I woke up to what I thought was my alarm clock, but the sound was definitely not "Kerosene" by Miranda Lambert. Instead the sound was a snoring Cooper right beside my face. I was currently laying directly on my back, my right arm at a 90 degree with my hand under a pillow. My left arm was around Cooper's shoulders. Coopers head was resting on my shoulder, while his left arm was sprawled against my chest while his left hand was resting on my upper arm.
I looked down at him and couldn't help but smile. It was usually me who was "spooning" Cooper, but to be honest, I liked this a lot better. Being like this made me feel appreciated. I didn't get to see this side of Cooper often, he almost seemed like a low-key baby. The way he was so snuggled into me have me a strong sense of something, like I was precious to him. Sure, he does a lot of romantic things for me and that's his soft side but this was different. He looked almost, vulnerable. Not weak, but if he were to let me go right now, he would lose me.
Cherishing this moment, I brought my left hand up and I started to run my fingers through his soft hair, careful not to wake him up. I didn't care that his snores woke me up, I'm glad I was lucky enough to witness this. His eyebrows were lightly scrunched, as if he was focusing on dreaming, hopefully about me. His lips were slightly parted as he breathed. When Cooper was sleeping he looked adorably innocent and youthful.
Okay, I had to get a picture of this. Carefully, I untangled my fingers from his locks and reached over for my phone, slightly moving causing me to stop to see if he woke. Once I saw he was still soundly asleep, I grabbed my phone and opened my camera and took a couple of pictures from my view and then one above us, just getting his position in the picture. Then I looked over them and decided that they were perfect and made my heart happy and warm.
I put my phone back, noticing the time was almost seven o'clock. Tonight we had to be warming up by 7:00 because the rodeo started at 7:30, so we had time to waste during the day. I sighed and started to run my fingers through his hair and then he snuggled more into me, making me smile with adoration. I ran my fingers to the nape of his neck, my fingers tingling when they contacted his soft tan skin. Cooper was shirtless, so I ran my nails across the middle of his back and made circular patterns.
"That feels amazing." His incredibly sexy rough morning voice grumbled out, sending chills through out my body.
"Good morning." I hummed and smiled even though he wasn't looking at me.
Cooper took his arm off mine, and then made his hand into a fist, pushing himself up and doing the same to the other arm, so he was looking down at me. Cooper lips turn into a goofy smile once he looked at me, making me smile more. I watched his eyes as they inspected my face. I'd usually be insecure about someone doing this, but with him I absolutely loved it. "Gall, have I ever told you how freakin' beautiful you are?" His voice was still rough, but yet so smooth. It wasn't fair to me.
"Only about a thousand times." I chuckle and roll my eyes playfully at him.
His eyes almost sparkled what I assumed was happiness as he leaned down lower to me, "Well that's it's not enough." Then what we've both been waiting for since we've woken up happened when his lips connected with mine. My hands automatically went to his stubby cheeks, loving the way his unshaven face felt under my touch.
The kiss didn't last long, but for once I was okay with it because it was morning and we both needed to freshen up. "I call the sink first." I pushed him away from me, making him land on his back. I crawled to the end of the bed and walked down the steps until he stopped me.
"Wait," He said and then I turned to him and he had his phone in front of his face. "Smile pretty girl." I sighed and tilted my head back and to the side and then bringing my hands to under my chine and popped my foot, trying to be cute. He gave me a thumbs up, telling me I could continue. So I went to the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was pulled into a slightly messy high ponytail, curls falling to frame my face. I had on a navy over sized Carhartt shirt, that almost reached my knees.
From my makeup bag, I grabbed my headband and put it over my ears and pushed it up until it reached my hairline and then I started the water, gathering it in my hands and then splashing my face. I turned off the water and then pumped my face wash into my hands and then smothered it on my face. While that was descending in my pores, I began to brush my teeth.
"Okay I'm done." I say as I hang up my wash cloth and then lay on the couch, resting my back against the wood. I checked my social media, occasionally liking some pictures on Instagram and Facebook. When I went on Snapchat I had a ton of stories to watch but there was one that intrigued me the most. Cooper's. I clicked on it and it was the picture he just took of me and the caption was "#NaturalBeauty" Ugh! My heart is going to explode!!
I looked at Cooper who was brushing his teeth, slightly smirking at me through the mirror. I stood up and placed my hands on his shoulder and kissed his cheek, "I love you." I say and then go back to my original position.
"I love you too, baby." He said in a deep funny voice because his mouth was full of toothpaste, making me laugh and shake my head.
