Page 24 of Homebound

Cruz gives everyone hell, but he’s one of the best guys I know. Since Tremblay’s off gallivanting in Argentina with his girl, Nina, Cruz answers my calls more often, and he always answers on the first ring no matter when I call.

“Yeah, you’ve got a point,” I admit, racking the barbell in the open-air gym—Colt’s Place.

Colter Cutler, Dakota’s father, built a gym in Granite Falls for all the rodeo competitors to train at as part of his Give Back to the Community effort. It’s not fancy, but they’ve got squat racks galore.

Cruz crunches a chip on the line. “What’s her name again? Kodie, right?”

“You can call her Kodie, but I call her Dakota.”

“Why do you call her that?”

“’Cause her dad named her after the song ‘North Dakota’ by Lyle Lovett, since, in his words, she came out screaming the day she was born, and it was the only song that calmed her down. He always hated that everyone shortened her name to Kodie.”

Except, even Mr. Cutler can’t help but call her Kodie now, so I’m the only one. It makes me feel like we’ve got something special.

He crunches again. “Damn, you two really do go back.”

“Yeah, we do.” With a grunt, I towel off the sweat on my forehead. “And what’re you eating? Close your mouth.”

“Close your mouth,” he repeats with a snort. “You and those manners. What’s with all your grunting? You sound like you’re jacking off.”

“How would you know what I sound like when I’m doing that?”

“’Cause we lived together for two years and shared a bathroom. I know.”

“It’s kind of weird that you were listening, man,” I say.

“I have no boundaries. So, what’re you doing? Need me to call you back so you can finish?”

With an eye roll, I tie my hair back. It’s fucking steaming in here. “I’m doing what you should be doing instead of eating chips. Working out. Preseason practices are gonna be brutal if you don’t hit the gym this summer.”

A sharp twinge pierces through me at the thought of leaving Texas, but I push it aside and pick up my weights. This gym looks more like a renovated CrossFit studio with rubber mats and leg presses.

I can see Dakota kicking up dust in the distant training arena with the other bull riders, next to the giant white barn where they keep the animal stock. Her brown hair is plastered to her sweaty forehead, but I can’t stop staring.

“So, back to Kodie,” he says. “I’ve never heard you bring up this girl’s name until you told us you were headed home to some small-ass town in the middle of fuck-knows-where, and you get quiet when you’re hiding something. You in love with this woman or something?”

I stay silent.

Too silent.

“Holy shit!” Cruz yells on the phone. “Tell me everything. Right now.”

He is never going to let me live this one down, and I need to talk this out. I’ve kept these feelings bottled up for too long, and I’m tired of acting like I’m not completely gone for Dakota Cutler.

I slump against the bench press, running a hand through my sweaty hair. “Yeah, alright, fine. I’ve liked her for a while now, but she has no idea.”

“Damn.” Cruz whistles out a long breath. “How long have you known her?”

“Since I was eight.” I lower my voice to keep this private, glancing at some guy doing pull-ups. He’s sweating a shit-ton, so I should grab a towel for him.

“You’ve been obsessing over this woman for that long?” he shouts so loud I have to jerk the phone away. “Why the hell haven’t you made a move?”

I scowl even though he can’t see me. “Because every summer I came back, she always had a boyfriend, and then she got engaged to some bull rider named Boone Bowman, and I missed my chance, and that led to Vi, but I found out she called off her engagement, so I’m back now.”

I stand from the bench and walk through the open garage gym door. Squinting against the bright sunlight, I spot Dakota sitting casually on the metal railing, watching one of the bull riders bucking around the arena. There’s something about her intense focus that always makes me wonder what thoughts are racing through her mind.

“Are you gonna make your move this summer, then?” Cruz asks.