Free When the Glitter Fades (Cowboys of Whispering Winds) by Renee Peterson Page A

please, please,” Cody begged.
    “Your mom would tan my hide for that one. Sorry, buddy, but the answer’s no.  I’ll still play go fish with you, though.”
    “Hmm,” Cody deliberated. “I do like Go Fish.”
    “That settles it. I should warn you that your old man was the Go Fish King when he was your age.”
    Cody rolled his eyes. “You’re not that old, daddy. Not like Grandpa is, at least.”
    Ruffling his son’s hair, he stood up. “Finish up eating and I’ll go find the cards.”
    Two hours and about fifty rounds of Go Fish later, Cody was starting to nod off. “Time for bed,” Jeremy told him.
    “But I want to stay up,” Cody whined, even as another yawn escaped.
    “We have to get a good night of sleep so we can go real fishing tomorrow, remember?”
    “Oh yeah.”
    “Go get your pajamas on, and I’ll help you brush your teeth.”
    Cody ran off and Jeremy took that time to pull out the hideaway bed on the soda.  He grabbed an extra set of sheets and a blanket, remembering to grab Cody’s special pillow from the duffle bag. Reappearing several minutes later, his son was clad in dinosaur decorated pajamas. 
    “Ready to brush my teeth,” Cody announced.
    Grabbing the toothbrush on the way, they went to the bathroom. Jeremy put some of his toothpaste on the brush then instructed Cody to open his mouth. For a full two minutes he brushed, making sure to reach all sides and angles.
    “Will you tuck me in?” Cody’s sleepy voice asked.
    “Yes, sir,” Jeremy answered. He carried his quickly fading son back to the living room and laid him on the unfolded bed. Cody’s eyes blinked, fighting to stay open as Jeremy tucked the sheets around him and gave him a quick hug. “Goodnight.”
    “I love you, daddy.”
    “I love you too. Go to sleep now,” he said, but Cody had already drifted into slumber. He flicked off the overhead light and turned on the nightlight he’d scrounged up when Lanie had said Cody could stay the night.
    Retiring to his room, he sat down in bed, propping his back against the headboard. Turning on his mobile network, he thumbed through his phone. Email, nothing. Text messages, nothing. Social Media- a few new follows and likes. Figured. When the glitter fades, so does the number of people in your life. Of all the friends he’d thought he had on the circuit, J.T. was the only one who’d proven to be true.  Occasionally, he’d get an obligatory phone call checking on him, or a quick email, but that was it.  Everyone had their own lives, most of which revolved around the rodeo. Out of sight, out of mind.
    He wasn’t going to fall into another pity party. There was a child out in the living room that meant more to him than everyone on the circuit, combined, ever could.  If only he could shake the loneliness that plagued him every night. He’d no one to blame except himself.  Perhaps it was time to start dating again, find a real woman, not a boost-his-ego-until-he-was-bored type.  It was a thought to consider. 
    On impulse, he opened his text messaging app and sent a quick text to Lanie.
    Cody’s out cold. Had a blast.
    He waited and waited, but no response came. Picking up the latest issue of Rodeo Weekly, he read through the latest news. Current standings were as he expected them, no big surprises. He flipped to the last page then put the magazine aside, without reading all the articles. No use torturing himself over things he couldn’t change. When he thought of Cody, the edge wilted away. Being away from the rodeo wasn’t all that bad, at least not when he got to see his son every day. Turning off the bedside lamp, he slunk down under the covers. Tomorrow was a new day and he’d be spending it with Cody. That’s what really mattered.
    From the nightstand, his phone vibrated and lit up.  He tilted it up to see whom it was from.
    -Good , Lanie had texted back.
    -How was your night? He lost his fight in resisting the urge to start a conversation.
    -Not good,