Page 58 of Hung Up (Shadow Ridge #1)

ARLINGTON

dress the part

“We’re heading into the final day here in Arlington and you’re trailing just point eight points behind Jesse Hayes.

” Carson scoffs and shakes his head, and it takes everything within me to be professional and not call him out, especially considering we’re on camera.

“What is your plan heading into your ride today?”

“Simple. Win.”

I nod, expecting him to continue, but he just stares at me. “Your fans want to know what your plans are if you take home that golden buckle. Any big celebration? Would you wear it or display it?”

“That’s a stupid question,” he scoffs, the mic on his shirt picking it up as clear as day. “Do they really want to know that?”

“You strike me as the type who would display it. On a mantle, probably?” His eyes narrow on me, so I turn my attention back to the camera.

“That’s Carson Bell, current runner-up as we head into the final day here at the Pbr Championships in Arlington.

When we come back, I will be sitting down with Jesse Hayes, so stay tuned. ”

When the red light on the camera turns off, my shoulders sag and I slide off my stool, setting the microphone on top of it. I completely turn my back on Carson—who has the energy to deal with a guy like that, anyway?—and walk over to Rylie.

“I can’t believe you made that mantle comment,” she whispers as Carson walks by, not sparing me even the barest of glances. “Did you see his face?”

“God, I hope Jesse kicks his ass.”

“I plan on it, Sweetheart.” I turn at the sound of his voice, welcoming the hug he gives me. “That guy needs to be put in his place, especially after what he said about Kai.”

I raise a brow. “What’d he say about Kai?”

“That if he let the bull throw him off like that, he deserved the injury.” My eyes widen as my cheeks flush with anger. I spin on my heel, ready to give that asshole a piece of my mind when Jesse’s hand wraps around my wrist. “Slow down there, hot shot. Don’t we have an interview?”

“He can’t just?—”

He cups my face between his hands, effectively silencing me. “We beat him on the scoreboard, love. I got this.”

Love . That term of endearment has a different kind of blush seeping into my cheeks. I sigh heavily but nod all the same, and he presses a quick kiss to my forehead in response.

Ever since I told him I love him and heard him say it back, there’s been a new ease to our movements, to our interactions.

It’s like everything snapped into place and nothing has ever felt so natural in my life.

I don’t find myself shrinking away or embarrassed, instead I find myself constantly looking for him, wanting to feel him in some shape or form.

And when we both have our own commitments, I can still always sense him when he’s around, and that’s enough for me.

“Okay, Pretty Boy.” I grab his hand and drag him toward his stool, gesturing for him to sit. Once he’s comfortable, I grab the other microphone and hand it to him.

“I don’t get the one that clips on my shirt?”

I have to bite my lip to stop the sly smile from giving me away as I shrug. “Let’s just say that I’ve noticed from his previous interviews that he gets frustrated when he doesn’t have something to fidget with.”

“You did that on purpose?” He’s laughing so loudly that the few people lingering in the hall where we’ve set up turn to look. “You’re something else.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“One of the many, many reasons.”

Taking my seat, I smile at Evyn and nod as he gives me the countdown ‘til we’re live again.

Today is the first time I’ve done a live interview during this race to the championships, but there’s something about doing a live interview for the first time the day of the finals that just hits different.

The energy is more electric, the viewership higher, and the interviews tend to mean more.

Not just for me, but for the athletes as well.

Once that red light turns on, I plaster on my usual reporting smile.

“Welcome back to our coverage of the Pbr Championships here in Arlington. We have one more rider to hear from before we get to see who is taking home that golden buckle. Jesse Hayes.” I turn to look at him and see him already smiling at me, adoration in his eyes.

“Jesse, how’s it feel to know that you’re in that top spot heading into a day as big as today? ”

“It’s bittersweet, as I’m sure a lot of people would expect.” I nod, thinking about Kai. “You know, getting that spot because someone else got hurt is never a nice feeling, but after a very long pep talk from him, I know that it’s still well deserved.”

