Page 18 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“I’d set mine down, but my hands are cold, and this feels good.”
“So, w-w-what’s g-g-got the two of you up at this time of night?” Bandit smiled as he took a sip of his drink. How he handled the temperature was beyond Gabby.
Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, just stuff on my mind.” He hooked a thumb in her direction. “Same with her.”
“W-w-what’s on your mind, then?” Bandit asked.
Gabby lowered her cup to her lap. “I’m thinking about moving back home, but I’m not sure if that would work. Do you know if the Canyon Journal is still open?” It had been on its last leg when she’d left home.
“N-n-nah, it closed after you m-m-moved to Charleston. Mary Wise tried to keep it afloat, even going without p-p-pay, but Mr. Wise’s health got t-t-to the point where she had to stop.”
That saddened Gabby, but at the same time, it gave her ideas. She had a little money saved. If she got a loan at the bank and really worked hard, maybe she could restart it.
Chuckling, Wyatt smiled. “I can see the wheels turning a million miles a second.”
“Hush. It’s just thinking. As much as I’d like to, the reality is that I can’t. I don’t have the money to do that.”
“I can help with that,” Wyatt offered.
She shook her head. Never would she ever do that. The Wests weren’t ATMs, and she wasn’t taking a penny from them. “No. No way. I’m not taking money from you or anyone else.”
Bandit nodded. “Yep, k-k-keep telling Bear the s-s-same thing. I won’t take nothin’ from h-h-him. He’s m-m-my f-f-friend.”
“What good is money if you can’t share with the people you care about? You guys are like family to us. I don’t get why it’s such a big deal. Wouldn’t you want to do the same?” Wyatt leaned forward and grabbed his mug, testing another sip. “Mmm. That’s good stuff.”
Like family. Again, there was that word. Before it could drag her down, she pushed it away and stayed on topic. Wyatt had a point about the money. If Gabby’s family had won the lottery, they’d be trying to give it to the people they loved too. “Probably, but we didn’t win, and we don’t want to be the kind of people who only see you as dollar signs now. We don’t want it ruining our friendships…our family.”
“Exactly. If I take money, th-th-there’ll eventually be the question of, was I a real friend or was I just st-st-sticking around for the money. Bear has been good to me. P-p-paying me to cook when he sure didn’t have to.”
“No, there would never be that question. We’ve been friends and family as long as we can remember. You two may not be blood, but you’re as close as you can get.”
Family. Friend. There they were again, like knives to the chest. Every time he spoke one, it felt like another nail in the coffin already riddled with them.
Gabby shrugged. “A restaurant for Bandit actually makes sense, but for me? Starting the paper up again makes no sense. Especially since the town is so small. People would come from all over for Bandit’s cooking, but a paper? It’s silly.”
“The town is going to start growing now that the ranch is being revived. A paper would be great. You could talk about the history, why it’s a great place to live, showcase what Bear did to this farmhouse.” He paused a second. “We could start that orchard too. That could be a draw for people.”
It was sweet and wonderful and impossible. There was no way her heart could handle being around Wyatt every day and not get to be with him. She’d have front row seats to watch him date and fall in love with someone else, and it was more than she could handle. It was practically a nightmare to even think about it.
Bandit stood. “Y-y-you two keep talking. I’m g-g-gonna catch a few winks before I have to get d-d-dinner going.” With that, Bandit downed his hot chocolate and left.
Wyatt twisted in the seat to face Gabby. “I’m serious. I’d love to help you get the paper going again.
Gabby shook her head. “Wyatt, no. I’m going back to Charleston. You’re going back to the rodeo. That’s your first love. This other stuff would just get in your way.”
His shoulders sagged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
The silence stretched out between them, making the house feel eerily quiet.
Clearing his throat, Wyatt said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
He lifted his gaze to hers, an unreadable expression on his face. “You wouldn’t be disappointed in me if I quit, would you?”
“Bull riding?” If he was thinking of quitting, she’d be floored.
“Yeah,” he whispered.
