“God, baby, I missed you so much,” Bradley growls, relieved. Jake makes a sound and shoves Bradley back with brute force.
“No.” He says forcefully, a finger pointing at Bradley in a gesture to back off. “No. You don’t get to say that shit to me. You’re the one who left. Left me! And what, you think you can just waltz back in and pick things off where you left it? Wearing my belt like a reminder of how easily I gave away my heart? I ain’t stupid you know.”
Even with his kiss bitten lips pressed into a hard line, glaring at him to high heaven as he tucks his shirt back into his pants and does his fly up with finality, he leaves Bradley breathless.
“You think this is a joke to me, sweetheart?” Bradley jumps to his feet. “When I left, I went to a race. It was stupid, I know. I spun out and totaled my car but all I could think about was you.” Jake’s brow furrows, and he opens his mouth but Bradley cuts him off, grabbing one of Jake’s hands to press over his heart and pressing his own over Jake’s in a mirror image. “I wore your buckle tonight because I wanted to show you and everyone in this town that I’m yours. That I belong to you. I’m sorry it took me so long to see it.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you took too long,” Jake huffs, shaking him off.
Bradley rolls his eyes and steps closer, standing nose to nose. “Now you’re just being fucking obtuse.”
“You broke my heart, Bradley! Forgive me but I feel like I’m a little entitled to it.”
this sceneeeee it sso good. fucking love the 'Forgive me but I feel like I’m a little entitled to it.' bc i also love how it could be jake talking about keeping his heart safe
Oh gosh, this scene from (bring back) that lovin’ feelin’ aka rodeo part two. Please imagine Silver Springs playing from another room during this scene, the glow of the exit sign above their heads, chests heaving because they are so worked up.
I’m so glad you love this scene! One of the main struggles I had with part two was the fight. I knew they had to have it out, and I had so many different versions of how the fight would go, but I couldn’t settle on which version to go with. I have so much dialogue and fighting written out in various places because they truly couldn’t shut up in my head and I had to get it out. But what made me struggle so much was considering what was the best version of the fight, what is it they need to say, and what is the fight really about. Because Bradley can’t sneak away in the middle of the night and think Jake won’t be heartbroken by it.
I still worry I revealed too much in this dialogue, I try to keep things more restrained and “show don’t tell” but sometimes they really do need to get the words out. But I like how it still kind of comes across as them having two different conversations. Still not on the same page.
It always comes back to the buckle. The buckle stealing scene earlier in this fic was one of the first ideas I had for the entire rodeo verse, as well as Bradley having taking Jake’s belt with him when he left. I really wanted to convey here how they both saw the move differently - Bradley wearing his belt as a brand and statement of belonging to him, but Jake seeing it as a taunt. How he let him in and got vulnerable and burned in the process.
Bradley is lowkey obtuse here, he needs to understand Jake isn’t just playing hard to get. Jake needs him to prove that he is serious about him and wanting him back - all of him, because you’re right! Jake is protecting his heart! In part one I talk about how Jake is looking to settle down and for something serious, how he got tired of people leaving his bed after they got what they wanted (a night with a cowboy). Jake feeling like an ornament that people want to admire but not take care of.
I love giving the Bradshaw a temper, and Bradley’s frustrations have been building. He is so close to his love and maybe he’ll finally get him to give in but Jake needs to fight him just a little longer. Because getting to his knees as soon as he has him alone is not the move.
Also Jake is so not gonna let the whole “crashed my car” thing slide later.
Thanks for asking! I love seeing which scenes stick with people.
Send me a passage 500 words or less from any of my fics and I’ll give dvd commentary.
