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Eventually rising from the cushions, Libby disappeared into the kitchen. Just as he was contemplating leaving, she returned. Whiskey bottle in one hand, two tumblers in the other.
Now we’re talking.
“I know you said you didn’t want anything,” she began, a hint of caution in her voice, “but if ever there was a time for a stiff drink, it’s now.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Libby didn’t wait for him to answer. She simply began pouring. As she did, he finally settled down next to her, sinking into the couch cushions just in time for her to pass him a glass with an extremely healthy measure.
“Talking might help, you know? If you want to, I mean. I’m a good listener.” She took a dainty sip of her own drink before dropping one shoulder against the back of the sofa, so her body was facing him.
He could do that. Libby deserved that. Especially since the day had gone from amazing to complete shit in the blink of an eye.
“I guess you probably got the gist of what was going on during the journey back. And why I had to get Wade out of there.” She gave him a solemn nod. “Well, the short version of the story is ... my brother Matt used to ride bulls. And he was good. Really good. Until he had an accident. A serious one that ended his career. Very nearly took his life. The dude Wade was ready to deliver to God tonight ... well, he was partly responsible for that accident.”
“How?”
Letting out a slow breath, Zach pushed his fingers through his hair. He remembered that night as if it was yesterday. And he hated that. Hated that he had carried it around with him every day for so long.
“You saw how much bull riders get thrown around, yeah?” She nodded again. “Well, he’d had a bad fall during an event. Broke three ribs.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit. Thing is, no one knew. Not me, not my brothers, not my parents. Only Max. His trainer. The guy we saw tonight.” Zach couldn’t help but sigh. “So, Max convinced him the injury wasn’t a big deal. Encouraged him to compete again the next weekend. Apparently ‘cause some big sponsor he really wanted to land was going to be at that particular event. Anyway, having ridden with injuries before, Matt agreed to ride. That was one of the nights I went down to watch him. Support him.”
They both took a swig of their drinks, as if preparing for what was coming next.
“I can still see it. Four years later and I can still tell you every move that bull made after Matt was thrown from him. Every miss. Every stamp. I can still remember the fear, and helplessness I felt as I ran down those wooden steps trying to get to him.”
Libby’s tumbler clinked against the glass table as she shimmied closer to him. As close as she could get. One leg even draped over his thigh as her hand gently nudged his jaw until he was twisted to face her.
After untangling his drink from his grasp and placing it on the table next to her own, she dropped her forehead to his. They stayed like that for a while. Enjoying the quiet. He let her steady, warm breath help him get his own under control. They both knew he wasn’t done. There was more he needed to say. And she was ready to listen.
His eyes flickered shut as he allowed himself to go back to that day.
Even now, the hospital smell still stuck in his throat. Artificial cleaners mixed with antiseptic. But it was nothing compared to the memory of Matt in that bed, machines bleeping while he lay unconscious for what felt like forever.
“H-he was in a coma. It took a month for him to wake up. We didn’t even know if he would.” His voice was betraying him. But he pushed on, through his broken words. “The not knowing was the hardest part. What the future looked like. Whether he’d ever wake up. If he’d ever have a normal life again if he did. Every day I sat there and prayed he’d be okay.”
Zach realized then that this was the first time he’d said any of this out loud. It had been bottled up for so long, it was almost cathartic to finally get it out.
That month had been all about staying strong for his family. He’d been on autopilot the whole time. Holding his mom while she cried. Driving his brothers back and forth for visits. And in between shifts he’d even tried to help out at the ranch.
“When he did finally wake up, he wasn’t the same. I could tell straight away a part of him was gone. Forever. I’m not talking physically. Even though he’ll never ride again, with time and a hell of a lot of physio he’s managed to recover. But mentally ...”
“Mentally ... what?” Libby whispered.
Zach’s eyes slowly opened, and he got his first glimpse of an unguarded Libby. Her eyes were closed. It didn’t stop him from looking, though. This close, he could see every pore, every smile line and every curve of her features. She truly was beautiful.
But it went far deeper than smooth skin and powdery pink lips. Who she was as a person was what really made her shine. What made her a princess. What made him fall as hard and fast as he had.
As if she knew she was under his scrutiny, her almond-shaped eyes fluttered open.
“You’re perfect, you know that?”
She should know. Actually, she should be told every damn day.
Libby drew back slightly, just enough to capture his gaze. And hold him captive.
