Chapter 10 Sutton
Sutton
“Brother, we’ve got a slight problem,” Case says by way of a greeting as I walk in the front door after work.
“OK. First things first, is it the ranch, the weddin’, or the donkey?” I joke as I put my messenger bag down on the dining table. Moving into the kitchen, I make a beeline for the coffee machine.
I’ve got just enough time to have a shower and get changed before I’m due to meet up with Blair for the promised bunker tour.
It’s not exactly the kind of date I’d ever imagined going on but when I saw how interested she was in Gramps and his stockpiles, I couldn’t say no. I figure we’ll just incorporate the bunker tour with showing her the rest of the ranch. Well, as much as we can see in a few hours.
After our hiking date on Sunday, I figure I’m willing to do just about anything if it means spending more time getting to know her.
“Can you tell me while I get ready? I’m meetin’ Blair soon.”
“Sutt, you’re as subtle as a neon billboard. We know y’all are datin’. Jude told us when we got home on Sunday. He said, and I quote ‘y’all better add Blair as Sutt’s plus one to the weddin’. Romance is afoot’.”
I cock my head. “Romance is a what now?”
“You heard me,” Case replies with a knowing grin. “Just know that we know, Sutt. You really thought Jude–the brother that always ran to Mom to tattle on us would keep a secret?”
I shrug. “He said he would,” I mutter.
“His brain works a mile a minute. He could say that and in the very next breath, forget all about it. Anyway, that’s not the point. You think Blair’s your One?” Nodding, I return to making my coffee before turning round to face my twin. “Were you goin’ to tell me?” he asks quietly.
“You didn’t already sense it?”
“Sutt, it doesn’t matter if I knew it. You’re closest to me. We share everythin’, remember. I thought we did, anyway,” he says.
“You’re busy with the weddin’ and Isla. I would’ve told you when I knew for sure.”
“OK. I hope that’s the truth. Doesn’t matter what’s happenin’ in my life, nothin’s changed between us, Sutt.
It’s never goin’ to. I hope you know that.
” His lips curl up into a grin. “I’m still here.
I just have a bonus Isla by my side.” I chuckle and shake my head.
“When did you think it might be her?” he asks.
“If I’m bein’ honest, probably the day I first saw her in the garden. When did I know for sure? That would’ve been on our hikin’ date.”
He nods. “OK. I get it. As long as you know that it doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doin’, you can always talk to me. Nothin’s changin’ here except I’m gettin’ married.”
“Case, you know that it’s inevitable that our relationship is goin’ to be different. Before Isla, it was always you and me. Now, it’s you and her.” He opens his mouth to argue but shuts it again when I pin him with a stare. “It’s OK, Case. It’s the circle of life and all that.”
“Still,” he huffs. “You could’ve told me about Blair before Jude. I mean… Jude? Really? Do you know how much he’s been teasin’ me?”
Just the thought of Jude lording it over Case has me biting back a laugh. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.” I sigh. “I guess I didn’t want–”
“The pressure that comes with us knowin’ it’s your turn and wantin’ you to experience the happiness we’ve found?” he says, summarizing my thoughts out loud.
“It’s kind of creepy when you two do that,” Will says, walking into the room.
Case smirks. “Shouldn’t you be used to it by now.”
Will takes a stool at the island. “How ‘bout you make me one of those,” he says, gesturing to my coffee mug, “then at least I’ll have somethin’ to drink while you tell us why you’re suddenly keepin’ things to yourself.”
“Since you asked so nicely,” I shoot back.
“Sutt, please can you make me one of those delicious brews of yours. It tastes better when you do it,” he asks, making a whole show out of it.
I snort and turn back to my twin’s expensive coffee machine that looks out of place in our barely-renovated ranch kitchen. Lucky for me, Will doesn’t keep pushing about the Call.
“You ready for next weekend?” Case asks Will.
“For our last big hurrah before we marry the love of our lives? Absolutely.”
Case grins. “Yep. Jude and Wy have planned it all. They’ve been talkin’ about it all mornin’. I will say, the more I hear, the more I worry.”
“They won’t tell me anythin’, so I can’t help you,” I reply. “They think that because Case and I share a brain–their words–he’ll find out through twin telepathy or somethin’.”
Will rubs his chin and nods. It’s almost like he agrees with their reasoning. “I figured you two just know what the other is thinkin’, not that you can read each other’s thoughts.”
Case and I share a look before we both slowly swivel our heads to our big brother. “We’ll never tell,” we both say in perfect synchronicity.
“OK, stop. That’s just scary.”
We shrug, mirroring each other’s movements on purpose just to keep freaking Will out.
Then I remember what Case said when I first got here. “Hey, you never said what the problem was.”
“Isla had lunch with Blair yesterday.”
I nod. “Yeah, she said somethin’ about that last night.”
“The thing is, she thinks she might’ve let it slip about the whole Call thing. Maybe…” He frowns. “She’s not sure, though. Regardless, the lunch ended with Iz givin’ her one of Aster’s books to read.”
I freeze and gape at him. “You didn’t think you should maybe lead with that, Case?”
He shrugs, a slow-growing smirk appearing. “To be fair, I did. You were just hell bent on getting a caffeine hit.”
I let that slide. “What do you mean that she might’ve let it slip? There’s a big difference between tellin’ her or maybe tellin’ her or not being sure whether she told her.”