*****************
Cooper held the door open for me as we walked into the restaurant Dakota Farms. There was a sign that said to seat yourselves, so Cooper and I took a booth next to a window. There were mostly older people in here, enjoying some coffee and the newspaper. "I've been here a couple of times, they have really good food. You'll like anything." I tell Cooper as I look around.
"Alright, then you can pick for me." Cooper said gaining my attention.
"Really?" I asked him and he smiled and shrugged.
"Yup, if you say I'll like anything. Let's so how well you know me." He said putting his arms on the table trying to be somewhat intimidating.
I cocked an eyebrow at him as a young waitress came to us with menus, "Good morning. I'm Lucy and I'll be serving you today, what can I get you to drink?" She smiled brightly at us.
"I'll take an orange juice." I said to her.
"I'll just have a water." Cooper said with a toothless smile.
"Okay, I'll be back with those." She nodded and walked off and I opened the menu, decided what to get for me and Cooper.
"How hungry are you?" I ask him so I know how much he wants.
"Very." He said and I nodded as I decided on what he was going to get. It wasn't anything special.
The waitress came back right on time as I made up my mind, she carefully put our drinks in front of us and pulled out her notepad and clicked her pen. "You guys ready?" She asked and I nodded.
"I'm going to have a caramel roll with a cup of kneophla soup. And then he is going to do the number eight, pancakes, hash browns, sour dough bread, and sunny side up!" I say her and she smiles, writing down the information.
"Well that makes my job easy! Okay, I'll put that in for your guys." She says as she takes our menus.
"Thanks." Cooper and I say in unison.
"So, how'd I do?" I ask him as he cocks his eyebrow, impressed.
"You even got the eggs right, sunny side up is my-"
"Favorite." I finish for him and he smiles at me. I take a sip of my orange juice and I look around again, but once I spot a familiar face walking through the door, I advert my eyes immediately. "Shit." I mumbled under my breath, ducking my head down.
"What's wrong?" Cooper leans forwards.
"Don't look, but that's my old boss from when I lived in Bismarck." I say quietly as I slowly lift my head back into original position, trying to act normal.
"What's wrong with him?" Cooper asked me.
"He's always been a little suspicious of me. He always asked me why I was always so silent, and when I missed three days because of you know who, he came to my apartment to check up on me. That day, I was a mess and he caught me in my worst while I was packing my bags, I was a sobering wreck. I was so embarrassed and right there I told him I was leaving and didn't tell him why."
"I'm sorry, honey." He softly said and the grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring squeeze.
I sighed and returned my focus on my wonderful boyfriend, "I'll be fine, but thanks." I say forcing myself to suck it up. He probably didn't even remember me. I mean he's probably had lots of people work for him, a girl like me wouldn't be any thing special to him.
"Cassidy?"
Man, do I have the shittiest luck in the world.
Then I began to laugh, Cooper went wide-eyed at me. "Just start to laugh, make up a conversation." I say through gritted teeth, still trying to fake a laugh. Cooper followed me and gave me his best fake laugh, which wasn't too bad.
"Oh man! That was the funniest moment in my life when he fell into the water!" Cooper made up while he was laughing. But from the corner of my eye, I could still see Nick, my old boss, coming in our direction. My heart was pounding in my chest, and by now I think I was hysterically laughing.
"Cassidy-Cassidy Smith?" He said once again now reaching our booth. Well there was no getting out of this one.
I did my best trying to look surprised to see him, "Mr. Sullivan!" He looked very skeptical of me, probably wondering what I was doing back in this area.
"Nick, how are you?" He asked in what I could understand was a concerned voice.
"I'm doing just fine! How are you?" I ask him with a smile, as if that day never happened.
"Um, Cassidy may I talk-"
"Oh, how rude of me! Mr. Sullivan, or sorry, Nick this is my boyfriend Cooper. Cooper this is my old boss Nick." I had to cut off Nick before he could ask me to talk in private, this is the only thing I could think of.
Cooper slid out of the booth and stood up to shake Nick's hand, "Nice to meet you, sir." Cooper said and then slid back down.
"Same to you. But Cassidy would you mind if we-"
"Excuse me, sir." Lucy, our waitress, said as her and another girl came with our food. Okay, maybe my luck was turning on me. Lucy placed our delicious looking food in front of us and I could see Nick still looking at me.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to your meal. It was nice to see you again, Cassidy." Nick said very confused about what just happened. I would be too if I were in his shoes.
"Have a nice day." I smiled to him as he turned around and walked to the other side of the restaurant, to a booth where we couldn't see each other. I looked at Cooper and sighed, "Thanks for playing along."
