**Y/N's POV**
I close my eyes for a few moments before taking a nice deep breath. My heart is beating erratically within my chest as it always does before the gates open. I ensure the rope is wrapped around my hand before slapping my hand a few times. I fix my hat with my free hand and take one final deep breath before giving them the signal.
The gate opens and the beast that I'm strapped onto begins bucking violently my free hand waves in the air with each movement. I could hear the yells and screams of everyone in the crowd cheering my name.
Seconds on the back of each beast I've ridden feel like years at times. I hear the buzzer go off and just as I'm about to jump off the bull he makes a sudden change in movement and the last thing I remember is a blood-curdling scream before everything goes black.
**Time Skip 1 Year**
"Everything is looking good Y/N I'm happy with the progress you've made in physical therapy. And with Austin giving me his approval I think it's time I've given you the go-ahead with training again."
Hearing those words come from my doctor filled me up with so much happiness more than I've had in the last year since my accident.
Thinking back to that night is still a little fuzzy at some points but when a bull that weighs more than fifteen hundred pounds lands right on top of you it's a pretty much guarantee that you'll end up with broken bones.
In my case, I had a few bones in my back, my leg, my neck, a few ribs, and my arm was broken. It's taken months of physical therapy to finally be back to where I was before the accident.
Bull riding has been in my blood ever since I was a little girl. It's not something you see very many women take seriously but I've always been different in all aspects of my life.
My mom met my stepdad, Hayes, when I was three years old and he was as cowboy as it got. He had a small ranch when he met my mom but once they married they bought the ranch my mom and I currently live on. I remember on my tenth birthday my mom and stepdad bought my first horse Spirit and that was it for me. I was hooked on the lifestyle.
I watched Hayes ride bulls every weekend in the summer. Many of his friends came to the ranch to practice on our mechanical bull Hayes had set up near the barn. The atmosphere was addicting.
When I was old enough Hayes taught me everything I know about riding bulls much to my mom's wishes. But Hayes knew I needed an outlet for everything I kept bottled inside. In my first rodeo, I came in second place in the bull riding contest. Getting that small taste of accomplishment only fueled the fire in me to become the best.
By the time I was eighteen, I was already offered sponsorships from Ariat, Monster Energy, and Can-Am which was worth a pretty penny. Seeing a female riding the same bulls as men was something that even now isn't very common.
Winning my first two PBR titles was something I'd remember for the rest of my life. Seeing the pride and joy coming from my mom and Hayes gave me a feeling I wanted to hold onto forever. I knew I was making history and to have them by my side meant everything to me.
Hayes passed away three years ago after being killed in a freak accident with a tractor on his parent's ranch and that was the day that truly changed my life forever. Seeing my mom mourn the loss of the love of her life, and the person who taught me everything I know about riding bulls and taking care of a ranch is something I never thought I'd have to deal with.
I knew I had to step up and take the reins and run things just as Hayes would have. I had to focus on the ranch for a while before I ever even thought about training.
I know my accident shook my mom to her core and she told me multiple times that she wanted me to stop bull riding but I couldn't. I owed it to Hayes to see things all the way through and now I was about to make the biggest comeback of my life just for him.
I let my manager know I was given the clear to start training again which he was ecstatic for. On my way home I decided to stop off at my mom's favorite burger joint to grab us some food knowing that's what Hayes would do anytime he came into town.
As I made my way home with our food and milkshakes I listened to some music vibing out in my truck. As I left the city behind and it was just dirt roads I thought about life and how close I came to death. I should have stopped riding bulls but Hayes raised me to look at things I feared face-on and to never back down.
But I knew there were things I haven't accomplished in life yet and that was finding that one true love just like my mom and Hayes had. I yearned for that kind of connection with someone. I wanted to have kids of my own and watch them run around the ranch like I did when I was little. To get them their first horse and watch them ride with nothing but excitement and joy on their faces.
