Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Tap.
Tap.
Faith opened her bleary eyes and glanced around her room. It was dark and she still had the remnants of a headache. Something had woken her up, but her sleep had been restless. Dreamless. She sat up and placed her head in her hands, rubbing the heel of her palm to her forehead.
Tap, Tap.
Her head snapped up and she looked toward her window.
Tap.
She climbed out of bed and approached the window cautiously. But when she looked down below her window, her anxiety drifted away. In its place was a longing she wouldn’t be able to rid herself of in this lifetime or the next.
Brent stared up at her window, his brows furrowed. In the dark, she wasn’t sure he could see her. He lowered his gaze to his hand, and his fingers seemed to be fumbling before he moved one hand to the other. Then he pulled back his arm and flung a pebble at her window.
Tap.
Then another.
Tap.
She couldn’t help but smile. How long had he been out there, trying to get her attention?
How long until he gave up? But the biggest question of all was what did he want?
She’d only stayed at the arena long enough to find out his score.
He’d done amazingly and based on everything she knew about the sport, he’d likely won.
The longer she stared down at him, the more her heart squeezed. The part of her that wanted to go down to him and pull him in for a hug warred with the scared little girl who didn’t know if they were still friends.
It had been easier being the quiet girl who didn’t get paid any attention. She could slip through unnoticed by everyone—including the man she’d had a crush on for ages. She’d been able to admire him from afar. It had been bliss.
Until she’d gotten a taste for more.
Now she craved him more than ever and yet she wasn’t sure he was going to be hers. That solitary fact was what kept her rooted to her spot as she studied him.
He didn’t seem to be losing his focus.
Tap, Tap, Tap.
Both hands fell to his sides and he moved closer to the house where the landscaping would allow him to seek out additional stones.
With a sigh, she pulled away from the window and retrieved her robe.
Cinching it tight around her waist, she moved through the quiet house until she exited out the front door.
She could still hear the little taps as he tossed more pebbles at her window.
And when she rounded the side of the house, her breath caught.
There was something to be said about the way her body reacted to him when he was close enough to touch, to smell. The need to wrap herself in his arms was even worse than her desire to comfort him.
Because that was what he clearly needed.
Even from here, she could see the drawn expression on his face.
She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d been crying.
She’d never fully understand what he had gone through and while she would like to think she would have taken news like this in stride, she couldn’t speak for Brent.
His story was different. This wasn’t just about discovering he had another father.
This was about the fact that his father had been a dreamer like him. Brent had lost more because of that.
“Brent?” she asked.
He startled and whirled toward her. “Faith?”
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her robe. “What are you doing here?”
One second, his expression was unreadable. And in the very next it crumpled. She closed the distance between them and threw her arms around his shoulders. He melted into her, burying his face into her neck as he held onto her as tight as if she was the only thing that could save him.
Faith lost track of how long they stood there before she gently led him to the steps of her home. She’d let him expel all the unwanted emotion he’d been bottling up since the discovery. When he was ready to talk, he’d say something and not a second sooner.
At some point he’d rested his head in her lap, and she busied herself with running her fingers through his hair.
His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke up. “Did you know my dad broke his first record at seventeen?”
Her movements paused for a moment before she continued running her fingers through his strands. “I didn’t.”
Brent’s voice sounded hollow. “I know Tripp is dealing with a lot right now, but it’s not the same and I feel like a horrible person for even thinking it.
” He pinched at the fabric of her robe, his eyes glazed over as he continued.
“I didn’t just lose the life I thought I had.
I lost a piece of me that died when he did.
Does that make sense? I love my dad. Heaven knows he didn’t have it easy raising Tripp and me.
And I’ll always respect him for that. But if I had known.
If I knew that Louis Brent was my dad? I would have… ”
“You would have what, Brent?” she whispered.
He went deathly still.
“Would you have gone against your mother’s requests and claimed you were adding to your father’s legacy without caring about the consequences?
Or would you have been okay with simply knowing?
” She wasn’t trying to make him feel like his emotions weren’t warranted.
It was an honest question because she didn’t know which path he would have taken.
“I know that after making this discovery you feel your life was cheapened somehow. But think about it really hard. You have two parents who loved you so much that they wanted to save you from that reality.”
“You don’t know that was why they did it,” he croaked, but at least he didn’t sound angry.
“No,” she agreed, “but I’d like to think that one day when I’m a mother I’ll be able to keep my children safe from harm. Emotional. Physical. There’s so much in the world that can hurt us. I’m sure it was incredibly difficult to make that decision.”
He remained quiet in the moments following her statement. The silence stretched so long that she almost thought he might have fallen asleep.
“Brent?”
He hummed.
“You won, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question. And the only reaction she got was Brent pausing his own fidgeting.
“Yeah, I did.”
“Congratulations.”
He was quiet again for a long beat before he sat up and stared at her. “I wish you would have stayed.”
She pinched her lips to the side. “I didn’t think you wanted me there.”
Brent grimaced then dragged a weary hand down his face. “I’m so sorry. None of this is your fault. You were just… I didn’t like that you…”
Faith pressed two fingers to his lips and offered him a sad smile. “I still kept it from you when I should have said something. For that, I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize. I should have never—”
“You don’t know how much I regretted keeping that information to myself, Brent. There were so many times when I thought it would just be better if I could tell you and get it all out in the open. I wish I would have.”
His huff of laughter was void of any true amusement. “Then I guess we’re both dealing with regrets tonight.”
“I guess so.”
He searched her eyes, his expression solemn.
Then he lifted a hand to her cheek and grazed his thumb against her cheekbone.
“You have been one of the only steady people in my life—one who knew from the start what I wanted and refused to judge me for it. I think when you pulled away from me and told me to leave it all behind, it did something to my heart.”
