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MAGNOLIA

Camand I made our way to the bleachers, sitting about halfway up as people in the arena rode horses and chased down steers with their lassos.

I dipped a chip in nacho cheese, savoring the flavor. “I swear, food in Cottonwood Falls just hits different.”

Cam laughed. “You’re such an easy date. This and a chicken bacon ranch is all you need.”

“True,” I said with a smile. “It brings back so many memories—being here.”

She nodded, looking around us wistfully. “You remember what Rhett used to do after every ride?”

I covered my face, my cheeks warming at the memory. “That’s so embarrassing.”

She dragged another piece of popcorn through my cheese and brought it to her mouth. “No way. It was adorable, seeing him get off that bull and point to you in the stands, like it was you who gave him the bravery to do it in the first place.”

My heart warmed, because that was exactly how it felt. And to be acknowledged by him, deemed special by him when so many girls in the area crushed on him? It meant the world to me as a teenage girl with stars in my eyes.

“Things have changed since then,” I reminded myself, reaching for a chip.

She nodded. “Have you decided on your service project yet?”

I shook my head and wiped a bit of cheese from the corner of my mouth. “I like the idea of free haircuts for foster children, so I’ll definitely continue that, but I’ve been trying to come up with something new too. Do you have any ideas?”

“Actually, there are some ladies at the nursing home who I think you could help. The CNAs clip their nails and help with hygiene, but you know it’s not the same as being pampered.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re so right. Maybe we could do a beauty day every month and paint their toes or curl their hair so they feel pretty.”

“You’d really be making a difference,” Cam said. She booped my nose with a piece of popcorn, then popped it in her mouth.

Rubbing my nose, I laughed. “You’re so weird.”

“Back atcha.”

The announcer came over the radio, saying, “Up next, we have our saddle bronc riders! Are you ready to see some guys hit the ground?”

Cheering erupted around us, and I laughed, joining in.

“Up first is our very own Cooper Lawson. He’s a big guy, coming in well over six feet, but still smaller than a two-thousand-pound horse! Let’s give it up for him!”

Cam cheered loudly, and I smiled over at her. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Oh shush,” she said, still clapping with her cheeks gaining color.

My eyes turned toward the gate holding back the horse which Cooper sat atop. Next to him, in the corner, was Rhett among the guys holding the horse and helping Cooper prepare.

The countdown timers sounded and then the gate flew open, the horse instantly bucking into the arena.

Cooper held one hand in the air, his other gripping a rope over the horse’s shoulders.

“Oh my God,” Cam whispered as we watched.

I totally agreed. I held my breath, the seconds passing feeling so much longer than usual. The buzzer went off, Cooper still on the horse, and a couple of other guys on horses rode alongside him. One pulled Cooper onto his horse, and the other guy lead the bucking bronc out of the arena.

Everyone in the crowd went wild, shouting, “COOPER! COOPER! COOPER!”

Cam’s grin was so big as she cheered and clapped along.