Page 101 of Forever Enough
Everyone soon said their goodbyes, and I drove home with Bradly, since Doug had a special evening planned for Emily. He told me not to expect them back at the apartment that night, so Bradly decided to stay with me.
Once we were back home and Mr. Whiskers and Pickles were fed, we changed into comfortable clothes and snuggled on the sofa and watched the Hallmark Channel. It was so nice to just be with one another.
Looking down at how Bradly was intertwining our fingers together, I tried to decide if I should ask him what I’d been wanting to know since my conversation with Morgan.
“Bradly?”
“Mmm?” he softly replied.
“Are you happy bull riding? I mean, you’ve made a few mentions of leaving.”
He reached for the remote and turned off the TV. Then he turned, and I followed his motion. We faced one another, and I swore I could feel my heart beating in my ears.
“I need you to know that I made this decision before us. Okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He drew in a breath and let it out. “The competition in New York City is going to be my last PBR event.”
I drew in a quick breath, even though I had an idea something like this was coming. “What do you mean? You’re not going to be bull riding again? As in competing?”
With a shake of his head, he took my hand in his. “It’s been a long time coming. Remember when we first went out and I said I was lost?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I had already spoken to my mother and father about stepping away and coming back to Hamilton and working on the ranch full time with my father. They’d both suggested I take some time to think about it. To make sure I wasn’t just tired or feeling homesick. The truth was…the truth is…I don’t have the passion for it that I once did. After I went professional and all the other shit started coming into play, it simply wasn’t the same. And if I’m not a hundred percent focused and all-in, then I’m going to get hurt.”
All I could do was nod.
“Adam, my new agent, at least for this part of my career, was planning on releasing a statement after the events in New York City, but my father has hatched up an idea from my uncle Brock’s playbook.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
“The plan is for me to win the whole damn thing and announce it my way.”
My eyes widened. “Just like that? You put it out into the universe and…”
“And I win. Then I walk away from it all, and ride into the sunset with the woman I love and live happily ever after surrounded by cattle, fruits, and veggies.”
“And flowers.”
He laughed. “Okay, and flowers. How does that sound to you? I’ll still do some charity rides and help Uncle Ty every now and then, but that part of my life has come to an end. I’m ready for the next journey.”
Moving to my knees, I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. “That sounds amazing, and I’m honored to be along for the ride.”
“Oh, trust me…you’re going to be doing a lot of riding.”
Before I knew it, I was on my back on the sofa and Bradly was quickly working to remove my clothes, and his.
Chapter Twenty-One
BRADLY
I took Mackenzie’s hand in mine as we boarded the private plane. Joining me in New York City was my mother and father, Uncle Ty, Avery, and of course, my woman. I could tell she was feeling a little out of her comfort zone.
Mackenzie sat in a seat by the window and smiled as she looked up at me. “This is exciting, but I’m a bit nervous. I’ve never been on such a small plane.”
“Trust me, it’ll be fine.”