Page 49 of Reckless and Rooted
*eye roll emoji* Yes, Dad.
Careful. It’s Daddy to you.
Felicity sends a laughing emoji, and I walk into the barn with a skip in my step. I was smart enough to grab my felt hat and jacket because the quickly approaching winter air had a bite this morning that I wasn’t quite ready for.
It feels like summer just started.
But the prospect of what is ahead gives me a thrill of hope that I haven’t had before the holidays in years. Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, and I am excited to spend it with my family and Felicity.
She may not realize we are going to spend it together, but we are. Even if it has to be late in the day after all the obligations are over, I am seeing that girl.
The barn is full of distractions, and it helps me get through the first part of my day rather quickly. I work with the wranglers to move some cattle from one pasture closer to the main part of the ranch. This is where they’ll stay for the next four months,since the grass is dying off on the other parts of the ranch, and the water will be harder to get to. CT likes to keep them close to keep his eye on them.
I get back to the barn, more than ready to get on the road to the house so I can help Graham out and finish what I am working on for Felicity. It is a surprise, one that I hope she remembers she always wanted to have.
I’m not expecting my brother, Mitch, to be waiting for me when I get to the barn.
I nod my head to him, looking around to see who’s listening, but we’re mostly alone at the end of the barn.
“What’s up?” I ask, keeping my tone casual. I know Mitch is pissed at me. Hell, I am pretty sure he hates me at this point. But I can’t go back and change the past. I can only try to do better in the future.
“Any word?” my brother of few words asks, crossing his arms and watching me untack my horse.
“Nope,” I say, though I wonder when it will happen as well. I have every intention of making sure I’m not so careless from here on out.
“He hasn’t contacted you?”
“He’d have to come here in person to do so,” I say, locking the cinch into place. “I changed my number when I left.” Mostly because the asshole destroyed my phone, and I had to get a new one, anyway. “He can’t just call me.”
“What are you going to do?”
I stop, settling a glare at my brother. “Why do you care?”
He flinches. “You’re my brother.”
“Oh, really?” I say, feeling that familiar anger take over my chest as I give him a sarcastic smile. “I thought that lovely little gang in town are your new ‘brothers.’”
Mitch clenches his jaw and says, “We’re not a gang.”
I scoff. “Yeah, okay. Whatever.”
“Jax, be serious.”
I spin on him. “I am being serious, Mitch. You have a new life, one that doesn’t involve me. I had City call you so that she wouldn’t call the police. That’s it. I don’t need any more help from you, nor do I want it.”
“Jax—”
“Just leave, man! Go back to your club and leave me alone. I don’t need or want your help.” Anger pulses strongly through my chest, and I wish I didn’t say anything I just said. It isn’t true. I want his help. I want his friendship again. I want him to be my brother again. But I’m too fucking embarrassed to ask for it.
I am the one that fucked this up. I am the one who went to the fucking devil of a father we have and took what he gave me.
“Mitch! Hey, man. When are you going to come work for us?” CT’s voice is more jovial than normal, and I know he just heard what I said.
“I don’t think I am,” Mitch says, turning around and walking down the alleyway of the barn and out the door.
I let my head hang for a minute and feel CT clap me on the back. “You good, man?”
Letting out a full breath, I shake my head before slapping a smile on my face. “Yeah. Fine.”
