“What did Adley want?” she asks.
“How do you know I was talking to Adley?”
“Because you only get that dopey look on your face when you’re talking about her.”
“Who’s Adley?” Rose asks, her eyes darting between me and Chloe.
Chloe gives me a you tell her look, and I frown.
“She’s my…girlfriend.” The word falls from my lips more easily than I expected, and Chloe beams.
Rose’s eyebrows raise. “Girlfriend? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“For about five months now,” Chloe answers. “She’s super sweet.”
“Wow.” Rose’s smile is a little too bright. “That’s great. Congratulations, Linc. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“So, what did she want?” Chloe asks.
“She invited me to come hang out with some of her friends. But I told her I was busy helping you.”
Chloe’s jaw drops. “What? No. Go hang out. Rose and I can get the rest of my stuff. Right, Rose?”
“Yeah, sure. Absolutely. You should go.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Chloe laughs. She grabs my shoulders and pushes me toward the door. “Call her back and tell her you’re on your way. Better yet, surprise her. Girls love that shit.”
I hesitate, and Chloe gives me a final shove out the door. “Go.”
I’ve been to The Broken Boot more times than I can count. It’s the go-to place after a bull ride, the best place to get a killer basket of chicken wings, and it’s where I saw Adley for the very first time.
Old man Joe stops me as soon as I walk through the front door. “Heya, Lincoln,” he bellows, clapping me on the back. “It’s been a while. How ya doin’, boy?”
“Can’t complain.” I scan the crowd for Adley and her group of friends, but come up empty.
“That’s good. I hear you’re helping Roy out down at The Barn. Any chance we’ll see you back in the arena anytime soon?”
“Nah, probably not. But you never know.”
He shakes his head, looking disappointed. “That’s a shame. The boys these days have nothing on you and that Allen boy.”
“Well, they’ve got deep pockets and sponsors.”
“Yeah, well, that’ll only get ya so far.” He takes a drink of his beer. “You meetin’ somebody here? I ain’t seen anyone from The Barn walk in tonight.”
“Yeah, but I don’t see her.”
“There’s a whole group of people in back.”
“Thanks.” I pat Joe on the shoulder.
“Don’t be a stranger.”
I nod and turn for the back of the bar. I hear Adley’s infectious laugh before I see her. When I walk around the corner, my eyes are drawn directly to her. Head tipped back, she’s laughing at something someone said, and I stop so I can watch her. She must sense my presence, or feel my gaze, because she lowers her head and turns toward me.