Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Several of his teammates chuckled and nodded, and they began talking about future events here in Majestic and the sponsorship opportunities they would pitch for them like it was a foregone conclusion, which went a long way to allaying some of my stress.
Things were as ready as they could be going into tomorrow’s event.
Once the meeting broke up, I texted Silas.
Me
You at home?
Silas
Yeah. I have a surprise for you, actually. You heading this way?
My heart took a little leap.
Me
On my way after a quick stop at Lake Sports. Need me to bring lunch?
Silas
No. Just yourself.
I headed out of the office and told Bernice to catch me on the radio if she needed me back in town in the next few hours. My imagination went a little wild as I drove to visit Lake and Jackson. If my conversation with Silas went well, maybe we could spend some time celebrating in bed. Or maybe he’d agree to take a short trail ride with me to oversee preparation on the river by the kayaking crew.
When I got to Lake Sports, the place was buzzing with customers, athletes, and employees helping fix bicycles and load kayaks on roof racks. Two event tents were set up in the parking lot to provide additional areas to help customers, and music was blasting from speakers set up under one of them.
Cody and Clayton Spilling were manning a table in front of a smoker where a sign advertised their special pulled pork sandwiches for sale.
This was the Majestic summer we all dreamed of, and I couldn’t help but feel proud as I saw it happening. The sun shone down from a deep blue sky, and a breeze blew gently enough not to worry me about incoming weather. It was one of those days that made the winter ones worth it.
“Way!” Jackson beamed when he spotted me come through the open front doors. “How’s everything going?”
I nodded and returned his grin. “So far, so good. I came to ask you the same, but it looks like I already have my answer. You need anything before I head out to the ranch for a bit?”
He shook his head. “Nope. All good, thanks to you. This event has already been the best thing that’s happened for our business. We can’t thank you enough for convincing them to pick us for the exhibition. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like if we land a full race on their schedule next year.”
We spoke for a few more minutes before a T-shirt caught my eye on a rack behind him. It was from their rock climbing collection and had an outline of the triple jagged peaks of Three Daughters with a script font below.
Majestic Rocks.
I grabbed it in Silas’s size, but before I could pay for it, Jackson insisted I take it on the house. “You sure?” I asked.
His only answer was a smile and an eye roll.
I drove home with a nervous churning in my gut and a dangerously fast heart rate. What if he laughed at me? What if he cared about me but not enough to want to consider a life in Wyoming? Would I move for him? Who would take care of the ranch? Who would take charge of Majestic’s municipal interests?
By the time I drove past the ranch house and barn, I’d started second-guessing whether the timing was right for my confession. What if he rejected me? What if he truly did have divorce papers for me to sign? Would I be able to play town host for our big weekend while secretly bleeding out from the heartbreak?
Fuck.
When I pulled up to the little house, two cars I didn’t recognize were parked in a cluster around Silas’s rental, and a group of men stood and sat around the tiny porch talking and laughing.
They were all beautiful, as if a modeling convention had suddenly magicked itself to my home.
“Uh… hello?” I asked after hopping out of the truck. “May I help you?”
Silas stepped out of the front door and handed a few bottles of water out. “There he is. Guys, this is Waylon. Way, these are my friends.” He began pointing at each man in turn. “Sebastian Dayne—we call him Bash—Landry’s the one with long hair, Zane over there, and of course, you already know Dev. Oh, and that’s Kenji with his face in his phone.”
I hadn’t noticed Dev, but as soon as Silas pointed out his friend Zane, I realized why. I’d been staring at the man he introduced as Zane. “You’re Zee Barlo.” I may have mostly been a country music fan, but everyone knew this guy’s recent climb to fame as a talented musician.
The man blushed. “Yeah.”
Landry rolled his eyes. “He’s only shy when he’s not onstage.”
“Anyway,” Silas said, “they came to help. Put them to work however you want.”