I knew there was someone out there for me. I just had to be patient and let the universe do its thing and I would find my happily ever after.
**Time Skip 5 Months- Kelsea's POV**
I was currently cramming every bit of information I could for my next quiz. I could hear the rest of the house filled with music and the laughs of my friends as they all got ready to go to the rodeo. Partying just wasn't my thing if I wasn't studying, I was painting and writing music. That's what truly made my heart happy.
I was knocked out of my thoughts when my best friend Kristie walked into my room. "So much for knocking" I grumbled as I glared at her.
Kristie had a pair of cowboy boots in her hand with the biggest smile on her face.
"Come on Kelsea the whole house is going to the rodeo and here you are studying for a test you know you're going to ace. This is our last few months of college before we're sent off into the big bad world, come and have some fun for once."
I rolled my eyes. "You know getting good grades means everything to me Kris I need to feel like I'm prepared." I replied as I went back to reading my book.
Kristie walked over to my bed and sat down before she slammed my book closed.
"We have like three months of school left, you have the best grades out of everyone I know. You've made the dean's list every single year you know you're more than prepared. Come on it'll be fun I promise as soon as the rodeo is over we'll go get some food and come back home we won't even go to a bar or anything." My best friend said as she gave me a puppy dog look.
I groaned as I yanked the boots out of her hands earning a cheer from the older woman.
"I have the perfect outfit picked out for you," she said before running across the hall into her bedroom.
She came back out with a cute summer dress and a jean jacket which I will admit I liked. I did my hair and makeup and changed into the outfit Kristie had picked out for me before slipping on the boots she had given me. I sprayed myself with some of my favorite perfume, grabbed my cross-body bag making sure I had all of my essentials in it, and left my room where the rest of my friends were waiting for me.
We piled into a few different cars and made our way down to the rodeo. Living in Texas for the last four years I've come to learn that they took the rodeo just as seriously as they do football and that was the place to be on the weekends.
We found a parking spot fairly quickly and then began walking toward the arena.
Yells and cheers could immediately be heard as soon as we entered the arena. We stopped and grabbed a drink before we headed to our seats which were directly in front of the fence of the arena.
"They weren't lying, she's cute as hell," one of my roommate's friends said. "Who is?" Kristie asked. "Her" the girl pointed our eyes shot in the direction she was pointing in.
"And next up is the two-time PBR champion making her way into the arena for the first time in over a year Y/N Y/LN riding on Dennis The Menace!" The announcer said and the crowd went wild.
I watched as the woman took a few moments to get herself into gear. Everyone around her was quiet until she patted her chest three times before raising her hand to the sky with a kiss. She took a deep breath and then signaled that she was ready.
The gate opened and out like a rocket came the biggest bull I had ever seen. The woman was bucking around her arm flailing around in the air. Seeing this up close was an experience in itself. When the buzzer went off the woman pulled her arm free from the strap and jumped off the back of the bull landing on her feet.
She yelled as she hit her chest, her face flushed from adrenaline. Everyone in the arena, myself included, cheered for her. The bull seemed to have calmed down but then the bull bucked once more and charged after her.
The woman ran towards the fence in front of us and got to the top of it just in time for the bull to hit the metal and then ran back towards the pen it had just come out of seconds before.
During all of that, the woman dropped her hat on the ground. Everyone just looked at her but I felt the pull to grab it for her. So I left my seat and grabbed the hat before dusting it off and tried handing it back to her.
Our eyes connected and I swear I had never seen Y/E/C so beautiful in my life.
"Here you go," I whispered, making the woman smile and shake her head. "It's yours now keep it" she replied before winking at me as she jumped off the fence. My heart raced in my chest.
"Oh my god, I saw that!" Kristie squealed as I went back to my seat putting the hat on my head. "What did you see?" I asked. "Sparks flew between you two I could feel it!" My best friend replied, making me laugh. "That was like a thirty-second interaction. I doubt that" I replied.
