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I hugged her side, then let out a heavy sigh. “Why can’t everything be good at once?” I said so only she could hear. It was like the pieces were starting to come together with Rhett, yet my dad was disappointed in me. It put a storm cloud over every good thing happening now.

Farrah slid into the bleachers on the other side of Gage, and we started chatting about interior design. She was so friendly; I swore we talked all the way through the barrel racing and the steer roping before the bronc riding started. She gave me her number too so we could start texting back and forth.

I was both happy and scared to be entwined in Rhett’s world. Because I knew how good it was to be with him and how heartbreaking it was when it was all over.

The announcer came over the speakers, saying, “Up next to ride broncs is Cooper Lawson of Cottonwood Falls. You have to love these small-town rodeo guys. They’ve got the heart and the skill.”

I glanced over at Cam to see tears falling down her cheeks.

“Are youcrying?” I asked.

She had a napkin wadded up in her hands, holding it tight at her chest. “I’m just nervous! I don’t want him to get hurt!”

I tried not to laugh. “Is your period starting soon?” She always got weepy when it was her time of month.

Her eyes glanced toward the ceiling like she was doing mental math. “Maybe that’s it. I don’t know why I’m so damn surprised every time.”

I could see Levi’s cheeks getting red on her other side, and Farrah giggled. “You are definitely not alone. Gage got an app to track mine.”

“Aw.” I laughed. “That’s kind of cute.”

“I need to know when to have chocolate and flowers ready,” Gage teased, bumping her shoulder.

The buzzer sounded and the gates flew open, and we watched as Cooper clung to the back of a bucking bronc.

“Breathe,” I urged Cam.

She only bit her lip.

Before we knew what was happening, Cooper lost his grip and went flying through the air. He tucked and rolled at the landing and popped up, taking a few limping steps before catching his stride and jogging to the edge of the arena while a couple people on horses caught his bucking bronc.

The announcer said, “Not quite eight seconds, but a good ride from Lawson!”

Our little section of fans cheered loudly, and Levi, put his fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly.

“That is so cool!” I said, turning to where he sat in the row behind us. “Can you teach me?”

For the next several moments, he showed me how to do it, and I got a lot of slobber on my fingers while making absolutely no progress toward a whistle. Everyone was in stitches as I wiped my hands on my jeans.

Then they called Rhett’s name over the speakers. I pulled my fingers to my mouth, trying again to whistle, and a sharp sound peeled through the audience.

I’m pretty sure Rhett’s family was cheering as much for my successful whistle as they were for him. I was smiling as the gates flew open and my man flew out on the back of that bull.

I held my breath, just like Cam had, saying a quick prayer that he’d be okay and come out of it with a good ride. The seconds slowly ticked by as Rhett was jerked along the back of the bull with long, sharp horns.

And then the buzzer went off, and Rhett let go, falling off the bull. A rodeo clown distracted the animal while Rhett jogged to the edge of the arena, pointing right at me, and then shaping his fingers into a heart.

“Aw,” Cora said, “he loves us!”

Farrah rubbed her daughter’s arm. “He sure does.”

Gage and Farrah stayed for a few more rides, but when Cora started yawning, they told us goodbye so they could get her in bed.

As they walked away, I asked Cam, “Wanna come to the bathroom with me?”

She nodded, and we went to the crowded bathroom on the other side of the arena. We each took a stall, and I sat down on the toilet. The door opened and closed, and one woman said, “Did you see Rhett? He looks so fucking good riding a bull.”

Another woman said, “You should have seen how good he looked ridingmelast year.” She cackled deviously, and the other girl joined in.