Carolina Blue

Part 40

Carolina POV

Between my drifting in out of sleep and our small talk, over five hours later we were finally pulling up to the rodeo for tonight. Most states you drive five hours and you'd for sure at least be out of your home state if not crossed multiple in the process, but not here in Texas. Tonight's rodeo was held in Eastern Texas close to the Louisiana border.

As we pulled on the grounds, I felt the electricity of the night all through my body. This was the biggest rodeo yet I will have competed in, even in my ropin' days I never touched a rodeo this size. Lukas was quite persistent that I needed to come with him and try to rough it with the professionals. He said it could be like a trial run for this fall if I choose to go with him. I smiled at the sentiment. Darla was planning on coming along, until two days ago when she said her roping horse's back leg started limping. She figured she should set the weekend out and give him time to rest.

I reminded her that she still had my mare as a choice to ride, but she told me 'I don't feel right, using your horse to rope.'

I knew what she meant, but my mare would've been happy to step up to the job.

As I looked around I saw people of all ages dressed in similar jeans and button up style with the occasional tank top making an appearance. I was starting to feel the nerves that a lot of people would see me barrel race tonight, and what if I can't keep up, or worse make a fool of myself. I was still staring out the window, when I felt Lukas's hand lightly graze my thigh comfortingly, "'Lina you're going to do great, there no reason to worry, and hell even if you fuck it up I'll still love ya."

My eyes shot wide and looked at Lukas to see his own widen in shock at his own words. Then Lukas looked down and I swear I saw a tinge of pink on his cheeks. Then he rubbed his neck in that way all guys do when they're processing what to say, "Shit, I didn't mean for it to come out like that, please don't freak on me 'Lina, but I can't hide it anymore I love you." As he finished he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and continued to graze his hand to the back of my neck.

I slowly was processing what Lukas was saying, as I stared deep into his chocolate brown eyes losing myself in finding all the gold flecks. Then I felt the light spread of a ghost like smile on my lips, "I think I'm in Love with you too."

I would say that sentence over and over again, every day for the rest of my life, to see the smile Lukas gifted me with. Then before I knew it Lukas's lips were swiftly melting with my own. Kissing Lukas felt different than anyone else I had ever shared something with. It was like the pain we went through together made this moment taste even sweeter. Soon the kiss parted and Lukas leaned his forehead against mine smiling wistfully, "You're gonna be the death of me 'Lina."

I furrowed my brows, unsure of how to take his comment, "How's that?"

Lukas smirked as his thumb brushed my lips, "Cause now I know what kissin' you is like, I'm gonna want to do that all the time, so much so I'll forgot how to breathe."

I let the slow easy smile spread to my lips as I felt the cozy warm feeling spread through my body. Then I grasped Lukas's neck and pulled him even closer to me, "Then I guess we'll die together from lack of oxygen."

Lukas smiled a wild wide smile agreeing, "I like the sound of that," before capturing my lips again.