Page 133 of Broken Dreams
My stomach clenches and I grip the back of her chair. There is a sun and something that looks like wings, and four figures on the wings, but one never knows what she’s thinking. “What is it, baby?”
“That’s me, Jett, you, and Grady on the plane.”
“Where are we going?”
She looks up. “Home.”
thirty-one
GRADY
“You’re being a dick,” Rowan says as he tosses a card down on the table.
“Seriously, more so than usual,” Brynn unhelpfully adds on.
I huff, looking at my cards to see if I can make another set if I draw from the discard pile, but there’s a king and a jack in there that I really don’t want. My family’s runs for Rummy are very different than anyone I’ve ever played with. I swear Brynn created it so she could win each time.
“I’m fine,” I say as I draw a card instead. “Why do I have to get two sets again?”
“Because that’s the Whitlock rules,” Brynlee explains. “Now, tell us why you haven’t gone sneaking off to Addison’s house in days. Did something happen in Rose Canyon?”
“It’s none of your business, Brynn.”
Dinner last night was fine. We talked as much as two people can with two three-year-olds running around and refusing to give us any privacy. Jett was in a terrible mood and I had to leave before we could talk about anything significant.
While I wanted to go back over later, I passed out with Jett on my chest after his massive crying fit.
Then this morning, she sent me a fucking email detailing what she could agree to this week. An email.
Like we’re a business arrangement.
And I only have myself to blame.
Rowan pulls from the discard pile and rearranges his hand. “That’s evasive. Is it my business, since I’m partially your boss and all?”
I glare at him. “Definitely not and you’re not my boss, asshole.”
“Well, technically, I am. You work withmyhorse onmypart of the farm. So, why don’t you take a load off your mind, son, and tell me what’s weighing you down,” my brother says with a smirk.
“Fuck off.”
“Yeah, totally not an asshole,” Brynn says with a laugh. “Grady, you can talk to us.”
No, I really can’t. The deal isn’t done, I can’t talk to Addison because I have nothing I can actually say to change things, and I fucking miss her.
I miss her and I hate that I miss her.
Explaining all of this in half-truths to my siblings isn’t going to make sense, so it’s best I just fester in the ever-remaining pain of my life when it comes to women.
Brynn picks up a card and places it back on the discard pile. “I heard that her company got a pretty amazing offer...”
I keep my eyes on my card. “Did they?” I feign ignorance.
“Yeah, when she was back home...you didn’t hear about it?” Brynlee asks, probably already knowing the answer.
“I heard something about it.”
“So what are you going to do?”
