Cowgirl Up 2 (Sequel) ✔️

Chapter Fifty

It didn't take a genius to work out who the man standing in front of me was.
He looked pretty old, with salt and pepper hair and lines around his eyes, but his skin was tanned and his eyes a very familiar blue.
Their shape was uncannily familiar, too.
The angles of his face were all too familiar, as was the shape of his body.
Or rather, the shape that his body had probably once been or at least had had the possibility of being.
He just lacked the stature of the man I was most familiar with.
He was easily over six feet tall and appeared to be clean shaven.
He stared down at me, as if he was trying to figure me out.
Well, I didn't need the same courteousy.
I didn't even know his name, but didn't really need to.
It was pretty obvious that if Blayze doesn't look after himself, in the next few decades he might look like this guy.
"You're Blayze's Father."
I whispered.
I wanted to say 'Sperm Donor', but that wasn't exactly a wise thing to say to a stranger.
Plus, from what I'd heard, this guy wasn't above taking his anger out on women.
Or at least he'd been like that before he went to jail some ten years ago.
The man's blue eyes widened as he looked at me in shock.
My heart began to pound.
I have to get out of here.
Blayze can't know his Dad is here.
He'll go absolutely ape shit.
What the hell is his Dad doing here?!
"You know my son?"
His voice came out as nothing more than a stunned whisper.
I have to get the hell out of here.
What if he wants me to take him to Blayze?
I'd have to tell him 'no, I can't do that because he'll beat you senseless'!
"I have to go!"
I turned around quickly, clutching my ice drink that was already starting to melt.
This weekend was quickly getting out of control!
"Wait!"
I cringed as he called after me, but kept walking, adding some speed to my steps.
Must.
Get.
Out.
Of.
Here.
I yelped in surprise as a hand clamped down on my wrist.
A concerned, but clearly drunk Heath peered at me, causing my heart to pound in relief.
"What's wrong?"
Heath questioned.
My heart almost stopped.
Heath.
I just ran into the guy he's only recently learned is his Dad!
The guy he's not seen much for the most part of his life!
"I-I'm fine!"
I stammered.
Heath narrowed his eyes at me.
He's got good reason to doubt me.
I'm lying through my teeth.
And I suck at lying.
"Bailey!"
I snapped my gaze away from Heath's face to see Hayley and Noah striding towards me.
"There you are!"
Hayley exclaimed.
I offered my best friends my best attempt of a smile.
"Hey!"
I greeted them.
"Wanna head back to the camp?"
Noah suggested.
"That's where I was about to go."
Heath agreed.
"Sounds like a plan."
I nodded.
The four of us made our way towards the entrance/exit gates.
Now I just have to work out a way to eventually tell Blayze about the fact that his Dad is here.
Though any time soon probably isn't a good idea...

My mind was frazzled.
I was trying to distract myself with tasks like setting up lunch, but it wasn't working very well.
I need to tell Blayze that his Dad is here.
But I don't want the whole weekend ruined.
I was jumpy.
Every time somebody new walked by our camp area, I was doing a double take, making sure it wasn't-
I mentally cringed and face palmed myself.
I'm a horrid person.
I've known Blayze for more than half my life.
I love him.
Yet I don't even know his Father's name.
I startled when a pair of arm's wrapped around me from behind.
The familiar feel though and the scent that washed over me informed me that I knew exactly who it was.
My idiot heart pounded.
And for once, it wasn't in the good way.
I hate keeping things from Blayze.
It fills me with a horrid, burning sense of guilt.
"Finally found you."
His warm, deep voice washed over me at the same time as his hat brim brushed against my head as he leaned down to plant a kiss on my cheek.
"Y-yeah I-I need to make lunch."
I twisted myself out of his embrace even though a part of me kicked myself for it already.
Being in Blayze's arms is quite literally in the top five of the best things in my life to date.
"You're mad."
The sigh was audible in his voice.
Mad?
What the heck is he on about?
Wait...
I turned around and eyed him over.
"What have you done?"
His deep blue green eyes widened.
My stupid mind flashed me back to the same shocked appearance on a different, but similar face around an hour ago.
Mentally I smacked myself.
Don't go there Bailey.
"Nothing!"
Blayze exclaimed, holding his hands up as if to hold off an attack.
"I'm just confused because I thought you were okay with the Bull Ride especially considering I quite obviously made it out fine, but... now you seem mad..."
Mad?
I'm not mad.
At least not at him.
I might be mad with myself that I don't have the guts to tell him what I know.
I shook my head.
"I'm not mad. I already told you I'm proud of you."
All but running into his arms after the Bull Ride had been a pretty damm euphoric moment.
I almost smiled at the memory.
Almost.
"Then what's happened?"
Shit.
"N-nothing!"
I denied, my stupid voice going a little too high.
I cringed.
Blayze narrowed his eyes at me.
Of course he can see straight through me.
One wouldn't even have to know me like he does to see straight through me right now.
I had to think of something to get him to let this go.
At least for now.
"Your kid and I need to eat."
I said quickly and turned around to go back to my task of preparing some lunch.
Blayze's hands came to rest gently on my shoulders.
"Go take a seat."
He told me.
"I'll fix you up somethin' and then you can tell me what it is that's goin' on."
Shit.
I'm going to have to find ways that I can avoid him now.
That's going to be hard considering we're sharing a swag...
"I can manage."
I denied.
"Go."
He insisted.
With a sigh, I gave in.
Food that somebody else has prepared always tastes better anyway, even if it's made from an esky and a camp stove.