Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen
28
Nash
The hurt and anger on Melanie’s face was an image that stuck in my mind all the way to Oklahoma. It wasn’t until I’d met up with Rome that my thoughts were pulled from her and Avery. His conversational distraction at dinner didn’t last long, though.
“You call her yet?” he asked, referring to Avery.
I shook my head and took a drink of my ice tea. “No. I will, though.”
Rome’s brows pinched together and then he slowly shook his head. “And how are things with her mom?”
“Melanie,” I reminded him of her name. “And they’re . . .” Hell, what were they? We’d fought twice in a row, but they were far from over. At least for me. “We had a fight. But we’ll work it out.”
“Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“I’ve seen that look before. On many men stronger than you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re having doubts.”
I shook my head. “Things are fine. It’s just a misunderstanding is all. I said some things I shouldn’t have.”
“Doubts about this.” He jabbed a fingertip on the table. “Not her, my brother.”
“No. I’m—” I paused, the denial on the tip of my tongue. Shit. He was right. Why was I even trying to deny it?
“You sure you want to ride tomorrow night?” he asked. Even if I hadn’t caught the concern in his tone, it was etched all over his face.
“Yeah. Of course. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Physically, sure. But I can see it in your eyes, friend. Your mind is elsewhere. On your girls back home. You’re playing with fire if your heart isn’t in it anymore.”
“I never said it wasn’t.”
“But you’re thinking it.”
I had no reason to keep my decision from Rome. He was my best friend, and we’d sworn to always look out for each other. “I’m gonna ride and finish out the season. But yeah, I’ve been thinking about retiring after the championship.”
Rome shook his head in dismay and it wasn’t because he thought I was making a mistake leaving the rodeo circuit.
“I’m good. I promise,” I tried to assure him.
I rubbed the rope to warm up the glue to ensure it stuck before pulling it over my hand. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply as I blocked out the rest of the world. I blocked out the thought of living and dying. Blocked out the thought of my girls and how I’d wished they were here with me, knowing I could only have one thing on my mind: riding this bull. It was me and him. Thunder Buck was the top-ranked bull in the circuit. And for the next eight seconds we were the only two things that existed.
My focus was only on surviving the next eight seconds. Eight seconds of pure glory. After the last two nights’ rides, as long as I qualified with this ride, I’d be back on top in the number one spot.
With one final steadying breath, I nodded my head before the judges started the thirty second countdown clock.
“Let him go!” I heard Rome holler where he stood on the pipe railing of the chute. The gate opened and before I knew it, seconds later, everything went black.
“I can’t breathe.” The words were strangled as they left my mouth when I came to. I forced my eyes open, only to squint them closed again.
The pain, the stadium lights, it was all too much. I tried to focus on thoughts of Avery and Melanie. Anything to take my mind off the excruciating pain. It was worse than anything I’d ever felt before.
“Hold tight, Nash.” I heard the faint voices of the medics swarming around me, holding me down as I struggled to sit up on my own. “Don’t move.”
I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.
Eight seconds and everything in my world changed.