Unfinished (The Bradshaw Brothers #2)

Prologue

Tobias

NINE YEARS AGO

A forkful of overpriced steak hovers in front of my mouth, suspended midair as I try to recover from the shock of Brooke’s admission.

Maybe she’s kidding. Giving me shit the way she always does. The woman kids around even more than I do. Normally, I love it. Love that I can be myself around her without facing judgment for being the goofy-ass joker I am.

But there’s no sign she’s holding back laughter. No slight flush of her cheeks at the hilarity she knows is about to unfold. No wiggle in her seat as anticipation builds.

I set my fork down, all interest in our celebratory dinner gone in the blink of an eye. “Are you serious?”

Brooke nods, her expression turning cautious. “I thought you might be excited.”

“Excited you’re moving?” I lean back in my seat, picking my whiskey neat up from the table and downing the rest in one go. “California is a long way away.”

“I thought…” Her eyes leave mine, dropping to watch the tines of her fork prod the baked potato in front of her. “I thought maybe you’d want to come with me.”

“Why would—” I start to ask why she’d think I would move to California, but stop myself.

Because I know why she’d think that.

I talk a lot of shit about my family. Nothing mean.

Nothing terrible. I just like to bitch about them.

I’ve got a lot of first world problems, including my mother being one of the most recognizable women in America.

I can’t go anywhere without someone telling me how amazing she is.

How she taught them everything they know about cooking and decorating and hosting.

About how I’m so fucking lucky she’s my mom.

And I am.

I love my mom. I love my brothers. I love my life. I just sometimes wish it wasn’t quite so…

Predetermined.

“I can’t move to California with you, Brooke.”

I like when life is easy. When it just flows. That’s how things have been between Brooke and me for the past year. We were both finishing our degrees. Having fun. Getting to know each other.

But apparently that’s over now, and the realities of life are smacking me in the face. Right here over our ‘yay we graduated’ dinner.

“Why not?” Brooke seems genuinely confused. Like she thinks our twelve-month relationship has set a foundation we can build on.

But college life and real life are two totally different things. And my real life was decided a long time ago.

“Because we don’t really know each other.” The words taste a little like a lie, and I yank at the collar of my shirt as I start to sweat. “We aren’t even ready to be living together here in Wyoming, nevermind moving to a different state together.”

Brooke’s dark brows lift, like I just keep surprising her.

And not in a good way.

“Oh.” She pulls in a shaky breath. “I thought—” She stares at the candle flickering between us for a few seconds before pushing her chair back. “I think I need to go.”

“Brooke.” I stand as she does. “Don’t leave. Not like this.”

Her eyes come to mine. “Would it be better for you if I got angry? Told you you’re going to regret this one day?

” Brooke shakes her head. “Because I’m not gonna do that.

” She stands taller, chin lifting. “You either want me enough to take a risk, or you don’t.

” She lifts one shoulder in a small shrug.

“And if you don’t want me enough to take a risk, then I’m glad you’re telling me now. ”