Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Faith took a sip of her soda and for what felt like the hundredth time, she allowed herself to stare at Brent. He was hanging out with his brother and future sister-in-law. Tate was over there, too, but Jason was off dancing with some girl.
Over the last couple of days, Faith continued to kick herself for what she’d said to Brent. The conversation had been far too awkward. She couldn’t stop thinking about the surprise on Brent’s face when she’d told him that she wasn’t going to date him.
The problem was, she couldn’t tell if he was surprised because she beat him to the punch or if he was disappointed that she brought it up at all.
Was there a chance that he’d been interested in more?
Nope.
Not gonna happen.
Faith sighed and turned away from Brent resolutely.
He was cute. He listened. And boy, could he make her laugh.
But he was about as emotionally prepared for something as any of the other rodeo stars she’d met through her brothers.
They didn’t do serious. Most of those guys were far more interested in their careers and the adrenaline high they got from it.
“What’s with the face?”
Faith startled and glanced over to find Hallie watching her curiously as she pulled a can of soda from the cooler. “What?”
Hallie moved closer and pointed up at the lines that were likely carved deep between Faith’s brows. “Why the face? Someone didn’t spit in your drink, did they?”
Faith glanced over her shoulder, unsure of what to say. Hallie was outgoing. She spent time with the other girls who fawned over the rodeo stars. She could be loud at times and usually drew the attention of others.
Faith? Well, she couldn’t be more different.
Hallie snickered. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.” She turned so she could prop her hip against the table where they stood. “Close to the food. I like it. That way we can eat all we want without people noticing that we’re coming this way, right?”
Nodding, Faith allowed herself a small smile. “True. Didn’t think about that.”
Hallie twisted her waist and reached for a cookie on the tray nearest them. She took a bite and her eyes rolled back into her head. “Who was the caterer?”
“Hmm?” Faith eyed Hallie for a moment then her eyes dipped to the cookie and the rest of the spread on the table. “We didn’t hire a caterer.”
The girl reached for another cookie. “Then where did you get these? I’m going to have to order some for myself.”
“Oh.” Faith turned her attention to the crowd of people—the crowd that consisted mostly of her brothers’ friends. “I made them.”
Hallie all but choked on her third cookie. She coughed and wiped at the crumbs near her lips. “What? You’re kidding.”
Faith glanced at her again. “Nope.”
“Okay, you should sell these.”
There was nothing to do but laugh at the recommendation. Faith shook her head. “I’m good at baking exactly one thing. Those cookies. The rest? Meh.”
Hallie waved the cookie in her face and for a moment Faith wanted to ask her if she was okay.
Had she hit her head or something? But then Hallie continued to gush.
“You could make a whole business out of these cookies. Isn’t there like some business that operates in the mall just selling chocolate chip cookies? ”
Faith shrugged and once again found herself staring at Brent.
He wasn’t with his brother anymore. Instead, he was talking to her sisters. Lydia and Wren were crowding him, smiling, laughing, flirting.
A small curl of Faith’s lip must have been all that was needed to draw Hallie’s attention. Suddenly everything felt quiet and still at Faith’s side and she tensed. When she brought her attention to Hallie, she immediately regretted all her life’s choices leading up to this moment.
Hallie sported a knowing smile. They weren’t close, Faith and Hallie. But they knew of each other because of certain social circles. With Tate and Jason being well known enough in the rodeo circuit, it was difficult not to know who their sisters were.
And while Hallie’s family didn’t participate in the rodeo, that didn’t stop her from tagging along.
Faith had heard rumors about Hallie pining for a guy who competed, but Faith preferred to steer clear of town gossip.
She considered it the least she could do when there was already too many people putting their noses where they didn’t belong.
Hallie bumped her shoulder to Faith’s and nodded in Brent’s direction. Since he wasn’t in a large crowd, it wasn’t difficult to pinpoint where Faith’s attention had gone. Dang it all! Faith had told herself to stop looking at him and she hadn’t listened.
“So…” Hallie sang with obvious glee. “Looks like you have a crush on someone.”
“What? No. Why would you even say that?”
She blew out a patient sigh. “Oh, honey. I know that look. Unrequited love is the absolute worst.”
“I’m not in love,” Faith scoffed.
“Okay, unrequited attraction. Better?” Hallie didn’t even look guilty as she plucked another cookie from the tray.
When Faith gave her a disbelieving look, she only shrugged and let out a chuckle.
“The thing is, when you like someone or are interested in them and they don’t feel the same… it really sucks.”
“But I don’t—”
“Please.” Hallie gave her a pointed stare.
“What’s not to like? Okay, I mean I don’t like him because he’s my cousin.
Well, actually I was adopted so if I really wanted…
” She scrunched up her nose. “Nope. Not even going to go there.” She shuddered and Faith couldn’t help but giggle.
“Brent’s like a golden retriever. He’s loyal to an absolute fault.
He’s sweet and quiet. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice.
” Hallie tapped her finger thoughtfully.
“Yeah, nope. That man is a saint. But I don’t see him dating much. ” She dragged her eyes toward Faith.
“What?” Faith demanded. “I never said I liked him. He’s nice, like you said. But I’m not interested in dating. And even if I was, it’s not like my brothers would be willing to let me date any of their friends. So I’m just…”
“But if they would?” Hallie faced her, blocking her view from nearly everyone. She was right up close in Faith’s face, watching her, searching her. “If you could date anyone and your brothers wouldn’t throw a hissy fit, who would it be?”
Faith couldn’t help but attempt to look in Brent’s direction.
“Ha! See that? Right there. The second I asked you the question you looked for him. You sought him out.” She pulled away and folded her arms, her eyes getting a far-off look in them.