I have to fight the urge to smile at him too widely, constantly reminding myself that I need to be as professional as possible—but he definitely makes it hard. “Speaking of getting hurt, you sustained your own injury this season. How was it coming back from that?”

“Awful at first,” he admits, and I think back to everything that happened between us behind the scenes that contributed to making it just a little bit harder.

“But thanks to my sister, I was able to push through. I’ll be the first to say that the ride back afterward shouldn’t have happened, but sometimes we make poor decisions when we think that the thing we love might get away from us. ”

I catch myself staring, my entire expression softening at the hidden meaning in his words.

Even though we’re finally past all that, he made it known that he still has some regrets for how a few things transpired.

How he had let his frustration over the injury compile with his anger over my hesitation and his own feelings dictate so many of his actions and his words for those few days.

If only we had talked back then without any pretenses and had just been open and honest, maybe things would have panned out a little differently.

Yet I can’t help but think that everything happened the way it was meant to.

“With Carson trailing less than one point behind you today, he is more determined than ever to clinch that spot and take home the championship. What is your plan heading into today’s final ride to make sure that you maintain your spot there at the top?”

“I don’t have a plan.”

My brows furrow a little at that. “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised to hear that.”

“I don’t need a plan because I already know that I have this in the bag and that I’ll be the one taking that buckle home at the end of the night.”

“You sound quite confident.”

He shrugs. “I have something that Carson doesn’t: someone to win for.”

Goddamn him, making me blush on fucking camera.

“Well, I know I speak for everyone when I say we’re excited to see what you can do out there tonight.” I turn back toward the camera, ignoring the fact that I can still feel the heat in my cheeks. “I’m Faith Thompson from All In Sports News. We’ll see you when we crown a winner.”

The light turns off, and Evyn gives me a thumbs up before pointing the camera at the ground.

Jesse is in front of me before I even slide off the stool, his hands cupping my face as he presses a brief peck to my lips.

I beam up at him, about to thank him for not completely acknowledging our relationship on camera, when I hear a throat clear behind me.

My eyes widen as I swat his hands away from me, leaping to my feet.

Alicia stands next to Rylie, an unreadable expression on her face.

“I didn’t realize you were coming today,” I say, my voice slightly shaky as I rub my hands down the front of my overalls.

“You should know I wasn’t going to miss this,” she states, closing the space between us and surprising me by throwing her arms around me.

“I’m proud of you, Faith.” She pulls back, keeping her hands on my shoulders.

“You earned this, and I’m excited to be here as you see it through. I’ve also come with news.”

My brows shoot up. “What kind of news?”

I see Rylie unable to contain her excitement as Jesse rests a hand on my lower back. Glancing up at him, I see a knowing smile on his face, and that only makes me more confused. Why does everyone else seem to know what this is but me?

“I spoke to the Pbr Association,” Alicia starts, folding her hands together in front of herself. “They want you to come back next year.” My eyes widen and my mouth parts, but what she says next throws me for a loop. “Ryan wants you to join him at the table.”

“Ryan. As in?—”

“Ryan Beauregard, the face of the Pbr, yes.”

When I look back up at Jesse, I can see the hope and excitement in his eyes, but I find myself hesitating.

Is this really what I want? To commit myself to something for an entire season and risk losing out on other assignments?

Could I really do a full five—almost six—months with one sport?

If it weren’t for the guys and for Maxine, I don’t know if I would’ve made it these four months, if I’m being completely honest. Could I handle being up top and away from them?

“Can I think about it?”

Alicia looks a little surprised but nods. “I’ll tell him he’ll have an answer by Wednesday. Good luck today, Jesse. I’ll be rooting for you.”

He tips his hat at her before she walks away, Rylie flashing me two thumbs up before running after her. To think that today doesn’t have to be the last day that I do this brings me a little bit of relief. I just don’t genuinely know if sitting behind a desk is really for me.

“Now that that’s done,” Jesse says, slinging an arm around my shoulders and leading me toward the media room. “I have a present for you.”

“I thought I said no more presents,” I grumble despite the smile on my face. I can’t lie, I’ve grown quite fond of him spoiling me—it’s just more fun if I put up a little bit of a fight about it.