The rest of the evening went on without a hitch and I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed myself. I just couldn't stop thinking about the woman with the most captivating eyes.
When the rodeo was over we decided to stop off and get some barbeque before heading back home which I was perfectly content with.
The restaurant we stopped at was packed but this place always was because they had the best barbeque in the area. We ordered our food and went outside to wait for our number to be called.
A Chevy truck pulled up to the restaurant catching my attention.
Y/N got out of the driver's side and a man got out of the passenger side capturing more people's attention. They walked towards us and stopped when Y/N spotted me.
"I must say that hat looks a hundred times better on you than it ever did on me." The woman said her voice sending chills down my spine. "I don't know about that, I think it looked just as good on you," I replied, earning a smile from the woman.
"My name is Y/N," she said as she held her hand out. I took her bigger hand within my own "Kelsea it's nice to meet you Y/N" the woman smiled causing dimples to pop out that I didn't notice before. "Nice to meet you, Kelsea. Did you have a good time at the rodeo tonight?"
"I did. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my best friend forced me to go but I'm glad I did. I have to give you props for doing what you do 'cause I don't think I could ever get near a bull like that."
Y/N smiled "Well I'm glad she forced you to come out tonight too. I grew up on a ranch my stepdad rode bulls so it's always been in my blood I guess you could say."
It was so easy to talk to her. I found out she was three years older than I was and that she had a big ranch about thirty minutes outside of the city. We ate our dinner together and had a beer afterward. Before I knew it four hours had passed. We exchanged numbers with a promise to each other that we'd let the other know when we got home safely.
I went home with the biggest smile on my face which Kristie didn't let me live down. For the first time in a long time, I felt giddy about talking to someone new.
For the longest time, I had been so focused on school and nothing else. But the way I was able to connect with Y/N made me feel like maybe just maybe someone new could come in and take some of my attention.
**Time Skip- Y/N's POV**
It had been a few weeks since meeting Kelsea for the first time and things had been going great. We talked daily whether it be through text, phone calls, or Facetime calls. Whatever it was, our conversations lasted hours and I was enjoying it.
The more I learned about her the more attracted to her I became. She was an only child and moved here to Texas from Tennessee. She's in the last few months of her senior year in college and she's studying fine arts and music.
I've heard her sing and I have to say she has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard.
I finally gathered the courage to ask her out officially on a date and thankfully she accepted it which is happening today. As I've been getting dressed I've been a nervous wreck. She's the first woman in a long time that I feel like I've been able to connect with and that excites me yet scares me at the same time.
For our date, I decided to bring her back to the ranch to ride horses since she's mentioned several times that she hasn't been horseback riding since she was a kid. I have the perfect little spot on the ranch overlooking our lake where we'll have dinner and a few drinks.
I finished getting ready and looked at myself in the mirror thoroughly happy with the final result. I sprayed myself with my favorite fragrance and grabbed my wallet and keys before heading out to my garage. I decided to drive my brand-new Ford Bronco to go pick up Kelsea instead of my truck since I felt like the truck wasn't a very date-friendly vehicle.
I began my drive into the city listening to music full blast trying to get my nerves into check. I stopped off at a florist once I got into town and picked out a beautiful bouquet for Kelsea before I made my way to her sorority house where she lived.
When I pulled up to the house there were about a dozen girls in the front yard hanging out and having a great time. Some of them were lying under a big tree, others were tanning in the sun and a few had their feet in a blow-up kiddie pool making me chuckle to myself.
"Ahh if it isn't miss bull rider how are you?" I noticed the girl talking to me to be Kristie who was Kelsea's best friend. "I'm good, how about you?" I asked as I watched Kristie walk toward me.
"I'm good. Kelsea has been a nervous wreck all day so hopefully, she's able to calm down a little bit. Come on in, I'll grab her for you." Kristie said as she led me into the house.