“I’m so sorry, Brent,” she rasped, her hand covering his.
He shook his head again. “No more apologies. I just wanted to get my thoughts out there so you understood. But then you’ve never really had a problem understanding where people are coming from.”
She smiled at his compliment, then tugged his hand to her lap and stared at it as she thought about what she needed to say next. “Have you talked to your parents at all? To get their side of things?”
“You sound like Tripp.” Brent attempted to pull his hand free, but she tightened her hold on him.
“I mean it, Brent. You should hear them out. Even if it’s just to get some closure. You can’t purge people from your life just because you feel betrayed. Clinging to those poisonous feelings will only bring you misery.”
“I’m already pretty miserable. I won that gat dang competition and I couldn’t share the news with anyone.”
“You shared with me.”
He flicked his eyes to her. “You know what I mean. And to make things worse? Lonestar Threads wants to sponsor me.”
She gasped and jumped to her feet with a squeal before knocking his shoulder with the back of her hand. “Brent! Way to bury the lead! That’s amazing! They’re the biggest advertisers for almost every event, aren’t they?”
He nodded slowly. “I don’t know if I’m going to take it.”
Faith didn’t think it was possible for her eyes to widen any further, but she knew better than to prod him on this now. He was dealing with his own personal crisis. Before she had a chance to ask him what his next steps would be, he spoke up.
“Do you think if I went to talk to my folks, you could come with?”
Faith winced when Brent gripped her hand a little tighter.
They sat across from his parents even though it was the middle of the night.
Brent hadn’t wanted to lose his nerve and he’d insisted that his parents wouldn’t mind being pulled out of bed since according to Tripp no one was getting any sleep.
Tripp was of course gone on his honeymoon, but he’d checked in with Brent when they’d arrived in Georgia.
Brent eased his grip on her after her reaction and mumbled an apology.
The way they were sitting mirrored his parents. Heather appeared as though she hadn’t slept for even an hour since the news came out. Judd was haggard, but there were no signs of emotion on his face.
Heather cleared her throat. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you.
We just thought…” She shut her eyes and tears spilled down her cheeks.
“I didn’t want you to look at your father any differently.
I didn’t want you having nightmares about the man who sired you.
I know it’s irrational, but I thought that if I could give you the perfect childhood, then one day I’d tell you about him. About Louis.”
Based on the way Brent’s grip tightened yet again, Faith could tell he didn’t like that answer.
“I deserved to know who my father was.” His eyes darted to Judd apologetically.
“My other father,” he corrected. “You knew how much I loved the rodeo. You knew it was something I wanted to do for myself. And yet you kept it from me. Kept him from me. I don’t know how my life might have been different if I’d known, but I deserved the courtesy to make my own choices.
Especially after I became an adult. Instead, you backed me into a corner and told me I couldn’t compete if I wanted to remain part of this family.
What would my father have said to that?”
Both Heather and Judd flinched. It wasn’t much, but it was also everything. Brent relaxed somewhat.
“What about his family? We never interacted with other aunts and uncles. No other grandparents.”
“Louis was brought up in the foster system. He didn’t really have family.
I think that was one of the reasons the rodeo called to him.
He saved every penny he got from competitions and the jobs he could get to buy gear and enter more competitions.
Nothing was free. Every ounce of talent came from his own blood, sweat, and tears. ”
Pride flickered across Brent’s features which spurred a small smile from Heather. She reached across the coffee table and placed a hand on his knee. No one was more surprised than Faith that Brent didn’t withdraw from his mother’s touch.
“We met at the rodeo. I fell in love with him almost instantly.” She glanced at Judd.
“Louis was my first love. He made me a believer. He was the reason I picked up and moved with him. We were going to be together forever.” Her voice cracked.
“We had dreams of living out of an RV that he’d fix up.
Of owning a food truck we could take on the road.
It was all mapped out.” Tears fell fresh down her cheeks.
“He was the best. There was never a horse that he couldn’t handle.
And then one day he didn’t get up.” She pressed a trembling hand to her lips.
“Seconds, Brent. My whole life changed in mere seconds. And I vowed I’d never feel that hopeless again.
I had to pick myself up and move on. I had to keep living for Tripp, for you.
Happiness wasn’t even a blip on my radar…
until Judd made me believe love was possible again.
” Love shone in their eyes and Faith had to fight her own tears.
“I know this isn’t easy and we didn’t go about this the right way, but please believe me when I tell you how sorry we are.
If I could go back and do things differently, I would.
I wouldn’t have succumbed to my own demons while making excuses that it was for your benefit.
” Heather withdrew her hand and swiped at her face. “You deserved better, Brent.”
He remained stoic as he took in what his mother was saying. Then he nodded to both of his parents. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to let these things simmer a bit.”
Heather looked like her heart had been broken yet again, but she nodded grimly at him. Judd did the same. And Brent stood, taking Faith with him.
“I’m going to take Faith home.” Brent started moving toward the door.
“Will you come back?”
They both paused at her words. Then Brent let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, I’ll sleep here tonight.”
Faith was quiet on the drive home. She was quiet when he walked her to her door. And she remained quiet as Brent kept hold of her hand, not letting her slip away.
“Can I see you tomorrow?”
She bit back a smile. “It’s already tomorrow, Brent.”
A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. “Later, then?”
Faith tilted her head to the side. “I think I’d like that.”
“Good.” Then Brent surprised her by releasing her hand only to frame her face with both of his. He pressed the gentlest kiss to her lips. It was a barely-there kiss, but in that moment, it was everything.
It was a promise of healing.
A promise of more to come.
A promise of a new beginning.