Page 97 of Sin With Me

"As if I haven't had to hear you and mybrotherfor the past year," Wilder reminds Harlow. His bedroom is above theirs and has complained about hearing them several times. "So just remember, pay back's a bitch."

"Wait a minute..." It dawns on me. Lowering my voice, I add, "I don't want them listenin'."

"Oh, they're gonna,” he says proudly. “I'm determined to make sure they have to suffer the way they've made me."

"It's not my fault the ceilings and walls are thin!" Harlow shrugs. "That's why I got you headphones for your birthday."

"Just do what I do..." Waylon looks at Wilder over his shoulder. "When I know you're home and she gives methe look, I get in the shower. The water and fan drowns out the extra noise and you can't hear a thing upstairs."

"I beg your finest pardon?" Harlow looks horrified.

"You think I need to take three showers a day? I figured you knew." Waylon shrugs.

"We need to move out..." Harlow mutters, shaking her head.

Before Waylon can respond, we hear Ellie's name being announced and then she's flying out of the alleyway with her horse, Ranger.

The conversation is forgotten as we spring to our feet, cheering and screaming her name. Noah jumps up and down with a large sign, keeping with her tradition of inappropriate ones:Round those barrels like you're being chased by a man!

Ellie cleans all three barrels flawlessly and just as quickly as she entered, she's gone.

"Holy shit! That has to get her to first," Noah shouts, beaming with pride.

The rest of the crowd erupts when her time displays on the screen.

"Thirteen point one!" Magnolia shouts, raising her arms above her head. "That's one of her fastest times."

Once all the barrel racer's scores from the past ten days get added up, the top average time wins the championship. Racers can also win money and prizes each day and she's won a handful already.

After every racer has gone, they announce Ellie as the round ten winner and then we wait with baited breath for the overall results to display.

"Well folks, she's done it again. For the second year in a row, she proves why she's the Rodeo Princess! Congrats, Ellie Donovan and Ranger!"

1. Ellie Donovan - 13.3

"Holy shit, she did better than last year!" Noah jumps around, unable to contain herself, and then she takes off toward the exit. Landen's quick to follow her.

"Is she always this excited when Ellie wins?" I ask.

"Yes," Fisher, Wilder, Waylon, Tripp, and Magnolia answer in unison.

I laugh, sitting back in my seat so the people behind us can see the next event.

"What was her score last year?" I ask everyone.

"Thirteen point five. And even that was a record," Magnolia explains. "She trained hard this past year."

"It shows."

Wilder wraps his arm around me and I snuggle into his side with a smile on my face.

I love this for Ellie so much. Even though I don't know her super well, I can tell she loves this sport more than anything and has put everything she has into it. I want that type of passion. That feeling of accomplishment, knowing I worked hard for something and earned it.

I felt pride as a trick rider, but I lost my passion for it after Dad died. That feeling of excitement was lost, and I'm not sure I'll ever feel it again.

But my goal is still finding a fulfilling career where I know I'm making a difference. Hopefully, I'll figure it out sooner rather than later.

Chapter Twenty-Two