Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Beckett
The knock at my door nearly made me jump out of my skin. It was barely a few minutes after sunrise. There shouldn’t be anyone on my front porch.
I unlocked the deadbolt and yanked the door open, ready to yell at whoever was stupid enough to bother me this early.
Thatcher stood there, a shit-eating grin on his face. He stepped inside before I had the chance to slam the door in his face.
“Morning.” A gruff greeting, despite his smile.
“Morning.” I closed the door behind him and crossed my arms. “You’re here?” I had zero desire to talk to another human being just yet, and my tone made that clear.
My younger brother laughed. “Yeah, I’m here. You’re quick this morning.” Thatch helped himself to a mug from the cabinet and poured from the carafe. “Need me to make you another pot?” He grinned again as he took a sip.
“Is there a specific reason why you’re here at the ass crack of dawn?”
Thatcher leaned back against the counter and shook his head. “Not really.”
“Then what’s up?” I hadn’t moved from my spot at the front door.
“How were the trails?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Fine. Only a couple of them need heavy work but the two we discussed opening first should be good to go by the end of this week.”
Something else was bothering him, though. He knew I would tell both him and Noah about the trails at our meeting later today.
Thatcher nodded. “That’s good.”
“Anything else?”
He took another drink before he set the mug on the counter. “Are you sleeping with Clara?”
The sudden change of topic and the sound of her name coming out of his mouth had me almost take a step back. “Excuse me?”
“Are you?” Thatcher held my gaze. He was unflinching – that stamina to hold his ground came from years of us roughhousing and me generally being bigger and a little bit meaner.
“Why the fuck do you think it’s any of your business who I am or am not sleeping with?”
“Usually, I don’t care. But … it’s Clara.”
“Exactly. Why do you –”
Thatcher cut me off. “Because, you dumbass. She’s your best friend and basically my sister.
I was at the barn the other night and saw her drive out of here like a bat out of hell, then Noah told me how he found ya’ll on the couch, and this is the first chance I’ve had to make sure you’re not using her – not that I really believe you would, but like I said,” he shrugged.
“It’s Clara and I’m looking out for her like we always have. ”
Oh.
My anger and annoyance deflated.
“I appreciate you doing that – even if your decision to barge in and ask questions before my coffee has kicked in pisses me off and was a risky move to your health. And no, we haven’t had sex.”
It wasn’t a lie, technically.
“Good. Don’t fuck around or mess up that friendship, Beck. I’ll beat the crap out of you if you hurt her.”
I almost laughed. Almost. Thatcher had never been able to beat me when we fought as kids or teens, but his concern was appreciated. He and Noah had helped warn a few of Clara’s boyfriends about what would happen if they treated her poorly.
I decided that earned him the truth.
Still in my spot by the front door, I crossed my arms before I confessed. “I’m in love with her, Thatch.”
A goofy smile spread across his face. He took a seat at the small table I kept near the window. “Fucking finally.”
What? “Excuse me?”
“You’ve always been in love with her, you know.”
I was done with this conversation. “Is there any other reason you came over this early in the morning, or was it just to annoy and threaten me?”
“Nah, that’s about it. And the trails.” Thatcher took another sip of the coffee before he put it down again. I waited, knowing him well enough that there was more coming.
“You gonna tell her?”
I would, of course. There was no way in hell I’d be able to keep it to myself now that I’d finally realized it.
“When I’m ready, yes.” I glared at Thatcher’s stupid, grinning face. “You’re going to keep it to yourself, yeah?” My words came out more as a threat than a question.
Thatch shrugged. “I’ve known for years, and kept my lips zipped, don’t worry.”
“Good.” I crossed the room and sat across from him “Finish your coffee, clean your mug, and get out. It’s too early for this shit.” I was ready to either kick him out or change the topic.
Thatch laughed. “Sure thing, big bro.”
I barely paid attention to my brother as he sat there, watching me for whatever reason. But I did figure out a plan for what to do about Clara.
Thatch left after cleaning his mug, and I followed after him, grabbing my keys, phone, wallet, and secured on a baseball cap instead of my usual hat. My first step wasn’t on the ranch.
Nerves prickled along my skin, an unfamiliar sensation. I had no idea if I was about to do the right thing or completely implode our friendship. But no matter what happened, Clara needed to know, and I needed to know if she felt the same.