Serenity Falls(98)

“Kenleigh, it’s fin—” Brantley and Sarah say at the same time, but I cut them off.

“IT’S NOT FINE! WHERE THE HELL IS HE?” I shout at everyone and anyone who is trying to make me see reason to the situation at hand.

“I’m right here.”

That voice, his voice, makes my heart stop. Relief floods through me like a drought stricken area finally receiving that one good rainstorm it’s been seeking. My hair whips me in the face as I spin around and see Wes standing there behind me. Dirt covers his chaps. Pieces of his shirt have become untucked from his pants. I have no clue where his cowboy hat is, but I don’t give a damn because he’s here, safe. Sweat trickles down the sides of his face as I search for any cuts, scrapes, or bruises. Feeling satisfied that he doesn’t seem to be injured, I launch myself into his arms. Tears well up as I start to cry. I hold myself to him as if he might disappear. I try to listen the beat of his heart, but I can’t hear it through the damn vest that’s still secure over his chest. It’s as if I’m on autopilot. First, rip off the damn vest. Second, hear the heartbeat that calms me like nothing else. Third, make sure he has no injuries that I can’t see, and then yell at him for scaring the hell out of me. Last but not least, I need to kiss him, and tell him how much I love him, and how proud of him I am. And in that order, I do exactly that.

I lean back, and with a scornful tone, I slap his arm. “You scared the shit out of me! I thought you were hurt. Then I couldn’t see you. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

With an arm around my waist, he brings up his other hand to the nape of my neck and presses my head into the crook of his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that you’d be that worried about me. I mean, I knew you were before, but not to this extent.”

I squeeze my arms tighter around his neck, just basking in the feel of his warm body pressed against mine. “But I’m very proud of you. You lasted the whole eight seconds. Well, at least I think you did. I’m so sorry that I freaked out,” I whisper. I pull, and my blue eyes find his.

“It’s okay.” A grin pulls at the corners of his lips. “Did you just say you’re proud of me?”

I nod in reassurance. “I did. And I love you. So much. You did amazing out there, but if you could try and do one little thing for me?” I make a barely there space between my thumb and forefinger. “Could please not get too close to the bull’s head again, or let those damn horns get anywhere near you?”

The vibration of his silent chuckle causes my eyebrows to rise. “You know I have no control over that, right?” His lips curl in, and I know he’s trying to control his laughter.

My lips begin to form a smile. “Just humor me. Please?”

“Okay, I’ll try for you.” He sighs through a smile.

“Good.” I peck his lips, not once, but twice, and then wiggle free from his hold. Wes links his fingers through mine as I turn to see everyone else looking at us.

“That was fucking awesome! You did great out there,” Brantley says, slapping Wes on his shoulder.

“I don’t know how the hell you got off that bull without getting kicked in the head. Man, I haven’t seen you ride like that in ages,” Liam says, shaking Wes’ empty hand.

Sarah leans up on her tiptoes and kisses Wes’ cheek as she says, “I’m just glad you’re safe. Kenleigh here had me freaking out a little myself.”

As we all sit down on the bleachers, Jackie is the last one to say something. “I knew you could do it. You’ve gotten better since the last time I saw you ride.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to contain the retort on the tip of my tongue. After the talk we had at the bonfire, I was sure she would have given up her quest for Wes. I still want to believe it. The rational part of me knows that it’s ridiculous, childish even, to be jealous that she’s seen a side of him that I haven’t. With a couple of deep breaths, I let it go.

“Are we partying tonight?” Brantley asks. “You know, in celebration for that great ride.”

My eyes close as I hope Wes says no. It’s not that I don’t want him to spend time with our friends and celebrate. He really did do great out there. He did something I never would have had the guts to do. But I want it to just be us tonight. Last night, I told Wes that I needed to start packing to get ready to return to the dorms. We discussed it somewhat, but then, he once again evaded the conversation as much as he could. Finally, I told him that on Sunday, which is now tomorrow, I needed to pack. “Naw… can’t, man. I’m gonna spend some time with my girl.” Wes lets go of my hand only to drape his arm over my shoulders. I lean into his comforting embrace. As the guys give him shit for choosing me over them, a twinge of dread sinks to the bottom of my stomach because all too soon, my time with Wes will be up. One more day… That’s all we have left, and I have no clue where we will go from there.