"I could of just told him to leave you alone. Guys like that are scared of jealous-handsome-rugid-cowboy boyfriends." Cooper was joking, well about the handsome part. But I had no doubt that Cooper would do that for me. I had even thought about it, but I didn't need more attention drawn to us. Who knows how Nick would react to Cooper and vice versa.
"I know, but it all worked out." I say as I take a bite of my warm caramel roll. This was a little piece of heaven as it melted in my mouth. "Do you wanna try this?" I asked Cooper after I wiped my mouth.
Cooper nodded and then I cut a piece, stuck it on my fork, and feed the caramel roll to Cooper. Once the food entered his mouth, his eyes rolled to back of his head and he moaned. "Oh, that's good." He said with a mouth full. "We're getting some to go." He said looking at the counter making me laugh.
*********************
I tightened the cinch around Cooper's bull dogging horse, Gator, giving him a pat on the stomach after I was finished. "You're such a good boy." I then kissed his muzzle and scratched behind his ear. I had to tack Cooper's horse because Cooper was getting our back numbers and he running a bit late. I didn't mind because soon I had to start warming up Scarlet.
Looking around me, I looked for Cooper, but he was no where to be seen. So I grabbed a couple of cinnamon apple treats for Gator, along with his supplements. I grabbed the hoof pic and walked back into the trailer and looked at the time, 7:15, Cooper was running really late. What could be holding him up? But when I stepped out of the trailer I saw Cooper coming over in a golf cart with what looked like a security guard. I waved at the driver once Cooper got off and jogged over to me. Relief washed over his face once he saw that Gator was tacked and ready to go. "Oh thank you so much, Kods. You're the best." He said and quickly hooked an arm around my waist and plated a big kiss on my lips and then handed me our back numbers. He turned around and I pinned his number on, 119.
Then he grabbed the reins and put his boot in the stirrup and hauled himself up onto the saddle. "Why were you so late?" I asked him.
"Apparently I have a fan group here," He said and then he kicked Gator forward, walking away from me. My jaw dropped a bit, Cooper had groupies? "Don't worry honey, don't need to be jealous!" He turned his body towards me, still riding forward. He had a cocky smile on my face and I still realized my jaw was dropped, making me clamp my jaws shut.
"Hey girly are you ready yet?" Taylor's voice came from the front of their pickup.
I looked at her and shook my head, "I still have to tack Scarlet." I say as I walk up to her and hand her my back number and pins. "Please?" I turn around and I feel her adjust my shirt and then she pins it on. I was number 120. Today was I was wearing a vintage stripped shirt with some dark blue Kimes Ranch Jeans. After she was done pinning it on, I jog to the tack room and grab her saddle pad and saddle.
I stuck my left foot into the stirrup and grabbed the saddle horn and hoisted myself up into my saddle and laid my rope around the horn. I stood up in both of my stirrups and moved around a bit to see if everything was cinched the right amount, and everything seemed fine.
As we rode up to the racing track behind the arena the security guards opened the gate for us and we looked around at the other competitors. As I was looking around, I saw Cooper warming up with a couple of buddies of his. I pulled my phone from my front pocket and checked the time, 7:29. I looked at the arena and the rodeo queens were riding out the sponsor flags, so they would be doing the National Anthem soon. "Let's go over by the chutes." I say to Taylor and then kick Scarlet into that direction and Taylor and her horse follow.
We went right next to the bucking chutes and then I dropped my reins around the saddle horn and slouched in my saddle. "Hey cowgirls!" A male voice said from the top of the chutes.
Taylor and I both looked up and saw a rough looking cowboy sitting on the gate of chute with a couple other boys, who were smiling at us. Taylor and I just gave him a polite smile and nod and returned to watching the rodeo queens. "Y'all going to the Lonesome Dove tonight?" He spoke again.
"No, sir." Taylor said in a tone that hinted to leave us alone.
"Oh come on! It'll be fun! Especially if you hang out with us!" He tried to persuade us.
"Knock it off, Elliot. They both have boyfriends that could kick your ass without lifting a finger." My brother's voice came from the walkway of the chutes. My chest released a relieved sigh and I could see Taylor lighten up too.
"Damn!" Elliot hissed making me laugh. The boys scooted down the chute more and Caleb stood at the railing looking down at us.
"Thanks Caleb." I said.
"No problem little sis. Even if you guys didn't have Beau or Cooper I still wouldn't let him hit on you."
"Why?" Taylor asks before me.
"Did you look at him? The dude is straight up creepy." Caleb said and we both started to laugh, even though Elliot wasn't that bad looking.