I was impressed by how nice it was. I slipped a piece of gum into my mouth as Kristie went to get my date. I wiped off my hands from the sweat that began to form on them with how nervous I was becoming. When I heard footsteps coming down the hall a minute or so later my heart began to race. I took a deep breath before it was knocked right back out of me.
Kelsea looked incredible in a pair of ripped jeans, cowboy boots, a tank top, and a flannel shirt that was tied around her waist. Her megawatt smile made butterflies erupt in my stomach.
"Hi," she said sweetly "Hi you look beautiful" I replied in almost a whisper.
"I got these for you," I said as I handed her the bouquet I picked out for her. She brought them to her nose and inhaled as a blush spread across her cheeks. "These are gorgeous, thank you so much." Kristie took the flowers from Kelsea and said she would put them in a vase and would set them in her room.
I opened the passenger side door for Kelsea and helped her into the Bronco when she was settled. I closed the door and got into the driver's seat. And began the journey back to the ranch. The conversation started slowly but as we got out of the city thankfully I began to feel like the nerves between us both began to disappear.
We were able to talk about what we had going on during the week. She had a quiz she was studying ridiculously hard for and stressed over and passed it with flying colors just like I told her she would.
I had a long week of training behind me and was looking forward to a few days of rest. We got to know each other some more during our drive singing along with every song on my playlist.
Things felt like they were finally looking up for me. I could only hope this date would lead to more with Kelsea because she was everything I was looking for in a partner. I had a good feeling about things.
**Kelsea's POV**
The ride to Y/N's ranch was pleasant. It was filled with good conversation and lots of laughs. It amazed me how comfortable I felt around her. There was a little bit of nervousness in the beginning but after a while, all of that went away and all I was feeling were butterflies.
We drove on a dirt road for about five minutes before the most gorgeous house came into view; cows and horses were roaming around the property. There was a big iron gate that had a beautiful arch above it that had Silver Springs Ranch cut onto it.
Y/N clicked a button and the gates opened up. She drove her car around the big circular driveway that had a big fountain in the middle of it.
She got out of the car and came around to open my door. I thanked her as I looked around taking in all the sights.
The main house was huge. There were several big barns a few yards away with another house in the distance where some horses grazed.
"It's just you and your mom that lives here?" I asked curiously.
"After my dad died, yeah it was just us for a little bit. But things around here have picked up quite a bit so we have some farm help that lives here now that has worked with our family since I was a kid. So we had a house built for them over there" Y/N said as she pointed to the house I had spotted earlier.
"There's about six of them that live here right now. And then here in the main house, my mom lives with my aunt and my younger cousin. They just moved in about four months ago after my aunt filed for divorce. She found out my uncle was banging his secretary so my mom told them to move in. There's plenty of room for them and she didn't like living in this big house all alone." Y/N said as she gently took my hand in hers.
"And where do you live if you aren't living in the main house?" I asked as I rubbed her hand with my thumb.
"I had a house built on the property. I kind of just needed my own space after my accident. I hated feeling like I was helpless if that makes sense. One of my best friends is an architect so he had it built in just a few months. I loved being able to decorate it exactly how I wanted.
The ranch sprawls out over six thousand acres so sometimes it feels like it's just me out there which I enjoy. And if my mom needs me I can be here in no time on my Maverick right here." She replied as she led me to a garage.
We got into her Maverick where we then drove up a little more on the property where her horses were held.
"This right here is Spirit. He's getting up there in age now but you'd never know it he still runs around like he was a little colt. And this beauty is Rain. I got her like three years after I got Spirit. And this little guy is their baby Storm. He's seven months old now."
I couldn't help but chuckle at their names "What can I say I was a fan of the movie when I was little. And then when Spirit looked just like the one in the movie I had to name him the same thing." Y/N replied with a smile on her face.
She saddled Spirit and Rain up for each of us and put a bridle on Storm so he could join us on our ride.