“It doesn’t get any easier, you know. Liking someone who doesn’t have the time for you.
Wanting to be that one thing he cares about more than his job.
” A catch in her voice had Faith darting a glance in her direction. Hallie was hurting.
“How long?” Faith asked.
“Hmm?”
“How long have you been interested in a guy who isn’t interested back?”
Hallie tilted her head back and stared up at the night sky. The music played from the speakers. People laughed and talked around them. No one paid them any attention. No one knew that standing right here at the refreshment table were two women whose hearts were clearly taken.
Faith waited for what felt like an eternity.
She found Brent in the crowd and at that moment he caught her gaze.
She wasn’t fast enough to look away and he winked at her.
Dumb wink. It sent hummingbirds into flight within her chest, and she was forced to tear her eyes from him so she didn’t look like a complete sap.
Finally, Hallie sighed. “Honestly, it’s been longer than I can remember. We’ve always been friends.”
“Nothing’s happened between you? Like ever?” Faith abhorred that her voice took on a hopeful quality. She didn’t want anyone to know just how much of a hopeless romantic she was. “He never asked you out?”
In the current light, Faith could barely make it out, but it was there. Hallie blushed. She refused to meet Faith’s stare even as she shook her head. “Nope. Nothing. I tried, though. Probably more times than I should have. I tried to steal a kiss once and… that didn’t end well.”
Faith shrank back into herself. She hadn’t attempted to steal a kiss from Brent, but the temptation had been incredibly hard to ignore when he’d gotten close to her.
She wanted to ask Hallie what had happened between her and the man she was talking about.
Heck, she wanted to know all the details about how Hallie managed to keep her feelings in check.
Because right about now, Faith was second guessing everything she felt.
But she didn’t. She kept all her questions to herself. And in order to get Hallie off her back, she insisted, “Brent is a friend. He’s a good guy and yes, he’s nice to look at.”
Hallie snorted but didn’t interrupt further.
“But he’s just a friend.”
The girl stared at her, searched her eyes as if she could find the lie.
Then she shrugged and heaved a sigh before grabbing one more cookie.
“A lie is still a lie no matter who you tell it to.” Then she walked away, leaving Faith to try to make sense of what she’d said.
It wasn’t a lie. Right now, Brent was a friend. And he’d remain that way.
“I see my cousin tried to steal all of the sweets you made for me.” Brent’s deep voice startled her and she squeaked out a sound that was definitely not becoming.
He reached toward the cookies, his arm brushing against hers and sending delicious shock waves of electricity humming along every nerve. She jumped backward, surprised by the reaction and stared at her arm as if expecting it to catch on fire.
That was ridiculous of course. Especially considering that Brent didn’t seem at all fazed by touching her. He flashed her one of those heart rending smiles and she gave him a weak one in return. “Yeah, your cousin seems to like the cookies as much as your brother.”
Brent scowled out at the crowd until his focus landed on Hallie who waved the last bite of her cookie in the air. “Great, now I’m really going to have to find a good hiding place when you bring me more.”
Faith laughed despite herself. “Last I checked, she doesn’t live in the same house as you.”
“No, but that doesn’t stop her from coming over and raiding my pantry. She eats like growing high school boy who plays tight end for the Varsity Team. I’m not even joking. I’m pretty sure my mom buys extra groceries just so she can make sure Hallie doesn’t clean us out.”
“Your mom sounds amazing.”
Brent’s expression softened and he slid his attention back to Faith.
“She is. My mom is the best.” Then something shifted and he looked sadder than anything else.
“Most of the time.” He heaved a heavy breath as he brushed the crumbs from his hands.
“You ever get the feeling that your family isn’t telling you everything? ”
Faith frowned. “No, why?”
“Just wondering.”
“You think that your mom is keeping something from you?”
Brent shrugged. “I don’t know. Sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud.”
Without realizing what she was doing, Faith reached out and touched Brent’s arm.
“It’s not ridiculous. Families are supposed to be the people who will do anything for us.
They’re supposed to stick up for us, comfort us, and be the first people we can trust with all our secrets.
If you feel that something doesn’t sit right, you should probably trust your gut. ”
It wasn’t until she realized that Brent wasn’t speaking that she looked down to find that she was still touching his forearm.
As if he’d burned her, she ripped her hand away from his arm.
Then she turned away and shoved her hands in her back pockets.
“Anyway…” she breathed out in a whisper, “How is training going?”
Brent startled. She caught the jerk of his body out of the corner of her eye, but she didn’t bring it up.
Instead, she waited patiently for him to tell her whatever he wanted.
Something. Nothing. She wasn’t going to pry.
There was a new sort of tension between the two of them and she definitely didn’t like it.
The easy-going conversation that flowed between them before she’d nearly kissed him was gone. And she could only blame herself.
Just when she was going to give up on him talking at all, he cleared his throat.
“It’s going well, I think. Tate has me working with that kid from the other day more often.
Turns out I’m really good at explaining things to him.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m doing all the same training or if it’s because I’m just good at relating to kids. ”
She risked a look in his direction and didn’t miss the small smile that pulled at Brent’s lips.
The man’s whole demeanor lit up when he spoke about something he loved.
Apparently, Brent had found a new interest in teaching kids.
She wanted to ask him if he’d ever done something like that before, but thought better of it.
“That’s cool. Elliott is a sweet kid. I’m glad he’s connecting with you. ”
Brent peered over at her. “Yeah, me too.” They stood like that, side by side as the party continued. Neither one of them spoke and only after a good five minutes passed without a word from either of them did Faith realize the tension had left.
It was nice having someone to stand by without having the itch to fill the silence.
Really nice.