"Holy shit, she is something else," Danny muttered, his eyes fixed on the timer displaying 97 seconds. He shook his head in disbelief. Just managing to stay atop the bull for 10 seconds was an achievement worth bragging about, but she had stayed on almost ten times longer.
In a mix of awe and dread, he nudged his cousin beside him and added, "Ace, looks like you met your match."
Ace smirked but didn't reply.
"Ace, you don't have to do this. Let's just go," Mandy pleaded, her voice tinged with worry. She couldn't shake the image of Ava being flung off the mechanical bull moments earlier. The memory made her stomach twist—Ava could have broken a leg, an arm, or worse, her neck. In her growing panic, she tugged on the hem of Ace's denim jacket, her grip firm as she tried to pull him back. "A plush doll isn't worth it."
