CHAPTER FOURTEEN #2
“You done?” Matt snarked. “Like my brother said, we’ve got shit to do. So, unless you want to dish out any more unwarranted advice, I’ll be getting back to work.”
No one uttered a word as Matt stormed off, but there were plenty of looks exchanged. It wasn’t like his brother to get angry. He was normally the one winding everyone up, not being wound himself.
Shit. Somethings going on.
Wade clearly needed to talk to him. Now wasn’t the time though. Not when he had access to power tools. His brotherly advice would have to wait.
***
W ade’s gut churned as he reread the message Riley had just sent him.
Riley: Can we talk?
He still didn’t know how three simple words could feel like such a punch to the stomach, yet they did.
Trying his best to think back over the past few days, he wondered if he’d missed something.
They’d spent the whole weekend together after their visit to her parents.
She’d been in his bed two nights in a row.
Then on Monday she’d had plans with Bella, so they didn’t see each other.
And now it was Tuesday. He was coming up blank.
Nothing had drastically changed since he kissed her goodbye yesterday morning.
“Everything okay?” Matt asked as he eyed the phone that was still in Wade’s hand.
“Yeah.” He waved him off before slipping the device back into his pocket.
Not forgetting what had happened at the barn last night, Wade had invited Matt to lunch. They were currently sat in Molly’s red booths, digging into delicious food.
“So.” Wade’s elbows hit the metal table as he leaned forward. But he didn’t get any more words out as Matt was quick to cut him off.
“So?” Matt eyed him suspiciously. “So...what?”
He wasn’t going to make this easy it would seem.
“What was that the other night?”
“What was what the other night?” Was Matt’s smartass reply.
Wade sighed, not hiding his frustration. “You gonna answer every question I ask with a question?”
“Maybe,” his brother scoffed. “That all depends on what fucking inane questions you plan on asking me.”
Perfect. He’d be having a side of stubborn asshole with his burger.
“How about we start with what the hell is going on with you and Melody?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Another sigh, this one louder. “It means— I’m getting the distinct feeling things aren’t exactly fine and dandy .”
Matt didn’t reply. Instead, his gaze traveled around the bright red and whitewashed walls of the diner. Then on to the people scattered in pleather booths along the window opposite them. After a painfully slow perusal, his eyes finally swung back to him. And when they did, Wade could see the pain.
“Talk to me,” Wade said again. “What’s going on?”
“I just,” Matt paused, his gaze dropping to his soda glass, “I can’t give her what she wants.”
“And what’s that?” This would be so much easier if his brother just spat it out. Both their food was getting cold.
“Same thing most chicks want,” he tsked, “a ring, a house, kids and shit.”
“ Kids and shit ?” Wade repeated, resisting the urge to shake his head. “So, you don’t want that with her or you don’t want that with anyone?”
This was like getting blood from a fucking stone.
Matt shrugged. “All I know is that I don’t want it with her.”
Ouch.
“Then you need to tell her.”
“Oh yeah, that’s gonna go really well. So, Melody, I know we’ve been together five years and everything, but I think we should call it quits. Mostly ‘cause I don’t wanna marry you and I don’t want you to be the mother of my children .”
Wade flinched. That was harsh. The truth, but so dang harsh.
“There are better ways of putting it, Matt, and you know it. What else is holding you back?”
His brother was a straight shooter. It wasn’t often he’d bite his tongue. Which meant there was something else stopping him from telling Melody the truth.
Matt’s eyes hit the table again, this time they were on his plate as he pushed what was left of his fries to one side. “She was with me before the accident,” he muttered. His voice so quiet, it could have been a whisper.
“So?”
“ So? ” Matt returned, clearly agitated. “She stuck by me. Was loyal. Don’t forget, we got together when I was someone . A bull rider. Then after the accident, she ended up with some fucking broken cowboy. And she still stayed.”
Just the mention of the accident had Wade’s fists clenching.
Years ago, Matt had broken his ribs in a competition, which wasn’t unusual for a bull rider.
That wasn’t the issue. A week after he was injured, his manager convinced him to ride another rodeo because he had a sponsor coming.
It was safe to say it didn’t end well. In fact, his brother was lucky to be alive.
Wade downed his drink in an attempt to wash away some of the bitterness now tinging his tongue.
“You get it now?” Matt asked.
Oh, he got it alright. Good old guilt was keeping them together.
Wade clinked his glass down. “I get it. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay.
” He pinned his brother with a serious stare.
“Melody doesn’t give two shits about you being a bull rider.
You were only together for a few months before the accident so really, for the majority of your relationship this is who you’ve been. ”
When Matt’s gaze went back to his plate, Wade decided to try and lighten the mood. “I wouldn’t go as far to say you’re broken though...that’s a little fucking dramatic...a rancher who’s only kind of bad at his job maybe, but not broken.”
He didn’t miss his brother’s lips kick up at the sides. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yup. You gonna talk to Melody?”
Matt nodded but didn’t say anymore. That was good enough for Wade. One problem dealt with, now he had to work out what was going on with his own relationship. Talking of which, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and shot Riley a message.
Wade: On my way back to the ranch now. You still going to be doing laundry at my place this afternoon?
Three little dots appeared right away.
Riley: Yes, I’m on my way.
Wade’s stomach flip-flopped. Please don’t be anything bad. Because a one-week relationship wouldn’t just be pathetic, it would be so damn typical of his luck.