I shook my head at my brother, "Well not everyone can be as handsome as you, Caleb." I joke with him. Caleb straightens his posture and smirks.
"Damn straight, little sister. Glad you finally came to your senses." Well I just boosted his ego about twenty times.
***************
"Good job girls." The lady smiled at us as we grabbed our checks for $873. Tonight we took the top time in the first go with 6.1 seconds and we are sitting second in the average. Caleb took second score in the first go with a score of 84.5 and Cooper had a no score because his calf got away from them. The steers weren't the best tonight so I think Tay and I got lucky with our pick because we got the best steer.
"Thank you." We both said and smiled at the lady and then started making our way to our trailers with our horses.
"We kicked the boys' asses tonight!" Taylor says as we put the horses in the stables after we untacked them.
"You bet, girlfriend! I hope that Cooper rides tonight, or he's gonna be grumpy in the trailer." I say as I grab the brush out of the bucket and start brushing Scarlet down.
"Oh yeah and that doesn't mix well with making out." Taylor said and I scoffed at her and she started to laugh.
"Whatever, Taylor." I laugh at her and shake my head.
"Oh c'mon! This is the only time where you guys won't get caught and you're telling me that you guys aren't all over each other?" She said in disbelief as she bent down to brush the under belly of her horse.
"Well we're more lovey-dovey than usual but it's not like we're kissing more than breathing. In our relationship we don't need that kind of intimacy. Not that that's a bad thing, though. I mean sure from time to time we have our heated moments, like yesterday morning he woke me up with a very heated kiss. But with us," I stopped talking and couldn't help but smile, "its so easy to talk with each other. I like to listen to his problems or his passions and he likes to do the same. For me, being comfortable with him is just as intimate as any make-out session." I could feel my cheeks start to heat up so I bent down and brushed Scarlet's under belly.
"That's pretty amazing." Taylor said and I nodded to myself, "What did you mean by comfortable? Did something happen in a past relationship to make you be more careful?" Taylor caught onto me.
"You could say something like that," I sighed, "I don't wanna talk about it, it happened a long time ago. And we should get going, bulls should be starting soon." I change the subject as I put my brush into the bucket and close Scarlet's stable door.
We stood right by the gates as we waited for Cooper to ride his bull and I was getting antsy. What rodeo girlfriend wouldn't? So far the top scores are 84 and 86 and Cooper was up soon. What Taylor said earlier really got me thinking, was I enough for Cooper? This is so weird to think about, but did I please him enough? I'm probably just over thinking it, am I?
I get knocked out of my thoughts when I hear, "Now in the Dakota Community Bank and Trust chute is Arkansas native, Cooper Blackwood riding 'Bad Dog Alpha'! This bull hasn't been rode for seven consecutive times! Can Cooper make the eight seconds? Cowboys and cowgirls put your hands together if you think this cowboy can conquer this bull!"
Being the supportive girlfriend I am, I whooped and hollered for Cooper. The crowd also roared to life, them wanting to see this rank bull get rode and probably get their money's worth. I watched Cooper scoot up closer to his rope and then a second later he nodded his head and the gate flew open.
The gate wasn't the only thing that flew, 'Bad Dog Alpha' jumped four feet off the ground making the crowd scream with excitement. After that huge jump the bull landed and bucked so hard and spun so fast that I think I got whiplash from just watching. "Ride! Ride Cooper!!! Spur!! C'mon!! Ride!!" I yelled so loud that my throat longed for water.
Cooper's arm looked sharp and his spurring looked effortless, making it look as if anyone could do this. My heart pounded the whole eight seconds and Cooper barely made it to the last second but he still made it! That ride was awesome!! I cheered again and fist pumped in the air and gave Taylor a proud high five. I looked into the crowd and they were cheering a storm.
Cooper scrambled away from the bull, making my heart slow down a little. He looked out of breath and he was looking at the judges, waiting to hear his score. "Alright the score is in," The announcer said, "Okay Mandan, North Dakota, you are going to like this!" He stopped again making us wait with suspension. "90.5 points for the young cowboy! Well done, Cooper!" I cheered louder and Cooper fist pumped and then he took off his hat and tipped it to the crowd and then gave a bull fighter a bro hug and walked back towards the chutes.
****************
Currently Ashley, Taylor, Beau and I are waiting for Caleb and Cooper in Cooper's trailer. We are playing Uno and other card games and just hanging out. "Didn't Caleb say they'd be here in a couple of minutes?" I asked as I laid down a card.