The ranch was beautiful; it had cattle, goats, pigs, chickens, sheep, and horses. And then on the other side of the property that's where Y/N's mom grew almost every vegetable you could think of.
Y/N showed me where she trained, never having to leave the property if she didn't want to. She had a full state-of-the-art gym, mechanical bull, and indoor pool.
We rode away from all of the buildings and onto a trail that surrounds the property.
Being on a horse was incredible and being joined by someone as amazing as Y/N made the experience all that much better. This place was truly paradise on earth. I hadn't felt like this in my life.
We had a great conversation as we got to know each other on an even deeper level than we already had been.
A few hours of us riding had passed when Y/N brought us to a lake on the property. She helped me off of Rain and let Storm and Spirit gallop around while we walked over to a big tree that had a picnic table underneath it. Aside from the table were a small cooler and a bag.
"I had my cousins help me with this while I went to pick you up," Y/N said as she opened the bag pulling out barbecue from the same restaurant we had first met after the rodeo since I had mentioned more than once that I had been craving it.
She pulled out some drinks for us and I was swooning. I loved how the little details she listened to even if they didn't seem significant.
"Everything looks good?" Y/N asked nervously. I couldn't help but smile as I reached across the table to grab her hand. "Everything looks perfect. Thank you for such an amazing day." I replied honestly.
"You're welcome, you deserve it" Y/N replied with a smile that made my heart race.
We ate, talked, and laughed for hours. Y/N brought out some dessert for us as the sun began to set a little assortment of cake, cheesecake, cookies, and stuff for s'mores which we made when Y/N lit the fire pit near the table.
As the sun was fully gone the weather began to change. From a hot yet comfortable temperature to cold with the beginning of rain, you could smell it in the air.
I didn't want the night to end but as we felt the first drop of rain a little while later our date was cut short. Y/N helped me on Rain before she put the bridle on Storm again before getting on Spirit and we headed back toward her house.
It was safe to say by the time we reached the house all of us were drenched. We had a little drive ahead of us so Y/N offered me some dry clothes which I immediately took.
We got back in the Maverick and drove back to the main entrance of the house after Y/N called one of the ranch hands to ask them to brush out and feed the horses. She rushed over to me with an umbrella and helped me into her Bronco before running to the driver's side and getting in.
As she waited for the car to warm up a little the air in the car changed as Y/N looked at me. "You are so beautiful. Thank you for coming out here today, you don't know what it meant to me."
"You aren't bad yourself. Thank you for allowing me to come and get a glimpse into your life. I can't remember the last time I've ever felt so special." I replied honestly.
Never in my life had I wanted someone to kiss me as much as I wanted her to.
"Looks like something else is on your mind there Y/NN," I said as I looked at the older woman. "I want to kiss you right now," she whispered.
"Then why don't you?" I asked. She shook her head "I'll never do something without permission first." I leaned across the middle council "I want you to kiss me" I whispered back.
That's all it took before I felt Y/N's lips brush against mine. All of the air was knocked out of my lungs. This was a kiss unlike any I had ever experienced in my life. It just felt right.
My tongue brushed against her bottom lip and she immediately granted me access. Feeling our tongues explore one another sent a chill down my spine. She bit my bottom lip causing me to gasp. We parted ways with a loud pop of our lips. A smile so bright spread across the older woman's face that made me smile in return.
"That was probably the best kiss I've ever had and I'm not just saying that." I said causing Y/N to chuckle "Believe me the feeling is mutual. That was incredible." She said as she brushed her thumbs across my cheeks.
Just then a loud crack of thunder made us both jump slightly. "Come on beautiful, let's get you back home safely," Y/N said as she put her seat belt on. I did the same and then grabbed her free hand and set it on my lap earning another smile from the woman who made me feel like a princess.
We were singing along with some Kane Brown as we drove down the road when Y/N came to a sudden stop. "Did you see that?" She asked and I shook my head in response.
