Page 77 of Wild and Unruly
“Going after the Smiths? Are you out of your mind?” His voice rises, and I hold still as his words slice through me.
“I was trying to get him to stop. He’s the reason you’re in the mess you’re in!” For the first time since my brother’s accident, I yell at him.
Everything boiling beneath the surface, everything that’s hurt and stressed me out for the last six years is now unleashed at his ungrateful attitude.
“I can’t believe that you’re letting what happened to you destroy your life! You are made for so much more than this, Mason. But you’re throwing your life away!”
“What I do with my life is none of your business.” His reply is weak at best. I can tell he believes what I’m saying but just isn’t admitting it.
“None of my business? Who has been here for you through everything? Who has stuck up for you when people said thatyou were wasting your life? When Dad left, I was here for you. When Daphne gave in to your horrible words and actions, I stuck by you. Mom and I are the only ones you have in your corner, and how do you thank us? By doing nothing!”
Pinching his lips together, he says, “You have no idea what I’ve been through.”
“Don’t I, though?” My tone softens but my head is still pounding. Mason doesn’t say anything, just stares at me while I talk, his gaze occasionally going to my temple. “I’ve been through it with you, Mase. I was there when the accident happened, when that horse landed on you. I had to watch in horror with no way to stop it from happening. I was there when you were in the hospital, when the horses were ripped from us, when the trajectory of our entire future was gone in the blink of an eye.Iwas there.”
I sigh, letting out a weak, sad laugh, allowing tears to freely fall from my eyes.
I was so tired.
I tried sticking up for my family and got burned. I tried to get vengeance for people who didn’t even seem to want it and got burned. I was really, really sick of all of it and just wanted to curl up in bed, wrap myself in a blanket, and sob.
“You know what?” I raise a hand and let it fall, slapping loudly in the empty space between us before turning. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“Bonnie—”
“No, it’s fine. Just…I think I need some space.”
Glancing at my brother is a mistake, but I ignore the pooling hurt there, the grief, the anxiety, the worry.
“Bonnie,” he starts as I open the door, his form leaningforward in his chair, his earlier pursuit of his wheelchair over. “Please.”
But I can’t hear another word. My head is throbbing, my body aches from being thrown around, and my throat feels like, well, someone choked me.
It was time to go home, whether I like it or not.
30
stetson
Forks scrapeacross the glass dishes as the family continues their dinner, conversing over whatever bullshit was happening with the ranch this weekend.
I couldn’t find it in me to care.
Several times over the last week, I’ve called Bonnie only to receive her voicemail. I don’t know if she blocked me or what happened, but I knew that getting in touch with her was damn near impossible. I don’t know where she lives. I don’t know where her family lives. I know she has social media, but when I broke down and checked, she hadn’t been on in a few weeks.
The last thing she posted was of Freckles outside the barn.
Shit. She doesn’t even know the horse is hers. I never got a chance to tell her.
My heart is fucking broken, and I know everyone at this table knows it.
The news breaking out over Tommy Smith was a huge deal and had a major impact. Some clients of his had shown up atThree Rivers to inquire about training, and CT’s business was now booming again because of it. One teen girl and her mother showed up, asking if there were internships available, and the girl mentioned that Bonnie was the reason she was there.
Fucking hell, it had hurt to hear that and know my girl was out there thinking I was still pissed at her.
Tommy was still facing charges, but nothing was sticking—yet.
I was hoping that my beautiful girlfriend didn’t do all of that for nothing.
