“I appreciate y’all, more than I can say. I want my title, then I want to go home.”
Bax loved that—how Mini was focused on home, on their crazy house on the ocean, on building their lives together.
He wanted that too. This whole event year had been a freaking roller coaster, and he was sick with worry right now. They just had a few more rides.
But those few more rides were on the rankest bulls, with the biggest crowds. With every suit who owned and ran the league right there, front and center.
