Chapter Seven Brad #4
“Christ.” I chuckled at the phone tree of gossip.
“It was awkward,” I admitted. Dad and I were close, and I’d leaned heavily on him for advice during the divorce.
“I don’t know.” I mopped my face and let the cool breeze pass over me.
“Bree’s back in town, and now suddenly Sherry seems to want to talk.
” I looked away, knowing I still didn’t have my head 100 percent in the game, but it was straight-ish.
If I wanted a relationship with Bree, it had to be handled carefully, no matter how badly I wanted her.
“And?” Dad prompted.
“And nothing. We’re done. Sherry’s always wanted what she can’t have.”
Dad’s face twisted, and he looked over at the lake. He went to say something but seemed to change his mind and coughed. “You and Sherry were together a long time. You have history. But like you said back when you divorced, you weren’t happy in your marriage.”
“No, I wasn’t.” I shook my head and let out a long, heavy breath, hoping to shed some tension.
He leaned against the fence next to me. “So, what’s on your mind? You seem to be struggling with something. Is it Sherry?”
“It’s not about Sherry. She just feels threatened now Bree’s back.
She was always jealous of my friendship with Bree.
I’m struggling with the fact that old feelings are surfacing for Bree.
I think she’s always been the one I wanted.
I just don’t know if it’s too late to act on them now.
I’ve pushed her away so many times.” I dropped my head and closed my eyes.
“When I married Sherry, I thought it was what I needed, but now I know that wasn’t the case.
I just don’t want to mess up.” I let out a heavy sigh, feeling drained.
“Man, life’s timing is interesting, isn’t it? ”
The wood creaked when he pushed off the fence. “It is.”
“If you were me, Dad, what would you do?”
Dad removed his hat and ran his hand along the brim.
“Son, you have some healing you need to do before you let your heart decide on anything. But only you can decide if you’re ready to try again.
” He swatted his leg with his hat. “Just remember what the two of you have been through. That girl’s gone and created another life for herself elsewhere.
She might not be willing to give that up. ”
“Yeah, I know. It’s one of the things I’m worried about.” I huffed as I swatted at a horsefly. We began to slowly walk back toward his pickup truck.
“At the risk of overstepping.” He jammed his hat on his head and opened the driver’s door.
He laughed as Ginger didn’t miss a beat and jumped in and settled on the front seat with a big, jerky, tongue-lolling grin.
“Just don’t let Sherry wiggle her way back in.
We both know she’s good at getting what she wants.
” He was right. Sherry had a side of her that could be vindictive at times, and her best friend, Anna, was worse.
“It’s your life, and it’s okay not to know what the right call is right away. ”
“Yeah.” I hit my glove on his open window as he started the truck. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Anytime.” He patted Ginger’s head, then headed out toward town.
I put my tools away and checked the time. I had forty-five minutes before I needed to meet Bree. I eased myself down onto a pile of hay bales, tucked my arms under my head, and stared up at the gloomy gray sky. It wasn’t long before I drifted off to sleep.
Hot, wet air shot across my face, and my eyes jerked open as a big soft white nose touched my cheek, then flared its nostrils at me.
“Rise and shine, cowboy.” Bree smiled down at me from her saddle. “Hope you stretched, because you and I got a job to do.” I stood and blinked away the fog as I registered the rope in her hand. She led another, fully tacked horse.
“What the hell, Bree! No.”
“Partners are supposed to have each other’s backs.” She untied a black cowboy hat and tossed it at me. “And I owe my brother this.”
“And?” I grabbed my hoodie and took the lead for the horse she wanted me to ride and started walking back to her place, where I fully intended to leave the horse.
She crossed an arm over her lap as she pressed her lips together. “Are you really going to make me take this group out on my own?”
“You’re not on your own.” I looked across the lake and saw a group of horses and riders. I squinted to see the two young guys who worked for the Jaminsons. “There are at least two ranch hands with you.”
“Yes, two guys I don’t know, and look at who I have to entertain.
” She waved ahead of us as she rode next to me.
I saw four men all on their phones and a woman who looked like she’d just stepped out of a fashion show.
“They’re from New York and are being forced by their boss to be here as a bonding experience.
” She air quoted for emphasis. “Let me tell you, there’s no bonding happening whatsoever. ” She shrugged and pursed her lips.
“Are they the guys who are staying in the cabins near yours?”
“Yeah.” She stuck her bottom lip out. “And you owe me.”
“What do I owe you?”
She raised a brow. “You made me eat dinner with Sherry, and that was awkward as hell.”
Christ, she was right. That was bad. Finley came running down to greet us. “Sorry, bud, Ginger went into town.” I rubbed between his ears. “She’ll be back later.”
“Brad, please.” She sighed. “Patrick is off today, and I honestly don’t want to be alone in the woods by myself and even less so with strangers.”
Shit, she had me there. “Fine.” I tossed the hat back at her. “But I’m wearing my ball hat.”