I recognized some of the rodeo guys right away, including Graham with the stormy expression as he leaned against the swing and glared at everyone who seemed to be having fun. Surprisingly, I wasn’t the only girl in attendance. There were a few gals from Rock Valley High standing near Bree’s rose bushes. The tallest of them immediately caught my attention and left a sour taste in my mouth.
Sarah Claiborne was here. At Hunter’s house.
This really was becoming a problem.
I didn’t have much time to mull over it, though. Bree and Hunter came hustling through the gate not long after me, followed by Beth and Lexi, who both wore dreamy expressions on their faces as they took a good look at the boys in their jeans and hats.
“Holy cannoli, I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Lexi said as I approached them. She clasped onto my wrist, her nails digging into my skin. “Charlotte, tell me you’re staying in the contest. If you drop out and abandon these fine-looking men, I swear I’ll die.”
Even Beth rolled her eyes with me at that one. I pulled my wrist out of Lexi’s grip, crossed my arms tightly over my chest, and grimaced.
“I’m not sure I want to stay in it, after what happened today. As soon as Ms. Gentry finds out about that wet t-shirt performance, she’s going to hunt me down and kick me out herself. It’s better to bow out now.”
Lexi waved me off. “Please. She’ll know it was an unfortunate accident. I’m sure it happens all the time.”
“Right.” I arched my eyebrows. Guess Lexi didn’t care about my utter humiliation, as long as she got to do my hair and makeup. “Well, beating Sarah was my only motivation and that’s not exactly working...”
My gaze trailed over to Sarah where she was now surrounded by a handful of the boys. She artfully tossed her hair and gave them a smile that was so perfectly alluring that I was sure she practiced it at home in front of her mirror.
“Well, I still think you can beat her,” Beth said, mimicking my pose as she crossed her arms over her black t-shirt.
“Agreed,” Lexi added, a smile growing on her face. “But it doesn’t hurt to add some motivation. Let’s pick you out a cowboy, Charlotte. Maybe then you’ll be too busy trying to snag him with your charms in the competition to give Sarah any notice.”
I’d thought Lexi had just been fooling about getting me a cowboy, but she’d officially taken it to the next level. The idea was totally crazy. Impressing a boy would only make me more nervous. I was about to firmly shoot her down when Hunter appeared beside us bearing ridiculously good smelling food.
“Who’s Charlotte snagging with her charms?” he asked, handing me a burger on a paper plate. Sure enough, there were exactly three Vlasic pickles beneath the bun, just the way I liked them.
“A cowboy,” Beth answered, her eyes scanning the backyard. “Got any suggestions? We’re hoping with the right guy, she’ll be motivated enough to win this rodeo contest.”
My tongue must’ve been stuck to the roof of my mouth because I couldn’t seem to find the words to say to end this horrible planning session. Hunter looked like he had just swallowed a bad piece of his burger. His gaze went directly to the plate in his hands, his lips pursing. I was sure the idea of pairing his best friend up with a guy wasn’t exactly at the top of his to-do list. We’d been friends for so long, he probably forgot I was a girl sometimes. The thought made me laugh dryly on the inside, even as I was dying on the outside of embarrassment.
“I’m not sure I’ll be much help,” Hunter said, smiling grimly up at Beth. His gaze flicked briefly to mine, and then back to her. “And I don’t think you’d have much luck with any of the guys around here, anyway.”
That comment snapped me to attention and suddenly my tongue was working again. “Wait—why is that?”
He grimaced and rubbed a hand over his chin. “I don’t know. You’re too pure, Char. These guys are rough. Half of them are from the Sweet Oak Boys Ranch. That’s where they send all the troublemakers, you know? Those Oakies would chew you up and spit you out.”
Indignation swept over me like a hot desert wind. So much for the sweet Hunter who’d just hugged me outside the gate. What was this about being too pure? All the stories he’d told me about his grandpa’s ranch had revolved around mending fences and doing his best to keep up in school. It wasn’t like he’d just come back from Rikers Island. If he could hang with a bunch of juvenile delinquents, then I could do it, too. I’d even date one, if I wanted. I’d do it...just to prove to him that he was wrong.
“What about Graham?” I asked, turning to Lexi and Beth. “Do you think he’s cute? Is he a good candidate?”
“Seriously?” Hunter muttered before shoving his hamburger in his mouth.
“Super cute.” Lexi tapped her lips with her fingernail. “Kind of a jerk, though.”
I ignored Hunter’s grunt of agreement.
“Maybe he just needs someone pure enough to soften him up,” I offered, shooting Hunter a sour look that made him shake his head.
“He does kind of have that whole Adam Levine act going on.” Beth’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Graham from across the yard. “Hot and dangerous. We’ll add him to the list. Who else?”
“I can’t listen to this anymore,” Hunter said, backing away from us. He pinned me with a frustrated frown. “If you want a boyfriend, Char, then take your pick. But don’t make me say I told you so when it doesn’t work out.”
I placed my hands on my hips and my nostrils flared as I watched him head toward the grill. Three whole days. He’d been back in town for three whole days and now he was judging me and telling me I couldn’t handle his friends? It stung, deep down in my core. I blinked away the tears of frustration and turned back to Lexi and Beth with a fake laugh.
“He just doesn’t understand how girls work,” I said, taking a bite of my own burger.
Beth shrugged. “Maybe that’s why your sister insisted on us being friends. She knew you’d need a little female perspective.”