“You’ll have to ask her about that, and sorry to say, she’s workin’ late tonight.”
My mind is racing with a bunch of what ifs.
Thankfully my steady, logical oldest brother speaks up.
“If she hasn’t said anythin’ to you about it, then I’d say that’s a good sign.
Don’t you think?” He holds his hand up in the air.
“I’m no expert on women. I just know Birdie and that’s all I care about But surely if you find out that you’re the destined soulmate of the man who not only crushed on you from afar in college but who you’re also datin’ now, you’d be knockin’ on the door or, at the very least, givin’ him a phone call to say ‘Hey, want to hear somethin’ wild? ’.”
“A call about the Call?” Case snickers.
Will words slowly register and my head snaps his way. “You know about college?”
Will’s eyes are gentle. “Sutt. You came home that summer like a beaten down puppy with his tail between his legs. When you went back for the next year, you were a man on a mission. You were on your meds, you were startin’ therapy, and you were ready to reclaim your life.
When I heard that Blair was the woman you wanted to meet but your anxiety held you back, I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. ”
I sigh. Of course he knew.
“She hasn’t mentioned anythin’. So maybe she doesn’t know.”
“What do I do about it then? Do I tell her?”
“Hell no!” Case says at the same time Will replies, “Hell yes.”
I look between the two of them. “Great help, guys. Thanks.”
Then I remember what I learned at the Lake. “Do you know that an online psychic reading played a big part in her acceptin’ her uncle’s offer to come here?”
“No way,” Case says. “Then there’s no doubt about it. It’s your time, brother.” He smiles over at me. “You deserve it.”
Will cocks his head. “What did the readin’ say?”
I shrug. “Somethin’ about there bein’ a fresh outlook and new opportunities on the horizon for her.”
“That’s why she chose to leave her life behind and come here?” Will says with a frown.
“By the sounds of it, she didn’t have much of a life outside of work other than her two best friends,” I explain. “She’s dedicated everythin’ to her career. She hasn’t had much time for anythin’ else.”
“Sounds like me before I moved here,” Will replies.
Case nods and I can tell he’s connected the dots. “You think she’s searchin’ for somethin’?”
“Seems that way.”
He gives me a pointed look. “And that brought her to you.”
“To the ranch,” I specify.
“No, Sutt. It brought her to you. The prophesy isn’t just about rewardin’ us for protectin’ the land. It’s also about bringin’ two people on a journey together, findin’ somethin’ they can only find in each other,” Case explains.
“Like you and Iz?”
“Yeah.” His voice is so soft I can feel the peace and happiness he found with Isla.
“What about you?” I ask Will.
“Birdie and I found the person to balance us out,” he answers honestly.
“Damn that’s sappy as hell,” Case replies. “Quick, write that down for your weddin’ vows.”
Will puffs out his chest. “I’ll have you know I wrote mine weeks ago.”
“OK, we’re goin’ a bit off track. Sutt, if Blair’s your One, what are you goin’ to do about it?” Case asks.
I stop and think about his question. I can’t very well just blurt it out to her, can I? Just the thought is enough to give me hives.
What if she thinks it’s a joke? What if she freaks out and runs for the hills–or worse–back to Minnesota? What if I miss my chance with her because of it?
My chest tightens and my eyesight blurs a little.
“Hey,” Case says, stepping up and putting his hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t have to do anythin’ right now.
I just wanted to give you a head’s up that she might figure it out soon.
For all we know, she hasn’t even started readin’ the book.
Even if she has, it doesn’t mean she’ll put two and two together. There’s no pressure. You’ve got time.”
I take a slow deep breath, closing my eyes while I try to will my heart to stop beating its way out of my chest.
“Have you invited her to be your date to the weddin’?” Will asks.
“No… should I? I figured one of the women would’ve invited her.”
Both of my brothers look at me like I’ve grown two heads. “Women love weddin’s,” Case says. “And I invited her the day she arrived. But that's nothin’ compared to having the man she’s interested in ask her to accompany him. C’mon, Sutt. You’re a smart man,” he adds.
Will’s eyes widen as he listens to my twin’s advice. “I can’t believe I’m sayin’ this, but Case is right.”
“Wait, can you say that again,” Case says with a laugh. “I need to record that as evidence.”
Will flips him off. “Shut it.” He turns his gaze back to me.
“You are not the same guy who wouldn’t dare speak to a woman like Blair at one point.
You know who you are now and what you want.
I’m guessin’ you even know who you want now.
She’s here for a while, Sutt. You’ve got time.
Don’t let the Call distract you from gettin’ to know each other and lettin’ whatever is goin’ to happen, happen.
” I nod, taking their words to heart. “Besides, the journey is half the fun. Just enjoy the ride.”
“While we all sit back and watch it happen,” Case adds.
I shoot him an arched brow. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”
“Oh, it’s good. For us, anyway,” he laughs. “Hell, you bought her underwear and hikin’ boots. You’re probably already halfway there without even knowin’ it.”
“Without knowin’ what?” Wyatt asks as he and Jude appear out of nowhere.
“Nothin’,” we reply at the same time before looking between each other and laughing, leaving Jude and Wy looking confused as hell.
Funnily enough, that just makes us laugh even more.