CLIO

I stood in the front row of the arena, not at the center, but at one end near the chutes. I had my hands clenched together and tucked beneath my chin. Nervous.
God, how had Sam’s mother handled watching this?
“He’s going to be fine.” Boyd turned my way around Audrey, who was between us. He had Lizzie on his hip and she was clapping along with the music played between competitors.
“You were fine with this?” I asked Audrey.
“The first time I met him, he was gored,” Audrey leaned in and said, keeping her voice low because my dad was on the other side of me. He didn’t know about shifters.
My eyes widened and I thought I might pass out. The morning sickness didn’t help, either.
“He’s riding a mutton, not a bull,” Boyd reminded me, chuckling.
“Next up, JT!” the announcer called, not using last names for the kids’ competitions.
I looked down to the chute area. There was Sam, squatting down beside JT who sat on top of a very fluffy male sheep, or mutton. He matched Sam in jeans, sturdy boots and plaid shirt. On his head–thank God–was a helmet with a face shield.
Standing beside Sam was Remy, who was up next. They were talking about something, Sam using his hands to gesture. Then JT leaned down on top of the mutton and hugged it. Sam took Remy’s hand and stepped back as the officials who’d been holding onto the animal let it go.
“Oh my God!” I murmured, then screamed, jumping up and down. “Go JT!”
“Go buddy!” my dad yelled, clapping. He’d come up from Costa Rica to visit and was loving the time with us. He’d really taken to Sam, but had become quick friends with Ernie because of their skill with engines. While he loved being near us, he didn’t like the cold, so he would be heading home soon.
Boyd whistled, the sound piercing the arena. Everyone cheered as the mutton shot across the arena, kicking up dirt with his hind legs.
JT held on. And held on. And held on.
A rodeo clown steered the animal toward the far pen and it was stopped by a group of men. Wes was there to take off his helmet, then hoisted him up on his shoulder.
Finally, FINALLY, I sighed in relief.
Audrey hugged me and laughed.
“You should be proud,” Boyd said with a grin. “He’s going to be an amazing bull rider.”
I spun his way. “Bull rider?”
Boyd winked.
I turned to see my guy again and he was running across the arena full speed–or at least full human speed. Wes was following after him.
“Our next mutton rider is Remy!”
JT stopped beside Remy as she put her helmet on. He looked like he was giving her the same speech Sam gave him, based on the way he was moving his hands.
Sam and Wes stood behind them. Sam grinned, hands on hips. Wes had his arms crossed and didn’t look as happy.
Remy nodded and climbed up onto the next mutton. It was her turn.
JT patted Remy on the back and nodded to the official, who released her animal.
Off she went. She made it halfway before she fell off, rolling in the dirt.
JT was off like a little shot to get to her, faster than Wes.
She stood on her own with a big grin, ripping her helmet off, her fair hair all wild and tangled.
JT eyed her the way Sam eyed me to make sure I was okay. Then…
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
Then he hugged her and–
Joy gasped.
Remy hugged him back.
The second they stepped apart, Wes swung Remy up onto his shoulders and Sam held JT up like he was the new Lion King.
Everyone in the arena clapped for the kids.
“Sam and Wes are in big trouble,” Joy said.
“Why?” I asked.
Boyd cut in. “‘Cause those two are destined to be together.”
My eyes widened as I looked to my boys down in the arena. Sam’s gaze was already on mine and he gave me a wink along with the grin. As for JT, he had his hands in the air, happy as could be.
I didn’t think JT and Remy ending up together was a bad thing. Neither did my dad, because he said, “I think Boyd’s right.” He gave a decisive nod. “I met your mother–God rest her soul–in sixth grade.”
He didn’t know about fated mates, but he did know about enduring love. Human, shifter, it didn’t matter. Time would tell with those two.
Joy was right, but it was me who was in big trouble, for sure. Not about JT and Remy, but because the look on JT’s face right now meant that he wanted to do this again, but when he was bigger, and on the back of a bull.