28. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Tate
S hifting my truck into park, I look up at the newly constructed ranch-style house in front of me. I’ve been here before, but not like this. Not to try to have a conversation with my brother that I really need to end with a handshake and not a fight. His truck is in the driveway, but since he’s still technically not supposed to be driving, that doesn’t really mean much.
With a heavy sigh, I place my hat on my head and step out of the truck. I don’t make it all the way up to the porch before the door swings open and Gray appears.
“Was wondering if you planned to get out of your truck or just sit there all day,” Gray says with a smirk.
“How you feeling?” I ask as I climb the last two steps to the porch.
He shrugs before stepping outside and gesturing for me to have a seat. “I’m fine. Did you come all the way out here to ask how I’m feeling?”
I let out a wry laugh. This shouldn’t be so hard, but I guess it’s my fault. Looking back on the past several years, it’s not hard to understand why he thinks I do nothing but give him shit all the time. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t mean to come off that way. I did. And I didn’t try to change. All I can do now is talk to him and hope I’m not too late.
“You still pissed at me for Boulder Ranch?” I ask.
Gray studies me for a long moment before he responds. “I’m not pissed. I just think it’s bullshit that I can’t have one fucking thing for myself. It’s not enough that you also compete there once a month like I do?”
“Gray, listen,” I begin, stretching my arms out. “I’m not even going to compete like that anymore. If it was about winning, I wouldn’t have bought the place. I bought it for us .”
He stares at me in confusion, hostility all over his face. “What the hell do you mean, you bought it for us?”
“I bought it because I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else buying it and then getting rid of the rodeo and bull riding after we practically grew up there. I bought it and hoped you’d be interested in helping me. Something that could just be for us.”
He continues to stare at me. “What?”
“Gray, listen. I’m so sorry for how things have been, but I really hope we can get past it. We haven’t always been like this. I think we can work together or something. If you want. Just let me know.”
“Work together?” He looks at me, confusion etched in his features.
“Yeah. As in, help me run the place. You don’t have to give me an answer right now, but I really need the help, so the sooner the better. I’d rather have you there then have to hire a stranger I can’t trust.” I stand and reach out my hand. “Promise you’ll at least think about it?”
He zeroes in on my hand for a moment before he finally reaches out and takes it. “I’ll let you know.”
Relief floods through me with those four words. Hell, the fact that we got through the conversation without a screaming match or any punches thrown feels like a huge win. This conversation was a long time coming. I still feel like shit for the way things have been between us. As the older brother, I should have handled it better. But hopefully, this is the start of a new beginning for us. Only time will tell.
Thoughts of fresh starts flash across my mind as I make my way to the truck. I honestly couldn’t have imagined a better way for our conversation to go. I need help at the ranch. That’s a fact. And it is the honest truth that I would rather have that help come from my brother who I trust despite not always getting along.
“Tate. Hi,” Rayna greets me as soon as I walk into the Family Health Center. “Joy is with a patient. She didn’t tell me you were coming, or I could have done the intake for her.”
“Don’t worry about it. She didn’t know I was coming,” I respond, holding up a paper bag from the market. “Did you all eat? I stopped by the market and picked up some sandwiches.”
Rayna’s smile stretches as she looks from me to the bag, and back toward the exam rooms. I promised to be discreet when we’re at the ranch, but this isn’t the ranch. Rayna is Joy’s best friend, Dr. Robinson already knows, and the nurse doesn’t work on the days Joy works.
“You came out this way just to bring Joy lunch?” Her smile grows wider.
“I brought you a sandwich, too.” I reach into the bag and pull out a sandwich wrapped in butcher paper. “Smoked turkey melt.”
Her eyes widen, and she leans forward to reach for her sandwich. I didn’t want to show up with food as if Joy was the only person here. But I would be lying if I didn’t also do it for selfish reasons. I’m hoping Rayna won’t give me shit since I thought of her.
