Quickdraw Slow Burn (Battle of the Bulls #3) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,25

him. He stated how he felt and what his intentions were, and that was that.

And now she was all mushy gushy with that first-love feeling orbiting her heart. How could she miss him this much when he was just in the next room?

She strained her ears. Quickdraw was a really quiet sleeper.

She listened for his breathing but didn’t hear anyone else in the RV. The only heartbeat she heard was her own. She scented the air, but she didn’t smell him. Only the remnants of him. “Quickdraw?”

No answer.

She pushed off the bed and padded into the living room, but his couch bed was made, complete with folded blankets and pillow resting on the farthest cushion. On the kitchen counter was a note, held in place by a cannister of coffee grounds. She plucked it out and read it to herself.

Gotta practice. There are some chutes near the arena that Cheyenne reserved for us. Me and the boys headed out early before the camera crews wise up. I don’t like practicing in front of people. You would be okay though. I came in earlier to wake you up and see if you wanted to go, but you were sleeping so good, I felt bad waking you. I have interviews starting at ten. I know you probably don’t have any interest in that, but the girls are going. Nah, fuck that. I’m asking because I want you to go. If you want to, be ready by nine and I’ll stop by and pick you up. Either way, I’m bringing you breakfast.

I have a creepy admission. I laid by you for an hour this morning.

Don’t run.

Quickdraw

He’d laid by her? Had he cuddled her? Had he big-spooned her? How had she slept through that?

One glance at the microwave clock said it was eight o’clock. Okay, she had an hour to get ready. No, she wasn’t interested in the people or the notoriety or the attention on Quickdraw. That was actually something that made her step back. But she did care about spending time with him. And if he wanted to include her in this side of his life, she wanted to learn everything.

She hopped in the shower, and by the time she got out, Cheyenne was knocking on Quickdraw’s door.

Annabelle answered in her towel. “Hey, Cheyenne! Quickdraw isn’t here right now.”

“Oh, I know,” Cheyenne said with a giggle. “That man better be practicing and warming up those muscles. The boys are all at the bucking chutes and so is Raven. She’s going to be bucking in the finals, too. I came to check on you.”

“Check on me?”

“Yeah.” Cheyenne looked around. “This is a lot. And you’re coming in on finals, which is even more intense, and I didn’t want you getting overwhelmed. Oh, and I got you something. It’s not much,” she said over her shoulder as she reached outside the front door for something on the ground. It was a basket of different flavors of beef jerky. “I asked the Kaid brothers what I should give a werewolf, and Wes Kaid just said, ‘Meat.’”

Annabelle laughed and sat on the couch in her towel, rifled through the different flavors. “This is so nice of you, Cheyenne, but you didn’t have to get me a present.”

“Well, it has to be weird for you to come here and see Raven’s new life. And her being friends with someone else, too. I would feel strange if I watched someone I knew my whole life create an entirely new existence. I guess I didn’t want you thinking I’m out to steal your friend. I really liked hanging out last night and getting to know you better.” Cheyenne shrugged her shoulders up to her ears. “I don’t really have a lot of friends. I mean outside of this herd. And you’re special to Raven and Quickdraw, so I guess…”

“You guess what?”

“I guess I want to be okay by you.”

Okay, respect for Cheyenne for coming to her and having this talk. Annabelle pursed her lips. “I do really love meat.”

Cheyenne gave her a bright smile.

“Want to hang out with me while I get ready?” Annabelle asked. “Quickdraw is coming back to pick me up in half an hour for interviews.”

“Absolutely. Also, I’m gonna bum a ride from you so I don’t have to take Two Shot’s truck. That thing is a beast to park. He’s staying up at the chutes with Dead and Raven to finish practice.”

“Uuuuh, of course you can ride with us. You’re queen bee around here. You