Rodeo season had hit town full force.

Everybody was dressed like they’d been born in boots, the barn was packed, and somehow every guy within a fifty-mile radius had decided confidence counted as a personality trait.

You were walking by yourself near the arena fences, weaving through crowds and trying not to spill your drink, when you realized something deeply unfortunate.

No hat.

You forgot your cowboy hat.

“…Fantastic.”

Normally? Not a big deal.

During rodeo season?

Different story.

Especially when half the town already knew who you were from hanging around the Walters ranch so much.

Especially Cole.

You barely made it another twenty feet before somebody noticed.

“Well, damn.”

You didn’t even have to turn around to know it was one of the rodeo boys from school.

“Guest forgot her hat.”

You kept walking.

“Tragic,” you deadpanned.

A couple of boots hurried up beside you.

“Lucky for you,” one guy grinned, pulling his hat off dramatically, “I’m feeling generous.”

He held it out.

You stared at it.

Then at him.

“No.”

Another boy immediately cut in. “Ignore him. Wear mine.”

“Oh my God.”

“You know the rule,” one teased.

The old wear the hat, ride the cowboy thing.

Stupid. Annoying. Unfortunately alive and well among certain jocks at school.

“I literally do not care about the rule.”

One of them smirked. “You say that now.”

You tried stepping around them.

They followed.

“C’mon, just for a minute.”

“Not happening.”

“What? You waiting for somebody specific’s hat?”

You snorted softly. “You guys are exhausting.”

“Cole Walters got you loyal or somethin’?”

That earned a few laughs from the group.

You slowed just enough to look at them.

“No,” you said flatly. “I’m just capable of saying no to men with inflated egos.”

“Ouch.”

One of them laughed anyway and held his hat out again.

“Still an offer.”

Before you could answer, a familiar voice called from somewhere behind you.

“Dude.”

The boys turned.

Cole and Nathan stood by the fence gate a few feet away, looking halfway amused, halfway irritated.

“Y’all been rejected like… four times now?”

“Mind your business, Walters.”

Cole shrugged. “Hard to. You’re making it everybody’s business.”

You crossed your arms, already fighting a grin.

One of the boys tipped his head toward Cole. “Got somethin’ to say, or you just here to supervise?”

Cole looked between them, then at you.

“You want one of their hats?”

“Nope.”

“Cool.”

He pulled his hat off his head and tossed it toward you without another word.

Pure instinct — you caught it.

The silence that followed was immediate.

You stared down at the hat in your hands.

The boys stared at you.

Cole just shrugged like he hadn’t detonated a social grenade in the middle of rodeo season before turning back to Nathan for a second.

“…Well,” one of the jocks muttered after a beat. “That’s annoying.”

Nathan grinned.

“Cry about it.”