Rayna returns her attention to me just as I hear the exam room door open. Joy walks out with her face still buried in the tablet so I use the opportunity to drag my eyes over her. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her in scrubs, but each time I lay eyes on her I find something else to appreciate. The black scrubs are loose but cling in all the right places to remind me what’s underneath. Her curls are pulled back in a ponytail showing off the delicate curve of her neck.
“Oh. Hi,” she says with a gasp when she finally looks up.
“Hey.” I step closer and she stiffens before glancing at her friend. “I brought lunch.”
She relaxes a bit at the sight of the bag. “Oh. Thanks.”
I knew she might get upset at me showing up at her work, but I didn’t think it would be this awkward. I want to pull her to me. I want to kiss her and tell her how much I missed her. But something tells me that’s not the way to go.
“Did you eat, Tate? Joy, I can cover for you if you want to have lunch together,” Rayna offers.
I shake my head in answer to her question to me, and Joy offers a flat smile. “Thanks.”
I follow her down the hallway and out the back door to a small patio where we sit at one of the picnic tables. I’m quiet as I pass out our food. Hopefully she explains why she’s acting like a stranger, so I don’t have to come out and ask.
“I’m sorry,” she begins after a long silence. “I just wasn’t expecting to see you here. Thanks for bringing lunch.”
“I didn’t think it would be a problem since Rayna is your best friend and knows about us.”
Her hand covers mine. “No, it’s not a problem. I was just surprised. And it still feels weird being around people, knowing I work for you.”
I should have been expecting her to respond this way, but I was really hoping things would be back to normal since it’s been a few days. Even with our awkward exchange, being around her calms me after the interaction with my brother.
“You okay?” she asks.
When I look back up, she seems back to her old self. Her shoulders are relaxed, and she has a small smile as she meets my gaze. This is what I needed. Somehow in this short period of time, she has become the thing I need when something is missing. She grounds me.
“Yeah, I’m better now. I just left Gray’s place and wanted to lay eyes on you.”
Her smile widens and she finally picks up her sandwich and takes a bite. She’s adorable, closing her eyes and nodding to herself as she enjoys her first taste. I could watch her all day.
“Is he okay?”
“Oh, yeah he’s fine,” I reassure her. “I went over to see if he’d be interested in helping me run Boulder Ranch.”
She straightens in her seat. “Oh? Did it not go well?”
I let out a snort. “I guess it could have gone worse. He didn’t throw me off his porch or anything.”
“He said no?” Her voice is quiet.
“Not exactly. But he sure as hell didn’t say yes. He looked at me like I’d finally lost it. Like he couldn’t even comprehend the idea of working together. The whole reason I agreed to take the place over was because of the stupid hope that we could run it together.”
Explaining it aloud makes me feel even worse. Of course he’d think I’ve gone crazy. The only person who knows my feelings is me because god forbid, I talk about them. I would if I ever knew what to say. The only way my brother will know that I’m the way I am because I care, is if I tell him. So, I’d better figure it out.
“He didn’t say no. If he was that against it, he would have shut it down right away. Don’t give up.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “You’re right. I’ll figure things out in the meantime. I knew I came here for a reason.”
She gives me another smile before returning to her food. I feel a million times lighter after sitting here and talking for just a few minutes. I’ll give Gray time to think about it and get back to me. And I’ll see just how much Hayden is willing to help until I find out for sure if I need to hire someone permanently.
“Thanks again for surprising me with lunch,” Joy says, standing to collect our trash.
“Thanks for—well—being you. Come over tonight?”
“I don’t know…” she says slowly as she tosses our garbage into the nearby trash can.
Walking up behind her, I place my hands on her hips and pull her close. I breathe in her scent before pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Do you have some reason not to?”
“I guess not,” she says quietly.
“Good. I’ll see you at 6:00.”
“That’s dinner time,” she points out.
“Exactly. I like to see you with your mouth full.”
She lets out a gasp and swats me playfully. “Tate, I’m at work. You can’t say things like that.”
I let out a low chuckle and then kiss her temple. “I’ll see you tonight where I can say whatever I want.”
I turn and walk out. There’s no need for me to turn and look; I can feel Joy’s gaze on me as I push the door open and walk outside to the front parking lot.