He pulls me to a stop outside the door. “Close your eyes.”

I do as he says, standing in the middle of the hallway as workers mill around and the top twenty-five riders—well, twenty-four since Jesse is busy—prepare for their final rides of the season.

There’s anticipation in the air that I hadn’t felt earlier, an anxious undercurrent I can feel as if it were my own.

This is what the last five months were for.

All the blood, sweat, and tears these athletes shed all led to this moment.

Only one can walk away with the belt.

And I pray that it’s my Jesse Hayes taking it home.

I startle slightly at the feel of something being set atop my head, but I somehow manage to keep my eyes from snapping open.

A calloused hand brushes my cheek, tucking a piece of hair back behind my ear before soft lips press against the tip of my nose.

I’m practically bursting with anticipation, eager to see what it is—or what it looks like, since I already have a sneaking suspicion what it is.

“Okay, open.”

I slowly open my eyes to see that he’s holding his phone out toward me, the camera open so I can see my own reflection.

Sitting atop my blonde curls is a white cowboy hat with blue twine making up the band, a black and white feather sticking out of it.

I end up slipping the hat off my head to look at the underside and see a blue heart engraved on the underbrim with a J above it.

When I glance up with misty eyes, he gives me a smile before slipping his own hat off his head.

Flipping it over, my eyes widen as I see my own initial directly next to his family sigil.

“Figured it was about damn time I had you out there with me.”

Slipping the hat back on my head, I bite my lip and reach for his hand. “I have a surprise for you, too.”

We walk hand in hand down the hallway toward the chute, and I can already feel my heart rate spiking and my palms growing sweaty. I had to pull a lot of strings and do a shit ton of coordinating to make this happen, and I can only hope and pray that Jesse will love this as much as I think he will.

And based on the gasp he releases when we round the corner, I wonder why I was ever nervous in the first place.

Standing near the chute are Stevie, Nash, Addie, her godson, and Loretta.

Jesse jogs toward them, Stevie meeting him halfway and launching herself into his arms. I can see her lips moving as he sets her down, but can’t make out what’s being said until I get closer.

“—and she wasn’t taking no for an answer. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Faith.”

He turns around to stare at me, a look of disbelief in his somewhat glassy eyes. “How did you do this?”

“I can be pretty damn convincing when I want to be.” I stop beside him and put a hand on his arm, giving his family a wide smile. “I wasn’t about to have them miss your big moment.”

“We don’t know if I’m going to win, Sweetheart.” For the first time in weeks, there’s very clear doubt in his tone.

I reach for his hands and hold them between my own. “Hey now, none of that. You are Jesse Hayes, stubborn bull rider who never walks away or gives up ‘til he gets what he wants—and you always get what you want. I know that better than anybody.”

“She’s right, you know,” Nash says, taking a step forward. “If anyone is crazy enough to pull this off, it’s you.”

“We’re here because we believe in you,” Addie states.

Loretta approaches Jesse, so I drop his hands, taking a step back so she can take my spot.

“As your mother, I’ve never been a fan of the career path you decided to go down.

No mother ever wants her babies to do dangerous things.

But Jesse, I am so proud of you. I’m sorry if my lack of support has ever made this hard on you, because the truth is, I’ve always been proud despite my fear.

You’ve chased your dream and you’ve never given up, and now that it’s within reach…

There’s no doubt in my mind that you can do this.

I wasn’t going to miss this for the world. ”

Jesse wraps his arms around his mother, tears streaming down his face as they hold onto one another.

Stevie slides up to me and bumps her hip against mine, Addie giving me that gentle smile she always seems to wear.

Nash, well, Nash is wearing the one and only expression I’ve ever seen him wear, so I truly don’t know how he feels, but he’s here. They all are, and that’s what matters.

When they finally separate, Loretta wipes his tears away and stares at him with nothing but determination, almost as if she were trying to give Jesse some of her confidence. “Now, what are you going to do?”

The announcer begins to go over the lineup for today—Jesse riding last—when he reaches for me, tucking me into his side as he stares at his family.

“I’m going to win this thing.”