"Yeah and that was twenty minutes ago, I wonder what trouble they got into." Ashley says as she intensely looks at her cards, then laying down a card that made Taylor pick up two extra cards, earning a snicker from all of us. Then as if on cue, the door opens and it's Caleb, alone.
"Where's Cooper?" I ask.
"Well we were on our way back and then a bunch of people surrounded us, or Cooper should I say. They all wanted pictures with him, I think he called them his groupies." Caleb says and then kisses Ashley on the cheek as he sits down next to her at the table.
"I got to see this!" I said and basically kicked Beau out of my way as he sat at the end of the table booth. "Move!" I ordered and he got out of my way and I ran out of the trailer.
Sure enough about 60 yards away from the trailer was about 15 people, or should I say girls, surrounding Cooper. Like Caleb said, they were taking pictures with him, which didn't bother me, just pictures. "Your boyfriend is famous with the women, little sis." Caleb chuckles and then grunts which I can assume was an elbow to the ribs from Ashley.
"Jealous much?" I say not looking at him.
"I wouldn't answer that." Ashley warns him because we all know he was going to say yes. I look back at them to laugh, but as I look back I just catch a buckle bunny laying her lips on my man! Cooper instantly steps back and he laughs nervously and even from here I can see how red his cheeks are.
"Excuse me?!" I gasp and then I immediately take off for the circle of girls.
"Get her, girl!" I hear Taylor's voice from behind me.
As soon as I reach the circle Cooper's eyes land on mine and he looks guilty even though he shouldn't be. I make my way through the wave of girls and stand next to Cooper. "Alright girls! Picture time is over!" I say and they all groan and turn away, all except for one. The tramp who kissed Cooper. "You too, honey." I then "shoo" her off and then she leaves with the others.
I turn to Cooper and he looks like he just shit his pants and he's waiting for an ass chewing from me. His face makes me burst with laughter, making his eyebrows furrow. "You're not mad?" He hesitantly says testing if its a trap.
"No, I saw you pull back right away." I say and then take both of his hands in mine and let them hang in front of us.
"What if I told you that it wasn't the first time it happened tonight?" He says and then I step back and disconnect our hands and then his lips turn up in a smile to spill that he's joking.
"You're so funny." I sarcastically smile and he reconnects our hands and swings them out so we get closer.
"I love ya girly." He smiles more, making me smile and then lean up for a kiss. Once mine hit his, my heart melts into a gigantic puddle, no exaggeration there.
"Hey! That's my sister!!" Caleb's voice comes from the distance. We don't pull away, instead, I grab Cooper's cowboy hat and hold it in front of us so Caleb can't see us.
After we're done with our romantic kiss, I put Cooper's hat back on and then he wraps his arm around my shoulder and we start to walk back to the trailer. I wrap my arm around his waist and clutch his shirt in my hand so it's more comfortable. "Really dude? I just saw you shove your tongue down my sister's throat." Caleb exaggerated, making us groan with disgust.
"Oh shut up, Caleb!" We all say together.
"Well we're going to bed, good night guys." Taylor said as they drifted towards their trailer.
"Same here." Ashley said as she dragged Caleb away from Cooper.
"Night!" We said in unison as we watched them go to their trailers.
Cooper closed the door behind me and then he slumped down into the table booth seat and then began unbuttoning his pearl snap shirt, revealing his tanned chest. I opened the fridge and grabbed him a water and put it in front of him. "Cm'here." He chuckled as I turned away he grabbed my waist and pulled me into his lap. My legs went under the table as his went to the side.
I wrapped my left arm around his neck and my fingers went to the base of his neck, feeling the ends of his hair. "Congrats on the ride tonight, cowboy." I smile down at him.
"Thanks," He says and then plants a chaste kiss on my lips. "And way to kick ass tonight, I'm happy I got to watch you."
"Thanks, and I guess we're a pretty kick ass couple." I shrug my shoulders playfully.
"Hell yeah girl," He says making me laugh, "C'mon lets get ready for bed." He said and then I scooted off his lap and over to my duffle bag of clothes.
After I washed my face and brushed my teeth, I climbed up to the bed and got under the covers, waiting for a following Cooper. Cooper reached up and turned on our mini fan and then slipped into next to me and pulled the covers up more. I rested my head on his chest and tangled our legs together. "You didn't even ask how much money I got." Cooper suddenly says, making me scrunch my eyebrows.
"I don't care how much you make." I say leaving my head on his chest.
"God, you're perfect. Good night, Kods."
"Night, love ya." I say and then I kiss his cheek and return my head on his chest, where I can here his perfect heartbeat. I could get used to this.