BUCKED Box Set: A Bull Rider Western Romance Read Online Free

place, but it didn’t feel like the kind of ride that
would hit the top notch mark.”
    “Definitely did,” she insisted.
    The next thirty seconds felt like an hour, but it was worth the wait. The
announcer blasted a ninety-one for my score and the crowd erupted in applause.
    Like I said, best feeling in the world.
    My birthday plan was officially half-executed. I’d just broke ninety. It
was time for a few of those beers. Everyone hit the bar and drank to my
birthday and my big win. Now, that’s what I’m talking about. When the night was over, I fell into bed for the night
with my head swirling.
    Life is good.

 
    Chapter Three - Laci

 
    “You’ve
got to be joking. Please tell me you’re joking,” I begged. I looked down at my
graduation gown at the barbecue sauce
stain Emily was pointing to. “Ugh, I am the only person in the entire world who
could find a stain on her white graduation gown two minutes before we walk,” I groaned. “I need that stain
stick thing you had in the car!”
    “You’re
lucky,” she said, pulling the stain remover out of her cap.
    “How
even?” I asked in awe. “And, you’re the only person in the entire world who could find a way to keep a stain stick
in your graduation cap. Brava, I’m impressed.”
    “Well, it
was either the cap or my bra. And knowing you, of course, I needed to have one with me, and these things don’t have
any pockets,” she explained, indicating her gown. “They should really have
pockets.”
    Just as I
finished rubbing the stain out, the principal walked up to the lineup and
announced, “Alright, people, it’s go time! Let’s get you graduated!”
    I shoved
the stain stick back into Emily’s hands, and tucking it into her cap, she pushed me forward while hissing, “Go, go!” A few
minutes later, we were all seated in our assigned chairs, waiting for our names
to be called.
    What we
didn’t expect was the video they played with pictures of the graduating class
when we were kindergarteners, then random shots of middle school and high
school events. Next came a video of different staff members congratulating the
class, talking about fun memories, and wishing all of us well. Since our
graduating class isn’t that large, the video only took about five minutes. I
may or may not have cried at the end. The audience erupted into applause as the
screen faded to black and a final message scrolled across: “Congrats, Class of
2015! Go make us proud!”
    Principal
Myers stepped up to the podium and quieted the cheers before he started the
ceremony. When every name had been called, every diploma handed out, and all
the pictures taken and hugs given , Emily
and I walked out to the parking lot to find yet another surprise. Standing
there with my parents was Mark. That’s right, my second best friend who was
supposed to be in California shooting his second movie. I ran and jumped into
his arms. He gave me one of those cheesy, lift-you-off-the-ground-and-spin
hugs. When he put me down, I punched him in the arm.
    “I thought
you were in L.A.!” I hugged him again.
    “What kind
of friend would I be if I missed your graduation?” he asked. “Besides, my agent
made a few phone calls.” He winked at me and squeezed a little harder.
    Dad
grinned at me over Mark’s shoulder.
    “You guys
are just expert secret keepers, aren’t ya?” I teased my parents.
    Mark and
Emily hugged and he congratulated her, as well. After a few photos of Mark and
I together, then me with both of my best friends, we all went out for a
celebration dinner with Emily and her parents.
    Later that
evening, after Mark, Emily, and I had made a few rounds to several graduation
parties, we dropped Emily off at her house and were heading back to mine when
Mark pulled his car into the park in the middle of town. It wasn’t the kind of
park with swing sets and monkey bars; it was one of those garden parks. The one
the Blue Bonnets, our town’s preservation society, took pride in making