I have a few chapters left for the story and if all goes well, it should be completed by this weekend! Yay! Thanks so much for sticking with me. Side note: as many of you know I published my second book "Jagged Hearts" this month. I'm ordering copies tonight so if you would like a copy from me, please PM me or let me know on facebook. Okay, enough rambling. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 28:
Invincible
With every win I ask myself: Is this man really mine? Could I possibly tame someone like this? When he's in the arena, he feels so far away from me, and yet, I feel like we're connected at the hip. When he moves, I move, too. Watching him, I feel the earth shift and everything else fade away. In my eyes, outside of his strong figure, everything is blurry. Nothing else matters.
Tonight, he'll ride again and I know tonight, I'll be just as fixated on him. As excited as I am to see him perform, I almost don't want tonight to come because right now, we're in our own little world. With the sun streaming in through the cracks in the blinds, casting beautiful shadows on my campion's face, I can't look away. He looks so soft and innocent while he sleeps. This morning, he has a small smile tugging on the corners of his lips. I wonder if he's having a nice dream. A dream about me? I smile at the thought and nuzzle up against him, paying careful attention as to not wake him.
I don't want to tear him from his dreams. I want to watch him, enjoying the simple moment transpiring between us. A sigh passes through my lips as I wish every day could be like this: blissfully simple and carefree. Alone in our hotel room, I feel like there's just the two of us. Nothing exists outside this bed. Real life doesn't matter. The stresses from everyday life melt away. Oh, baby, what have you done to me?
He stirs, as if noticing my gaze, and slowly, he opens his eyes, blinking a few times before his gaze focuses in on me. While he slowly wakes up, I wonder if I should pretend like I wasn't watching him in his sleep. Is it a little embarrassing? I am his girlfriend, after all. Realizing he must already know I've been watching him, I give up and continue to do so, no longer feeling bashful about my voyeurism.
"Hey," he softly utters, reaching up to run his fingers through my messy hair. "You sleep well?"
"Well, I slept next to you."
"So?"
"So, of course I slept well." I smile at him, laying my head back down on the pillow next to him. "You?"
"After the other day, all I want to do is sleep. These competitions are starting it wear me out." He pauses for a moment and chuckles. "I can't compete like I used to when I was twenty-one, that's for sure."
"Well, you still look good out there to me, baby. Besides, you must be doing something right. You keep coming out on top."
"Luck," he says, teasing me.
"No, you're just that good."
"I guess so. Practice really pays off and I've been practicing for a very long time." Staring up at the ceiling, he's silent for a few minutes. It's a comfortable silence. A silence which makes me feel warm. Out of nowhere, he continues. "Honestly, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to do this for," he says quietly, mostly to himself. "I know I'm not old by any means, but like I said before, I can't compete like I used to. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to take advantage of my body like this."
He's quiet again and I wonder what I should say. I don't know much about the sport, but I could see how it could be taxing. I wonder if he's burning out or I wonder if there's something wrong, and he's not telling me. I lean against him, laying my arm across his chest as I pull him closer against my side.
"You look wonderful out there. Even from the bleachers, I can tell that. No one can ever take their eyes off you, Edward."
"It's because they're waiting for me to fuck up," he replies with a laugh.
"No, it's because you're beautiful out there. Beautiful and skilled … it's impossible to look away." He turns to me, shifting so he's laying on his side. "You love the sport. Everyone watching you can see that. You look like you love it more than anyone else."
He smiles at this, bending forward to press a quick kiss against my collar bone.
"Every last one of us loves it. That's why no one ever wants to leave it. I don't want to leave it. Even when I think I should, I can't bring myself to turn my back on something I love so much."
"Then don't. Ride for as long as you can."
"I will. I will as long as you're there with me-always watching."
I smile at this. Why does he think he even has to ask? Of course, I'll be there. Always. I'll never be able to look away.
"Baby, I'll always be watching you. You don't give me another choice."
"I'll be watching you, too," he replies, taking my hand in his. "With whatever you do, I'll be watching."
God he's majestic. As he rides, he captivates the audience. Seconds feel like hours as I find myself clinging to the edge of my seat. My knuckles are white and my breaths are coming fast as I watch him ballance on top of the bull. The energy he brings to this sport … God, it's indescribable. I can feel it in the bodies of everyone around me. It's like everyone can feel his love.
"Baby!" I cry out, cheering him on.
He's come up on top for the past few rodeos and I was sure that tonight, he would come out on top, too. A smile tugs on my lips as he passes the seven second mark and then suddenly, the bull changes direction. Edward's head whips down, his helmet hitting the bull's right horn before he's catapulted over the bull's head. A soft cry of disbelief escapes my lips as I rise to my feet. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.
I hear the announcers' voices, but I can't listen. I want to run to him, but all I can do is watch in horror as men try to control the bull. It rushes toward Edward again, trampling over his left leg before someone finally manages to gain control over the bull. Tears fill my eyes as I watch Edward try to get up only to falter. Something's wrong; even though I'm far away from him now, I can feel it in my bones. Slowly, he tilts his head up and although I can't see his face through the helmet, I imagine his eyes are searching for me.
"It's going to be okay," I whisper, convincing myself. "It will all be okay, Edward. I promise."
From the stands, I try to breathe. While watching him be nearly carried out of the arena, I make a promise to myself. I will be strong for him. Whatever he needs, I'll be there. This freak accident won't define him. He knew the dangers; he understood the risks. Still … I wonder if he ever imagined this would happen to him. We always feel so invincible. Did he feel invincible, too?
"You are invincible, Edward," I mumble to myself. "But today, you were human."
Please God let him be okay. Let this not be the end.
