Shaking off the bad thoughts, I nod my head, and we head in the direction of the food vendors. "That was really nice," I tell him quietly.
"What was?" His brow furrows. He really doesn't know what I'm talking about.
"What you did for that boy, signing his hat and giving him our tickets."
Cody doesn’t say anything until after he orders our food. "Oh." His cheeks are a rosy pink. "I like kids, and it's a good day in my world if I can make one happy.”
"You have many layers to you, but you're a good man, Cody Sterling." Smiling up at him, he pulls me close and kisses the crown of my head.
Finding an empty seat at one of the picnic tables, we seat down. "Bull riding seems dangerous," I comment, taking a bite of my funnel cake, savoring the deliciousness of it.
"It is. In this sport, it's only a matter of when you're gonna get hurt, not if you’re gonna get hurt. I wanna be number one in the world before that happens, though." Cody snatches a piece of my cake, smirking. I don't know how I feel about what he said.
"How do you get to be number one?" I question after swallowing another bite.
"Well, I'll leave here tomorrow, rest up some, and then I have a couple of shows back home. If I do good in those and my points are high enough, in a couple of months, I’ll be in the championship in Las Vegas. If I win in Vegas, I'll be number one in the PBR world. It’s all about them points."
"How do they score a ride?"
"If my balance is off just a little, I lose points like I did last night. If I control the bull, then I get style points. That’s the basics."
"And what does the bull get out of it? The whole tightening a rope around his nuts seems kind of mean."
Cody laughs, explaining, " It’s a flank strap that’s tightly fixed around the bull’s abdomen, not his nuts. Riders want the best score possible, but if we harm the bulls in the process, that would defeat the purpose. Besides, the bull gets a score, too. He gets bucking points, agility, and style. The rope just pisses him off and is placed where it will make them buck because they want it off. When they aren't in those chutes, they get treated better than most kids do. After their run is up, they’ll live in hog-heaven in a field, well-fed. They’ll never go to a butcher or a place to be slaughtered, unlike the cows and other animals 'round here." I guess he does have a point. "What do you do on a daily basis? What will you do when I'm gone, Sonya? You ask me a lot of questions, but I have yet to learn much about you."
"I work at a clothing store. I graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in business. Really, there isn't much to tell. Your life seems much more exciting than mine." God, if he only knew the truth.
After throwing our trash away, we head for the stadium. Cody talks to the head guy and gets two tickets for the front row and helps me find my seat. It’s time for him to get ready, and he gives me a hug and a sweet kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you after."
"I’ll see you after.” I watch as he walks away, but I shout to stop him, “Cody!” He halts, glancing glances over his shoulder. “Be careful.”
He doesn’t reply, but he does give me another one of those drop to your knees winks and tips his hat. I don’t take my eyes off of him until he disappears.
Pulling my phone out of my purse, I call Pudge to let her know where we’re sitting.
Pudge bumps her shoulder with mine while we wait for the competition to start. "How was your date?"
I sigh. An overwhelming heaviness settles in my chest. "It was amazing and a lot of fun.” My excitement dwindles, and I continue, “We went on rides, ate, talked, and he gave the rest of our tickets to a little boy. He even signed his hat. He's something special, Pudge.” Tears prick my eyes. What’s going to happen when he leaves tomorrow? “How was yours?" I ask, trying to deflect from my sudden uneasiness.
Tears pool in her eyes. "It was perfect! I don't want him to leave, Sonya." I wrap her in my arms.
I blink rapidly, pushing away the wetness in my eyes. "Me either, Pudge, but we knew it would come to an end when we decided to meet them today, right?"
"Yeah, I guess." Pudge's chin drops. "I've just never met anyone like him, and I don't think I will again."
"Yes, you will, Pudge! You're great, and any guy would be lucky to have you. Let's not think about it, okay? We have the rest of tonight and tomorrow. When they pull away, we can cry and drown our sorrows in junk food and sappy movies. Deal?"
"Deal," she agrees as the announcer’s voice comes through the PA system to address the crowd.
The fireworks light up the sky as the riders are called out. They stand in a line with a trophy bowl in front of them. One by one, they pick a name from the bowl, and the announcer informs the audience which of the bulls each cowboy drew. "Cody Sterling has picked number five. He will be riding Baby Blue. Congratulations, riders, let's have another night of safe rides. Now, if everyone can stand for the National Anthem, Miss Megan Donnelly will be singing for us."
It's time for Cody’s ride! I watch the chute as some cowboys are there, helping him to ease down onto the bull. He looks over my way, grinning with a wink. He tugs on his rope that we got ready earlier, his left arm goes up into the air, and he nods his head. A man standing outside of the chute pulls the rope, opening the gate, and they come out center stage. The clock starts ticking. My heart thunders like that bucking bull. I’m on the edge of my seat as the seconds pass.
I can tell this bull is gentler than the one last night, but it doesn't stop him from going crazy. Baby Blue bucks left and right, his back end and front come off the ground. I feel like the eight-seconds is eight hours, I'm nervous. Finally, the buzzer sounds, Cody jumps off, Jake helps get the bull back in the chute and locked up. He controlled the shit outta that bull! I stand up, pointing at him and screaming his name with the rest of the fans. Cody comes over, jumping onto the stands in front of me. He gives me another wink before dropping down and bowing for the screaming crowd.
"He's good for you,” Pudge tells me as we wait to hear his scores.
My smile falls. "Pudge, he leaves tomorrow. Nothing good can come of this."
"You don't know that, Sonya! You can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. He's not gonna want to let you go, and maybe, this is your chance to get away from all of that shit you do at the club."
I snap my gaze toward her. "What am I supposed to do? Jump in his truck and move a thousand miles away from my life for a man I met yesterday? Get real, Pudge. Shit like that doesn't happen." Ending the conversation, I jump from my seat and stomp down the stadium stairs, and I hear her follow me.
Pudge and I wait a few feet from the doors where the riders will exit. After waiting a while, Jake and Cody emerge freshly showered and wearing clean clothes. Both have duffle bags slung over their shoulders.
Cody spots me immediately and quickly jogs over, picking me up in a tight hug and spinning me around as we both laugh. "93.1, beautiful!”
"Congratulations! You did amazing!”
He sets me back on my feet. "Leave your car here. Come with me." His hopeful eyes bore into mine, and all I can do is nod.