The Rodeo Queen's Touchdown

07-Aaron

Aaron

Parker just threw me for a loop. I thought her and Jonas were still a couple. I can’t believe that they have been broken up all this time. I always see them together at parties, and he is usually touching her in some way. I’m sitting stunned; my brain just cannot seem to process anything else. An annoying, nasally voice breaks through my stupor.

“That girl is such a b***h. I was just trying to help her out. Women need to stick together and stand up for each other,” Rhonda says in a fake sympathetic voice. Looking around the table, I see some of the other guys nodding along with her, hanging on everything that comes out of her mouth. Unfortunately, she does not stop there, “Parker has always had this ‘better than everyone’ attitude. She thinks she is so awesome, it’s no wonder that Jonas is constantly looking for other women. Parker just makes him feel so low about himself, never giving him encouragement or spending time doing what he likes to do. I bet she doesn’t even put out for him and all athletes need a release from time to time. Of course she is lying, whenever I see them out together, Parker is clinging on to Jonas like a snake. It is a surprise that he can still use his arm after spending time with her with how tight she holds on. Jonas told Barbie that he has been trying to break up with her for months. He tries to let her down nicely because her ego is so fragile, but she just won’t get the hint.”

This time I scoff at what she says. I know Parker better than anyone else at this table. She is not clingy or fragile and definitely knows how to take a hint. She is strong and independent, mostly relying on herself instead of asking Trey for anything.

Before anyone can stop her, Rhonda continues, “That girl is delusional. She thinks that everyone likes her and is willing to bend over backwards when really it is either because they feel sorry for how she lives in this alternate reality or out of pity for Trey having such a mentally unstable sister.”

Observing each of the guys at the table, I see the younger players eating this s**t up. They are her lapdogs, following Rhonda as if she is the best thing out there. Maybe in bed, but out of it, she sucks.

She opens her mouth to speak again, but Carter speaks first, “Shut the f**k up Rhonda. Obviously, you do not actually know her so should stop spouting s**t. For the rest of you, remember the only good thing about Rhonda’s mouth is how well she sucks a c**k with it.”

Taken completely by surprise, I look up at Carter as he stands to leave. He has never spoken to anyone like that nor gotten so mad at Rhonda. He is known mostly for his laid back attitude and never letting anything rile him. Does he have feelings for Parker?

Carter looks at everyone at the table one last time, focusing on Rhonda with a blatant look of disgust. As I stand to follow him, I start to hear the murmurs of the others, whispering about his attitude and his nasty words to Rhonda. She looks ready to cry. I am sure she will find someone to comfort her.

“Carter, bro, wait up,” I shouted to get his attention.

He stopped, tension laying in his shoulders like a rock pressed down on him. Carter turned to look at me, his expression fuming, as if he wanted to rip my head off.

“Are you okay?” I ask tentatively, not sure why he is mad at me.

“No, I am not,” Carter released his breath in a defeated sigh, “I don’t know why we let that skank hang out with us and I don’t know why you let her go on so long about Parker like that.”

“Do you like Parker?” I blurt without thinking. If he did, I would encourage him to ask her out, while wishing we were on opposite sides so that I could beat the hell out of him.

Carter sighed heavily, “Not like you do. She is cool as f**k but more like a sister to me. It just annoyed me with how Rhonda insulted her, and you just sat there listening. Also, I was at that party where Jonas f****d Barbie. When I confronted him about it, he shrugged his shoulders like it wasn’t a big deal. I feel like everyone has been shitting on that poor girl lately.”

My first feeling was relief; I would have hated if we were fighting for Parker’s attention. Also, that type of drama puts stress on the team dynamic and Carter is as close to me as Trey. He was right though; I should have done more than just sit there. I should have stopped Rhonda and stood up for Parker.

Then it hits me again that Parker is not dating Jonas, not dating anyone. My brain starts ticking with possibilities.

Carter must have seen something flash in my eyes because he asks with a smirk, “What you thinking?”

“Parker’s single.”

Carter’s eyes glint, “Yes, she is. Now, what are you going to do about it? Sit back until someone else asks her out?”

Anger swirls in my chest. Another emotion that I cannot name also sits heavily, making it hard to breath. Again, Carter must see something on my face because he starts snickering.

“You know the Homecoming is this weekend. I’ve seen posters about this dance in the halls of every building going on Friday. I hear girls love to get dressed up and go to these types of events,” Carter is hinting, not too subtly.

His idea spun through my mind. As the captain of the football team, it was mandatory for me to go. In fact, all the starters on the team were supposed to go to show school spirit and schmooze with the alums. My usual plan was to make an appearance, talk to a few people, stay for about half an hour, then leave and go to bed. The big game is Saturday, and I do not want to be tired or sluggish. Now the prospect of seeing Parker all dressed up and then getting to hold her close in my arms made my blood sing with excitement. Suddenly, I was very eager for this dance.

I check my watch to see that it is only 11 o’clock. Parker has classes until two, so that will give me plenty of time to plan out how I will ask her. Maybe I should get her flowers? I head to my business class with thoughts of speeches and grand gestures.

Two o’clock finally rolls around and I head over to Parker’s dorm room. I am still undecided of what to say, so I will just think on my feet. As a quarterback, I am used to calling things on the fly. As I near her door, I slowly draw in a nervous breath. Raising my fist to knock, the door suddenly opens, and LeeAnne starts to walk out.

“Oh hey. Trey’s not here if you are looking for him,” she starts.

“I know. I was wondering if Parker was here,” I try to look over her into their room to see if Parker is behind her.

With a knowing look, LeeAnne informs, “Parker isn’t here. It’s her day to exercise the horses and then has practice with Coach.”

Frustrated at myself for not remembering, I turn to walk out the dorm without waving goodbye. I head towards my black GMC Sierra truck. My dad got it for me as a graduation gift. He was so proud of me getting a full scholarship and wanted me to have something reliable to get through Montana winters in Bozeman. Some years we get a lot of snow. I love this truck; there is plenty of leg room for my big frame, with cream leather seats and interior. The seats are heated/cooled and has all the bells and whistles. I hop in and drive to the barn where the rodeo team keep their horses. The drive is pretty quick but still gives me enough time to think of what I want to say.

Once at the barn, I start walking through the alleyways trying to find Parker. This place is so big and spread out that I am worried she will leave before I can find her. Finally just asking one of the workers, I learn that Parker is in the larger outside arena with all of the equipment. It is a large, sandy oval with a fence separating it from two other smaller arenas. The larger one is filled with equipment for riders to use to break up the monotony of just going around in circles, such as barrels, cones, and jumps. Watching Parker ride is blowing my mind and all the conversation starters I thought of on the way over have just fled my mind. Her face is glowing brighter than the sun and the smile on her face is wide as she takes Jack into this really quick spin and without stopping races to the other side of the arena. I have never seen her do that before. The maneuver looks graceful and exhilarating. She does the move a few more times before just running around the outside of the arena, finally coming to a slide stop. Anyone can tell how much she is enjoying herself. I waited and watched until she was done and leading Jack out of the arena. Parker looked up at me and smiled; my breath stolen,

“Hey, what’s up?” she asks, halting in front of me.

My brain fried for a minute and not able to think of what to say. Parker c****d her head to the side, smirking as if she could read my mind.

“Uh, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the homecoming dance with me?” I held my breath waiting for her answer.