Page 72 of Wild and Unruly
“That’s enough, man,” CT warns, moving to place a hand on his arm. I see Logan exit the barn, a confused look on his face as he takes in the scene.
“No, it’s not enough. It’s the truth. Mason is a horrible brother to you.” He looks at me, pointing his finger to nail in his words. I can see on his face that this is what he truly believes. I just…can’t. “You’ve offered time and time again to get him to come up here, to help him find his life again, and he just blows you off. He yells at you, and he makes you feel like you didn’t live through what you all did.”
“Stetson,” Dani says again, softer this time as she watches tears roll down my face. I can’t stop them, no matter how embarrassed I am.
“It’s none of your business,” I finally say, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.
“Itismy business. You are my business because I fucking love you, Bonnie.” He nearly growls the end of the sentence, imploring me with his eyes to believe him.
I do believe him. I do.
But he’s throwing everything in my face.
He said he loves me. We haven’t said it to each other, yet I knew that we both have felt it this whole time.
I’m heartbroken that this is the first time he feels like he should say it.
“I can’t believe this is happening. I just…” He looks at me in a way I never expected, like he’s disgusted by me, and somehow, that hurts almost as bad as him telling me my brother was a piece of shit.
“I’m sorry.” My gaze turns to Dani, and I shake my head. “I never intended for that to overshadow your article. I really didn’t.”
Dani opens her mouth, her eyes sad as she shakes her head, but Stetson speaks first. “Then why the hell did you do it?”
I open my mouth, but the words once again fail me. Why did I send in two articles at once? I just wanted to get my editor’s opinion on the Tommy piece. It was supposed to be the Three Rivers piece that was published, not the other one.
But that’s what happens when you put your trust in the wrong people, I guess.
The way he is acting, though—the way he is looking at me—it hits me in the chest, in that same spot that kills me every time my brother glares at me in contempt. “Stetson, I didn’t mean for this to happen. It was a mistake.” I open my mouth to continue, to say…what? I don’t even know what to say that makes up for this.
I lied to him. I didn’t let him in on the truth when I should have trusted him with it.
“Fuck.” Stetson kicks at the dirt, his anger palpable. Then, he turns on his heel and marches into the barn, leaving me out here in front of his family, crying my eyes out.
I feel empty and alone. I wish he had come up and hugged me, told me it was all right, that he understood I made a mistake.
But I also know why he’s mad, and he’s right. I shouldn’t have done it. I regret it so much…but I can’t regret it completely. Tommy Smith won’t be able to hide his drugging anymore. He won’t be able to get away with what he’s done.
“Bonnie, I’m sorry, Stetson is…” Dani looks to Logan who watches his brother leave. “He’s just upset right now.”
I nod my head. “I know.” I clear my throat, a tear sliding down my cheek that I brush away. “I understand. Again, Dani, I’m sorry.”
I turn away to march off, but she grabs my arm, turning me around and doing the last thing I expect. She hugs me.
I hold off for a few seconds before I let the tears fall. I let them roll down my cheeks and into our combined hair, and she holds me, allowing me to just cry for a few minutes. When we pull away, I wipe my face and give her a watery smile. “You’re a really great person, Dani.”
“Eh…” She shrugs. “I’m not all that.”
Cracking a smile, I take a step back. “I’m going to fix this, Dani, I swear. I’m going to get that article front page for you.”
She shakes her head, her eyes watching me wearily. “Just stay safe, okay?”
I nod and turn, not looking back to where all the guys wentinto the barn after Stetson, not wondering if he was going to come back out, not allowing myself to hold on to that hope that he might actually be able to forgive me.
He won’t. I could see it in his eyes. I broke his trust.
I hop into my truck, set my navigation, and head home from Three Rivers for probably the last time.
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