Beyond the skyline

Cowboy hat - 5

Oh. My. God. Where do I even start? Tonight went from wild to once-in-a-lifetime faster than a bull out of a chute. I still can’t believe what happened—it feels like a dream, and if it is, don’t wake me up.

So, there we were, front row, stadium-side, living our best VIP lives. The girls were still teasing me about Cole and his oh-so-smooth handshake and wink from backstage. “You’ve got a fan,” Katie whispered, not-so-discreetly elbowing me every time he was announced for an event.

When it was time for Cole’s big ride, the energy in the arena practically crackled. The announcer hyped him up, and the crowd went wild. I’d like to say I was cool, calm, and collected, but let’s be honest—I was glued to the edge of my seat, pretending not to care too much while my heart raced faster than the bull he was about to ride.

The gate opened, and Cole was incredible. He held on like a total pro, every muscle in his body working in perfect sync with the wild, bucking force of the bull. It was impossible not to cheer for him—he made it look effortless, like he was born for this.

When the buzzer sounded, he dismounted with a smoothness that had the crowd roaring. I thought that was it, Diary. Just another amazing moment in an already unforgettable night. But then, he did something that sent my brain spiraling.

Cole walked right over to the fence—our section of the fence. The stadium lights glinted off his sweat-dampened hair, and his grin was pure mischief. The girls went silent, all of them wide-eyed and nudging me furiously.

And then it happened.

He tipped his hat to the crowd, paused for dramatic effect (because of course he did), and then, with a wink so devastating it should’ve come with a warning label, he threw his hat straight at me.

Diary, I don’t know how I managed it, but I caught it. Barely. My hands were shaking so much I almost dropped it, but I caught it. The crowd around us cheered, and my friends lost their minds. Katie was practically screaming, “OH MY GOD, HE DID NOT JUST DO THAT!” Sophia, meanwhile, was already filming the whole thing.

Cole leaned on the fence, looking like he had all the time in the world, and said, “Hold on to that for me, darlin’.”

Darlin’. Diary, I am deceased.

Before I could even think of a response, he flashed that perfect smile, tipped an imaginary hat this time, and walked off like it was no big deal. Meanwhile, I was sitting there clutching his hat like it was the Hope Diamond and trying not to combust.

The rest of the night was a blur. The girls kept teasing me, of course. Katie was convinced I was in some kind of country love story, while Laura kept joking about what I was going to do with the hat. (“Are you framing it? Sleeping with it? Wearing it to brunch tomorrow?”)

As for me, I have no idea what this means. Was it just a rodeo thing? A charming gesture? Or... something more? All I know is that I’ll be falling asleep tonight with Cole’s hat on my dresser and a whole lot of questions spinning in my head.

Yours,

The Girl With the Cowboy Hat