Chapter 24 Reese
Jarrett wasn’t here when I came in yesterday, and I figured we could both use the time to cool off a touch.
Sunday’s on the ranch are always fast paced so I’ve hardly had a minute to think today.
As I come in the front door I find Jarrett on the couch, playing on his phone doing God knows what.
He turns and looks over his shoulder, sensing something is wrong, but doesn’t say anything.
Gearing up to tell him about Yates, I walk around to the chair across from the couch and sit. Perched on the edge, I rest my elbows on my knees and hang my head for a second.
“Alright, let’s get this over with, Reese, I’m a big boy,” he scoffs.
As if I want to have to break this news to him.
“Yates is sick,” I start, looking up at him, man to… man-child. His face is neutral, not something I expected. I knew he was a prick, but I didn’t expect him to be heartless.
“Cancer, yeah. I know,” he says, leaning back against the couch with his arms crossed over his stomach. “I’ve known since January.”
“January?”
He’s known since January and I’m just now finding out?
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, Yates isn’t a man that wants someone worrying after him.
Come to think of it, I should have known something was up when he called me about Jarrett months ago.
Now it makes sense, but I still wish he would have told me sooner.
Maybe he knew I’d take Jarrett on out of obligation, and wouldn’t have told him the truth if I had known. .
“It’s all startin’ to make sense now, huh? Why Dad called you. His disappointment when you told him no.” Jarrett huffs, and I want to reach across the space and grab his shirt in my fist. “He thinks I need a babysitter.”
“The fact that statement just came out of your mouth proves why you need a ‘babysitter’.” Quoting him with my fingers, I throw my hands up and stand. “You haven’t told anyone about this, have you?”
He eyes me like I’ve grown another head.
I know in this kind of situation most brother’s would lean on each other and talk things out, but we’re not close like that. We never have been–whether it’s because of the difference in age, or the time we simply never spent with each other–we never had the chance.
“Who do you talk to when you’re stressed, Jarrett?” I ask, suddenly picking up on the fact that Jarrett might not have any friends, or at least friends that mean anything to him. “What about when you’re upset?”
He shoots to his feet without a word and heads to the small staircase beside the kitchen door.
“Jarrett!” I holler, following behind him. He’s not getting out of this conversation. “Stop.”
He does, one foot raised above the first step. He doesn’t turn, only curls his shoulders in and whispers, “I don’t have anyone, not anymore.”
I can’t get my thoughts together fast enough to respond, and he heads up, taking the steps two at a time. He’s gone by the time what he said really sets in. Jarrett has no one to talk to? I mean, sure he’s a spoiled brat, but no friends? What does he mean not anymore?
He couldn’t mean Levi… Could he?
Looking up at the blank space where he disappeared, I debate going up there but think better of it. Deciding to sit with my thoughts on the situation, I make myself a grilled cheese. The last thing I want to do is sit in the chow house and pretend that everything’s fine.
It’s not fair to my friends, nor the trainees. They pick up on every mood change, and I’m definitely feeling moodier than I’ve been in a while.
My phone rings, and I pull it from my pocket, the number sending chills down my spine. I set it on the counter and watch as it rings and rings, until finally it forwards to voicemail. It’s the same number that’s called since my first national championship threw me into the spotlight.
Swiping the voicemail open, I hit the trashcan icon and shake off the feelings that come with it.
An unknown number pops up and I pause as it rings and vibrates against the counter. I don’t use my personal phone for the ranch, so I know it’s not business related. The hair on my arms stands up and I swipe the answer call button.
“Hello?” I answer, as if an unknown call is normal.
“He-Hey,” her voice sounds on the other side and my whole body sags against the counter. Crossing my feet at the ankles, I smile like an idiot.
“Well, well, this wouldn’t happen to be my Goldie now would it?” I tease, fully forgetting at this moment, about life’s problems.