“No, just a normal race.”
“Oh, we’re going to see about that,” I challenge. He pulls me into him and plants a kiss on the side of my head.
“Parker, look!” Ethan points at something, getting his attention. Even though he entertains my brother, he keeps a hand on or around me in some way the entire rodeo.
“You seem happy,” Sutton notes next to me.
“I am.”
“We all called this, you know?” Bailey adds from behind me, leaning between Sutton and me to join our conversation.
“Yeah, well we all called you and Wes getting together and you didn’t believe us either.” I tilt my head down to look at her through the top of my sunglasses.
“I’ll give you one free pass to say, ‘I told you so.’”
“I’ll save that for another time.” She sits back and I shake my head.
“I’m just glad you both are able to be in the same room without starting a fight,” Sutton notes.
“We neverfought.”
“Agree to disagree.” Sutton chuckles.
I twist my lips and turn toward the small arena where the rodeo is about to start. I notice in the corner of my eye Parker looking at me. “Are you okay?”
“Did we ever fight in front of our friends?”
“Uh.” Parker lets out a single laugh. “I’d like to call it playful banter.”
“That’s what I’m saying,” I agree.
“Glad we’re on the same page, then.” He pulls me into him with the arm wrapped around my shoulders.
I sink against him and quietly agree, “Me too.”
After the shortrodeo is over Ethan is bouncing and pulling at Parker’s arm to go to the carnival rides and games. They end up ahead of all of us while I hang back with Sutton and Bailey. We chat about nothing important and just enjoying being here all together. As much as I want to spend time with Parker, I’m okay sharing him with Ethan, at least for a little bit. I get more time with him later anyway.
We find them at a ring toss game where they’re competing against each other. I slide up to Parker to distract him.
“How’re you doing? Are you winning?” I ask, pressed against his arm.
“I was,” he grumbles, missing one of the rings.
“Aw, what happened?” I push my chest against his arm that’s resting on the counter while he throws with his right.
“You happened, Lil.” He tosses another ring, and it looks like it’s going to make it, but doesn’t.
Ethan’s next throw makes it, and he tosses his arms up in celebration. I turn to face him, making sure to press my ass against Parker. I hear him grumble something that sounds like “fuck,” but he could’ve also said “duck,” who knows? There are rubber ducks floating in some of the cups that are in between the bottles of the game.
“Oh, that reminds me, did I ever tell you about the duck man?” I ask Parker as he goes to throw his last ring, and misses.
He drops his head on a laugh. “No, you didn’t, but do I want to know?”
“You definitely want to know. I told Sutton before, and she can tell you it’s a good one.”
Sutton speaks up, “There’s no way I can give that story justice. You have a special talent for storytelling.”
I smile proudly. “Thank you.”