The Make Up: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Falling for Franklin Series Book 2) by Hailey Gardiner

Author:Hailey Gardiner [Gardiner, Hailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-09-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Hunter

“What…” Chloe says, “is this?”

We’re currently seated side by side up in my little loft in my childhood bedroom, dumping years of childhood memorabilia into cardboard boxes.

I take the trophy from her outstretched hand. “Oh, now come on, Chloe. You don’t remember this?”

She shakes her head, pulling her hair back into her clip.

“This was one of the greatest victories of my entire rodeo career.”

“What?” she asks incredulously. “You wanted to be a cowboy? You’ve never told me about this particular career aspiration.”

I clear my throat dramatically, sweeping a hand out in front of us. “Many moons ago, when I was five or six years old, I, Hunter Ward, was chosen to compete in a rodeo event designed just for kids.”

Chloe leans in closer, eyebrows raised. “Pie-eating contest?”

“You know what?” I fish around through another stack of trophies. “That one is around here somewhere. But no, this beauty was awarded to me for winning a different event.”

Chloe tosses her head back, cackling. “You WOULD win a pie-eating contest as a kid.”

“I was bottomless, Chloe. I’m still bottomless.” I grin, joining in with her infectious laughter. “But allow me to continue, if you will.”

She steels her expression, biting her lip to keep from laughing. “Please, continue.”

“My dad signed both Luke and me up for this event every year until we exceeded the weight limit. It’s called mutton bustin’.”

She busts out laughing again. “NO. Not a real thing.”

“Stop it,” I scold. “You’re telling me you’ve never heard of mutton bustin’?”

“Hunter,” she wheezes. “You’re killing me.”

“No, you don’t understand. It was the sheep that almost killed me.”

She’s done. I’ve lost her. She’s flopped back into a pile of my old sports jerseys, hands over her eyes, laughing so hard that it’s inaudible.

“Let me set the scene for you,” I begin in my best storytelling voice. “The arena is full. Energy is high. Sheep are just waiting to bust out of their pens, ready to wreak havoc on the children of Franklin.”

“OHMYGOSHSTOP.”

“My name is called. I’m hustled into a little pen, a helmet is placed on my head, and a vest is strapped to my chest.” I lunge forward onto all fours. “They set me on top of a sheep. Fluffy little bugger. I wrap my arms around it…and then they open the pen and let it take me for a ride. I hold on for dear life. Squeeze with all of my might with my arms and legs.”

“And then what?”

I drop back to my seat on the floor, crossing my legs. “And then…I fall off. The sheep tramples me a little bit. Then, a bunch of other kids take their turns. But in the end, your boy Hunter held onto his sheep friend the longest, making me the winner of this”—I hold up the sheep-adorned trophy—“illustrious award.”

Chloe snorts, pushing herself up onto her elbows so she can look at me. Her eyes are bright with laughter. “This isn’t real. This can’t be real.”

“This is for real, Chloe! How did you grow up here your whole life and never once go to the rodeo?”

Chloe’s smile drops for a brief moment.

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