Not my first Rodeo [cowboy romance]

Chapter 4

Chapters will be longer from now on.
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Francesca

I feel alright and I'm happy about my ability to not have a hangover. Amen to that.
Today's competition day. One of them. I take a quick shower and take an outfit I feel comfortable but hot in. Tight jeans and a white blouse. Makes me look professional, which I have to be when I'm in the lounge with Giacomos team. I take my purse and walk out of my hotel room. My feet bring me out of the hotel to one of the Ubers, who brings me to the Arena.

I've texted Nathan. I'm glad I did it sober, this morning and I don't want to know what I would've texted last night. Or what could have happened. No. No thoughts on that today. Competition day means I need to be concentrated. Mamma and Papà are watching from home, it's streamed on television. Giacomo needs a win. Don't get me wrong, he's amazing at bull-riding. He's great, but there are a few new cowboys this year and I haven't had the time to make me familiar with them yet. I do know a lot about all of this rodeo stuff. But I'm not good with remembering faces or dates. That's what Giacomos qualified team is for. With my degree in journalism, I'm here for his social media and to prepare him for interviews.

Once I arrive at the Arena I go straight to the lounge. There is food and drinks and ... Marcus. "Hi, good morning" I smile while making my way to the food. I can basically feel his view on my back and sigh a little. He's never going to like me. That's okay, I guess. I'm not the world famous bull-rider here.
"Mornin' "
Speaking of the devil.

My brother is tense. I mean, he's tense and pissed off like all of the time but this is different. He is actually annoyed and stressed. It's different from last year, when his skills were finally discovered and he won like every competition. Today, he looks like he could throw a bull around. "Good morning yourself" I say as he comes to stand next to me to grab some food. No answer. "You don't seem too happy about today" I continue. There's no point to beat around the bush with Giacomo. That pissed him off as well. "Thanks for your observation, Miss Psychologist"
At least he's saying something.
I follow him to one of the tables, surrounded by little couches. They're comfortable to sit on for sure but not perfect to eat breakfast on. I sit on the verge of the couch to eat from the small table. I look up again. "Ti va di parlarne?" Do you want to talk about it? He stops eating for a second and I feel like he actually thinks about it. He knows that us two are the only ones being able to speak Italian. „Thanks, Annie. You know, there are just some really good fuckers this year. I might not win"
"Which would not be bad for your ego-"
"Stop that nonesense" he smiles a little.

No wonder he's tense. I've heard that there are a few new competitors. Maybe I should have done my research. Shit. "Well, just do your best, hm?" I try to cheer him up. He gives me a look. A 'the fuck are you talking about' look. "Francesca, this is not some fucking vocabulary test I can fail. This is my job. I need the highest points"
That's the thing with bull riding. There's this points system. A perfect score is 100 points. 50 for the contestant and 50 for the bull. Giacomo told me that the crazier the bull is, the better for the contestant. It's far too complicated for me.
I nod a little and continue eating my breakfast and drinking my green tea.

The later it gets, the more people get into the lounge and the arena. Fans are going to their seats and the contestants are getting ready. The arena is drowning in adrenaline and testosterone. I'm standing right behind the glass separating the lounge-room from the rest of the seats. Even I am tense now but I always am. Every now and then I look and my phone. No new messages, when all of a sudden-

Nathan: glad you didn't, darling

So he remembers. I'm glad. It would be rather embarrassing if he didn't even remember me. But based off of what he said he has loads of girls texting him. I don't wanna think further.