Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(110)

“It went beyond…well, anything for me too, Chase,” she said softly, when he realized he’d gone completely quiet again.
What Ava didn’t realize was he’d lain awake last night, wondering if that was the beginning of the end for them, because they’d made no future plans after Ryan’s event. He still hadn’t heard from the PBR. Eight weeks had passed. He might be in limbo, but Ava had a life in California that was more than just a career.
And how f*cking sad was that for him?
Chase pulled into a service station. “Need anything?”

“You’re buying sunflower seeds, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Yep.”

“Fine. You know what I want.”

“Red licorice and a Diet Dew comin’ up.”

Ava had her headphones on when he returned. And she’d fired up her computer, something she hadn’t done often the last six days. Nor had she snapped many photos, which didn’t make sense, given they’d been in a scenery-rich national park. He’d learned not to question her because it always got her back up.
He’d become accustomed to hours driving in the truck, so he wasn’t tired when they reached the fairgrounds. His cell rang. “Yes, Ryan, we’re finally here. Where are you?”

“At the beer garden with my mom.”

“We’ll be right there.” He faced Ava to find her staring at him. “You ready?”

“Yes.”

Chase stopped just inside the gate to gather his thoughts.
Ava rubbed his arm. “Chase? You all right?”

“Nervous.”

That surprised her. But she offered him that sweet, pure Ava smile and tenderly brushed her lips across his. “I imagine he is too.”

Ryan leapt up the instant he saw Chase, nearly tackling him. “How slow did you drive? Man. I thought you’d never get here.” He wrapped his arms around Ava and lifted her off the ground.
Chase couldn’t help but grin. Ryan was like a big goofy pup. No boundaries. Honest affection and boundless enthusiasm.
“Come on. We’re sitting over here.”

Ryan’s mother was a bottle-dyed redhead, somewhere between thirty and fifty, with the rough edged look he’d seen on plenty of single blue-collar mothers. But she had Ryan’s big smile and obvious pride in her son, by the way she kept fussing over him.
“Mom. This is Chase. And Ava.”

He offered his hand. “Nice to meet you after Ryan has told me all about you.”

“Jackie Ackerman. Ryan is such a huge fan of yours. It’s been a dream come true for him, getting to hang out and bullshit about bull riding.” She turned her gaze to Ava. “Thanks for sending the video of Ryan’s winning ride. I really wish I coulda taken time off work to see it live.”

“No problem. Do you mind if I tape your rides tonight?”

Ryan smiled widely. “’Course not.”

It was difficult to get a word in edgewise with Ryan yammering a million miles an hour. The kid defined nervous energy. Finally Chase put his hand on Ryan’s restless fingers and said softly, “Relax. Take it down a notch.”

Struck Chase strange that Ava remained behind the camera for the entire conversation. She’d toss out remarks occasionally, but stuck to the observer role. She had changed too, seeming content to stay out of the spotlight.
The five-minute warning for the start of the rodeo echoed across the grounds. Ryan said, “You coming back to help me pull my rope?”

“Sure. If you promise you ain’t gonna talk the whole damn time we’re waiting for you to ride,” he teased.