She put the car in reverse and backed up about twenty feet before she told me to stay in the car. She pulled out a flashlight from the back and ran toward the side of the road and down an embankment.
I of course couldn't just sit there, I had to see what was going on.
My breath caught in my throat when I saw a car on fire Y/N yanking on the driver's side door trying to get it open. I screamed her name, capturing her attention. "Baby call 911! This woman is hurt!"
I couldn't even focus on the fact that she called me baby but the desperation in her voice made me kick myself into gear. I pulled out my phone and called 911 telling the operator what we had come across and that we needed help immediately.
I tried getting close to the car but Y/N yelled telling me not to because the car could have blown up at any moment from how intense the fire had become. Thankfully she had finally gotten the door open and she quickly picked up the woman and began walking away from the car.
The woman's face was covered in blood and she was groaning. "Get the box in the front seat please," the woman said.
I ran back toward the car much to Y/N's warnings not to but it sounded like that box was important. I covered my face with Y/N's hoodie I was wearing and dove into the car, found a wicker box on the passenger seat, and grabbed it as fast as I could.
When I made it back to the top of the embankment Y/N was looking over the woman wiping the blood from her face with her now discarded hoodie.
I stood in amazement just watching how she was trying to take care of the older woman. She was doing her best to keep the woman awake and calm, reassuring her she was alright and safe.
A few minutes later we finally heard the sirens in the distance. When the ambulance reached us they immediately put the woman on a gurney.
The police showed up and questioned us for a few minutes before we were let go. We decided to go to the hospital to try and see if the woman was alright and to give her the box I had gotten for her.
Before we drove off Y/N held me in her arms for a few minutes as the shock of everything began to settle down.
When we got to the hospital we tried getting any information we could about the older woman but were faced with some hesitation. But after the receptionist heard our story she reluctantly told us where her room was.
We decided to wait for a while until we thought she was settled in before we went to see her.
When we knocked on her room door we heard a faint "come in."
The older woman looked at us curiously for a moment before smiling "Thank you for helping me if you hadn't seen my car I'd probably be toast right now." The woman said.
"I'm glad I glanced over when I did or else I doubt anyone would have noticed your car down there," Y/N replied.
"My name is Y/N Y/LN and this is my beautiful date Kelsea Ballerini," Y/N said introducing us.
The woman smiled widely "Nice to meet you ladies. My name is Natalia Moretti" the woman replied.
We began talking to Natalia for a while learning a little bit about her. She let us know she didn't have any living family and would be alone during her hospital stay.
We told her if she wanted company we'd love to come to visit with her which she instantly agreed to.
Natalia's nurse let us know that we'd have to leave for the evening but we promised her we'd visit her the next day. She thanked us profusely again for helping her and I give all the credit to Y/N since she did all the hard work.
When we got to my house I didn't want to let Y/N go. I didn't want this night to end even if it went in a direction neither of us expected.
We parted ways but not before we shared a passionate kiss and a promise of FaceTiming for a while before we both went to sleep once Y/N got back home.
When my eyes finally became heavy after a three-hour FaceTime call I went to sleep with thoughts of Y/N heavily on my mind.
**Time Skip 5 Months- Y/N's POV**
Things between Kelsea and me have been incredible over the last few months.
She officially became my girlfriend just a month after our first date. Everything in my soul told me that she was the one I had been waiting for. And it didn't make any sense to wait to make things official.
Life was easy with Kelsea. She understood my job was demanding and never got upset when training went a little longer than expected.
This weekend she was graduating from college and I couldn't be happier for her. She's worked her ass off on her finals many late nights and early mornings of studying. Which meant I had a lot of early mornings driving into town to bring Kels her favorite coconut latte and breakfast.
But I didn't mind it for a second because that's what you do for the people you love. You show up for them even when it means sacrificing sleep. And I did, I truly loved Kelsea more than anyone in the world aside from my mom. But even then the love I had for Kelsea was indescribable.
