Page 138 of Stealing Sunshine

“I’m not a town gossiper, Daisy.”

“The only person I told was Kiki. That’s it.”

“And Bryce? Who did she tell?”

I smooth the blanket over my thighs. “Poppy.”

“Did she tell Garrison?” he asks, hurt panging in his voice.

With how close he is with the grumpy billionaire, I can understand where that hurt comes from.

“Not as far as I know. She didn’t tell anyone. Even him.”

He doesn’t appear relieved. “So, Poppy could be trusted not to tell her boyfriend, but I couldn’t be trusted not to tell my girlfriend?”

“Please just stop. You’re allowed to be upset, but I didn’t do anything to hurt you on purpose. And honestly, this isn’t even about you. It’s about me and Bryce. And she’s out there taking care of this all on her own because she wanted me here to fix the relationship I have with you. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and this is only another example of why.”

Johnny glances away from me and to the mess of my books, pens, and the empty iced tea box on the coffee table that I forgot to throw out. Then, he finds the basket of blankets and the pillows between us on the couch. He touches a fringed edge ofthe one closest to him with a callused finger and releases a rough exhale.

“You’re really with her now? No more pretendin’?” he asks.

“Yes. Bryce is my girlfriend.”

“You need to tell the moms, then.”

The weight on my chest grows heavier. “I’ve got work this morning, but I’ll head over after. Do you think they’ve already heard?”

He spreads his legs further apart and bends over them, elbows digging into his thighs. The manspreading would annoy me usually, but now’s not the time.

Propping his cheek in his hand, he looks at me. “Yeah. They’ve always known everything hours before everyone else.”

“Are you going to have words with the guy who spread this?”

His grin is wicked. “Yeah, Daisy. I’ll be havin’ words with him. Carved out an entire time slot in my schedule for it.”

“I’m honoured. I know how busy you are.”

It’s only partially a joke. My brother is one of Wade Steele’s most trusted ranch hands. I’ve heard over the years about how much more responsibility he keeps handing Johnny, as if testing him or preparing him for an even bigger role on the ranch.

If there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s my brother. He’s been working on Steele Ranch since he was sixteen and hasn’t ever loved a place or a job more.

“You’re my sister, and I love you to bits,” he declares before dropping his arm to my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug.

“I love you too, J,” I whisper.

He keeps me tucked into his chest until my warning alarm goes off, letting me know I have to leave for work in fifteen minutes.

“Work,” I tell him when he sits back and arches a brow.

“Got it. I’ll go, but let me know if there’s anythin’ I can do to help get this sorted, okay? And please, for the love of God, talk to me more.”

“Communication goes both ways,” I push but eventually nod. “I’ll call you later.”

We stand, and I walk him to the door. He lingers, and I know he’s got something else he wants to say.

“Out with it, J.”

His lips tip in a tiny smile. “I’ll talk to Bryce. Apologize for blowin’ up on her.”

---