Page 16 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

“I will once you stop acting like one.”

“You know what’s funny?” I ask, mirthlessly. “You’re the asshole that wanted me to hire her. I think you even alluded to the fact that she and I might be a good match. Now look at you, you two-faced son of a bitch. What’s your problem.”

“My problem is that you’re taking it a step too far, Billy. Christ, next thing I know you’re going to be asking her to live with you, for God sake!”

I pause, worrying that he’ll read more into this, and I’m sunk.

He senses my pause. “You were going to ask her to stay over, weren’t you.”

“No.” I lie.

“Bullshit.”

“If I did, dipshit, don’t you think she’d be at my place now?” I point out.

“It was a tough call, wasn’t it.” He guesses.

I go for coy. “You think you know me so well.”

“I’m right, Billy.” He says, matter-of-factly, pissing me off.

I’m not quite defeated, but my older brother can smell a rat from a mile away. “Well, so what if I did, hm? I made the right call. She’s not at my place.”

“But if it weren’t for me, you’d be at her taillights.”

“So?”

“So, you would have caved and asked her to stay over.”

“And so what if I did? She’s living in her fucking car, Cassidy, remember?”

“Is that your problem?”

“I just made it my problem by hiring her. How shitty do you think I’m going to feel knowing that she’s sleeping in her fucking car, while I’m lying in my soft, warm bed, safe and sound? Did you ever consider that?” I practically shout, and then I feel even braver. “And she’s right, you know. She told me I worry too much about what people think.”

“It’s your job to worry, Billy, considering that these people you claim you shouldn’t be worrying about are the ones that will be lining your pockets once this ranch is built.”

“Bullshit!” I bellow. “I don’t need any of their business! Hell, I can advertise in goddamn Dallas! Fuck them all here in Copper Cove! I don’t need any of them!”

He laughs, pissing me off. “You like her.”

“Fuckoff. No, I don’t.”

“Then why did you hire her?”

I suck my teeth. “I like her enough to hire her, but I don’t like her the way that you mean, dick head.”

“What’s the difference?” He tests.

“If you have to ask, you’re even more of a fool than I thought.” I say as I pull up to my house. “Now, let me go, man. I’m tired, pissed off, and I’ve got builders coming in five and a half hours.”

“As long as you promise to keep your head on straight.”

“Fine. I’ll behave like an asshole, and watch her head into her car to live, meanwhile I’m all toasty and warm in my house. Sure. I can stomach that.”

“Good.” He says facetiously. “You do anything stupid and I’ll talk to mama and daddy.”

“So, you’re really going to be two-faced about it, aren’t you.”

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