When Kelsea met my mom and how quickly they clicked it was all the more confirmation for me that she was the one I wanted to spend my life with. She wasn't afraid to help me with tasks around the ranch when she came over.
Or how she and my mom would spend hours in the kitchen on Sunday afternoons cooking a feast for us.
They even started a little reading group with my aunt and would talk to each other in a group chat about the book. It warmed my heart to see my family embrace the woman I loved the way they did.
I hadn't met Kelsea's parents in person until just a few days ago when they came into town for her graduation. We did talk quite often on FaceTime and I got along well with them. When we met in person it was like everyone clicked instantly.
We even got close to Natalia even after she was discharged from the hospital. That woman truly was something else.
In the box Kelsea saved from her car were letters she wrote to her late wife Valentina who battled with dementia. She wrote the letters so Valentina would never forget their story.
There were hundreds of letters and we began reading every single one. They met in Italy in the 40s. Natalia's family owned a seamstress and shoe repair store. Valentina and her mom came in one day and Natalia said the moment she laid eyes on Valentina it was like the world around her stopped.
Back in those days being gay was unheard of a dark dirty secret no one wanted to let anyone know about. Somehow Natalia and Valentina were able to defy the odds and made their relationship work even in secret.
When they were in their mid-twenties they decided to leave Italy and make a life in America together.
They faced a lot of prejudice from family and friends but they said they had a love that would conquer all. And they did. Getting married legally when they were finally able to even though they had been together for decades at that point.
Natalia said that even before they were legally married, she and Valentina exchanged rings and vows to one another promising their love to each other.
They were able to build a beautiful life together owning several businesses together. Valentina had a huge love for art which Natalia supported one hundred percent buying Valentina every piece of art she could.
They have a house not too far from my family's ranch which Natalia still owns even though she's living in a nursing home now.
Valentina died just a month before we lost Hayes.
We got permission to take Natalia out for the day as she didn't want to miss Kelsea's graduation and Kelsea wouldn't want her to miss it for the world.
The day was beautiful outside. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, and I was filled with so much pride for my girlfriend.
We had many discussions about what her next move was after graduation but one we weren't expecting was the job Natalia offered Kelsea. A position of running her and Valentina's art gallery. After much thought on it, Kelsea accepted the job offer.
I listened intently to the various speeches given by college staff and a few students but I was becoming restless waiting to hear my girlfriend's name being called.
When her name came through the speakers I watched how she walked across the stage to get her degree. Our family screamed and cheered for her. Our eyes connected as she walked down the stairs and she winked at me as she blew a kiss.
God, I was such a simp for her, and I didn't care for a second.
When the ceremony was finished we waited patiently for Kelsea to find us and when she did it was like there was no one else in the world around us as she raced toward me jumping into my awaiting arms.
"I'm so proud of you baby" I whispered as I kissed her sweetly. "Thank you for everything you've done for me these last few months. I really couldn't have gotten through this without you" my girlfriend replied.
She hugged her parents, my mom, and Natalia, thanking each of them for coming to celebrate with her.
With the permission of her parents, I decided to throw Kelsea a graduation party for her family and friends at the ranch.
Everything went off without a hitch. We had plenty of food and drinks. I had a DJ friend of mine come out to make sure the vibe was right throughout the entire day. Once the sun was gone we set a huge bonfire near the lake where everyone danced and sang.
When the night was over Kelsea's parents went back to the main house with my mom where they would be staying for the next day until they flew back to Tennessee.
"Thank you for making today so special. I can't say how lucky I am to have such an amazing girlfriend" Kelsea said as we were about to lay in bed.
I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head before leaning down to kiss her lips. "You don't have to thank me, baby, you deserve it. And I'm the lucky one. I still pinch myself every day that I get to call you mine." I replied.
"I have two more things to give you though," I said before giving Kelsea her gift bag. She looked at me curiously, making me chuckle.
