Page 89 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
ZANE
“You could try and force on a smile, you know—that’s your niece on stage,” Jace whispers, his eyes trained on Daisy and the rest of her classmates who are singing the song I watched them rehearse Saturday after Saturday with Ava.
“Just be grateful I’m here,” I grumble, loosening the tie Ella forced me to wear for this recital.
From the corner of my eye, I note her glaring at me. She’s lucky I’m not using it to strangle myself or her. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I wore a tie—probably high school for my senior prom, almost a decade and a half ago. Formal wear is not my thing, but Ella insisted we all look “nice” for Daisy’s performance. I have nice jeans and some passable shirts, not these itchy clothes she forced on me.
Jace nudges me once more, and I growl under my breath before turning my attention to him. “What?!”
“You remember when I told you I’m not looking forward to the version of you that doesn’t have Ava in his life? This is exactly what I was talking about,” he says as if I’m not already painfully aware of the fact that I’m slowly slipping back into my old ways.
“Yeah, well, I’m not the biggest fan of me right now either,” I retort.
“Just get her back, man. It’s not that hard.”
“Says you,” I scoff.
“What are you so afraid of? You just overcame what no one thought you would and rode a bull again. Why is this so hard?”
“It’s not the same thing, and you know it.”
He’s about to say something else when our father, who is seated in the row in front of us, turns around and smacks us with the folded-up program in his hand, like we’re a bunch of rowdy kids.
“Both of you, shut up.”
“He started it,” I defend, pointing at Jace.
“Traitor,” my brother bites back.
“I don’t care who started it—I’m ending it. Not another word out of you two until this recital is over. Do I make myself clear?” he demands.
He glares us down until we cave and nod. “Yes, sir.”
Jace and I flip each other off before focusing our attention forward.
Everyone in my family keeps telling me how cowardly it is not to go after Ava when none of them have ever been in my shoes. This is the second time she’s left me in the dust, even after I forgave her for the first time because I understood it wasn’t her fault. Her family is out of the picture now, so she has no one to blame.
No matter how many times they mock me or call me a coward, I refuse to be the first one to reach out when I’m not the one who left.
She should be here today, cheering the kids on, since she’s the one who worked so hard to train them. Instead, she left in the middle of the night like a thief and cut off all contact. Now I’m all alone, heartbroken, left behind to pick up the pieces of our shattered relationship.
The recital ends an hour later, and we finally leave.
Daisy looks so proud of herself and her classmates, but even I can tell that she’s a bit sad that Ava isn’t here. Just how many hearts will this woman break before she realizes that she’s loved and we have her back, only if she opens up to us?
Beck drives me back home since I can’t drive due to my leg. Thankfully, he knows I’ve received enough shit from everyone else, so he leaves me alone, which I appreciate.
Unfortunately, my luck runs out as soon as we get home.
“Family meeting, and yes, that includes you too, Zane,” Father announces just as I’m getting out of the truck with the intention to disappear to my cabin for the rest of the year.
The look he’s giving me lets me know that now isn’t the time to challenge him. Why am I, a thirty-something-year-old man, still being bossed around by my old man? That’s a question I’ll probably never get an answer to.
We all gather in the kitchen, but Daisy is excused since this is an adult conversation.
“What’s this about?” I ask the minute everyone is seated.
I just want to get out of here and be alone.
