Page 81 of Rainbow Kisses

I realized we hadn’t had this discussion the whole time she’d been with me. I’d been avoiding it and that was on me.

“I believe she can, yes. But I also think she has to knowwebelieve in her.”

Maddy’s gaze slipped away, and her voice went quiet. “What if I don’t?”

“Then you look your mom in the eyes, and you tell her you do. Because she needs to hear that she can. And honey, I know part of you does believe it. Just like I do.”

“Isn’t that lying?”

I thought about it for a few seconds then shook my head. “No, it’s positive reinforcement. Sometimes all you need is someone to believe in you to help you realize you can do it. Make sense?”

She really thought about that one, her gaze dropping to the floor as she chewed on her bottom lip.

“I guess. Yeah.”

“Good. The next time we visit, we’re gonna tell her exactly that. That we believe she can do it.”

She took a second then nodded, glancing up at me for a few seconds. “Sure. I can do that.”

“Good. Now, you ready to get some breakfast?”

“Yeah. I’m ready.” She grinned at me. “Love you, Uncle Bri.”

“Love you too, Mads.”

As we walked back into the bakery, I realized the decision I was going to have to make was almost here. And that avoiding it was no longer an option.

Because I was going to have to choose. And I didn’t fucking want to.

TWENTY

Rain

“So,”Rocky sat at Rowdy’s dining room table, twirling the ECHL proposal on the tabletop with one finger, “I read through the material, and it looks like a slam dunk. More visibility. More money. Higher quality of play. Why wouldn’t we want to do this? What am I not seeing?”

Rowdy, Rebel, and I exchanged a grin around the table before we all looked back at Rocky.

“When did you get so smart, Rambo?” Rowdy asked. “Must be all that Ivy League learning.”

The fifty-year-younger carbon copy of our father held his middle finger at Rowdy for the nickname he hated.

“You all can go fuck yourselves.” Rocky leaned back in his chair, sprawled like the lanky teenager he’d been a few years ago. He’d added a few pounds in the past couple of years, and now he rivaled Rebel for height and muscle. “I’m being serious. I read through everything, and it looks like a good deal on paper.”

“What about you, Reb?” Rowdy looked to his left. “How are you leaning?”

Reb had played his cards pretty close to the vest on this. Then again, he and I hadn’t spoken about it. I’d pretty much made up my mind, but we’d decided among the four of us that this had to be a unanimous decision, or we didn’t do it.

“I think it’s now or never.” Reb laid his arms on the table. “If we don’t, we’re letting fear control us.”

“Damn, Reb,” Rocky laughed, “that’s more words than I’ve heard you say at one time in years.”

“Shove it, kid.”

“What about you, Rainy Day?” Rowdy nodded in my direction. “What’s your vote?”

Damn it. I really didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to go against my brothers. But I also knew what I felt.

“I don’t think it’s right for us. Not at this time.”

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