Kelsea reached into the small bag and pulled out her passport. "What's this for?" She asked.
"Open the rest and you'll see," I said as I sat down on my bed.
Kelsea gasped "Tahiti?!" She squealed as she jumped up and down, making me laugh. "You said you've always wanted to go so your wish is my command baby," I said with a smile.
"There's one more thing in there," I said nodding toward the bag.
Kelsea reached inside and pulled out the final gift. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.
"We met unexpectedly but I know there's a reason for it. All it took was looking at you for eight seconds to know that you were going to change my life in ways I didn't even know. Being with you has been nothing but bliss. I know life isn't always going to be sunshine and rainbows.
But I wouldn't want to experience life's ups and downs with anyone else. Some people might think we're moving too fast but when you know you just know. I mean look at Natalia and Valentina. They were together for as long as they were and they moved to America together when they had only been dating for a few months.
I know with every fiber of my being that I will never love anyone else the way I love you. And that I don't want to spend my life with anyone else. So with that being said Kelsea Nicole will you marry me?" I said as I got down on one knee, taking the box from Kelsea's hand and opening it for her.
Kelsea's eyes welled with tears and her bottom lip trembled as I showed her the ring. "I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else either baby. I love you so much and I would love to be your wife" she replied as she ran her hand across my cheek.
I placed the ring on her finger and wrapped my arms around her waist as I kissed her passionately.
I found the person whom my heart can call home. I found my other half and I couldn't wait to truly begin our life together.
**Time Skip- Kelsea's POV**
Bliss. Complete and utter bliss is what life had to offer me and I didn't know what I did to be so lucky to experience that.
I was married to the love of my life and she made me a mommy to two angels, our twins Hayes Romeo and Natalia Valentina Y/LN. Who filled our life with nothing but joy. At two years old they were coming into their little personalities and they were truly the perfect mix of both Y/N and myself.
They carried the names of people who truly meant the world to us. Hayes after the grandpa he never got to meet. And Natalia who came in as such an unexpected light but the story of her and Valentina's love would live with Y/N and me forever.
Natalia was over the moon when we got married and told her we were expecting. Unfortunately, she passed away when the twins were a year old. But man did she love them. We took them to see her every single weekend and have so many pictures of them together.
Natalia always said they were like the grandbabies she never got to have and watching their interactions every weekend was the cutest thing. She would take them around the nursing home showing all of her friends her little bambinos.
When she passed it hit both my wife and me pretty hard. We had built such an amazing relationship with her ever since the first day we met her.
I was still running the art gallery and to our surprise when she passed away we were left with everything. The twins had a great inheritance left to them. We were left with the businesses and her house.
According to her will she knew that we'd do the right thing with everything we were left with. She didn't have a family and she said looking at Y/N and me together reminded me of how she and Valentina were at our age.
Y/N officially retired from bull riding after winning two more PBR championships. She had another accident in the arena and after that, she felt like it was time to call it quits on that part of her career now that she had a family to think about.
She was pretty focused on the ranch and being as present as possible for the kids and me.
Watching Y/N ride around on Storm with the twins around the yard hearing their laughs and watching the smile on my wife's face is all I could ever ask for. My wife often says that all it took was eight seconds to know I was it for her. But I knew in those eight seconds I was going to love her for the rest of my life. And I was going to love every single moment I had with her and our babies.
**A/N- Please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT on this. Let me know what you thought of this one!
I just want to apologize for such a long absence since my last update. I knew it had been a while but I didn't realize it had been THAT long!
Life has been insane lately. I'm about to be an auntie to a baby boy literally any day now. So the nerves have been through the roof. And I've just been enjoying literally every second I can with my niece before her little brother enters the world.
Thank you to those who have patiently waited for me to update I truly appreciate y'all sticking around. If you aren't following me yet please do! You know I keep you as updated as possible on my message board.
I hope everyone is doing well! I'll be back soon with another update!
-B🐇🐣