Page 55 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
Carrie Anne scoffed. “So, then you’ve dated all those rodeo girls that hung all over you?”
“That’s different. I didn’t know them.”
“There’s zero difference. If you aren’t dating Gabby, she’s free to hang on anyone she wants. The problem is, you didn’t want her dating anyone.”
He hung his head and closed his eyes. There was no more point in fighting it. His sister was right. “Ever since I picked her up at the airport, things have been different. Our whole past is different. All those times I’d make sure my sleeping bag was next to hers. That year she wore the red dress and I wanted to punch the guy who was taking her to prom. Proposing to Lori when I heard Gabby talking about moving to Charleston. I think I’ve been fighting tooth and nail against the truth because I couldn’t get past the fact that she was family.” He paused. “And then that day at the orchard when I wanted to kiss her so bad it hurt, I…the truth was, I did have feelings for her.”
Carrie Anne closed the distance and squatted in front of him. “Wyatt, tell the truth. Are you really angry, or are you scared?”
Wyatt pulled away, took his hat off, and slapped it against his leg. “Geez, Carrie Anne, it’s not that simple. If something happens and it doesn’t work…”
Carrie Anne pinched her lips together. “You sell that snake oil elsewhere and tell the truth. You’re more scared of Gabby than you are of a bull.”
Scared? He wasn’t scared. That was ridiculous. “I’m…not.”
She let out a soft breath. “You’re afraid of falling in love.”
“I’m afraid of hurting her!” he blurted before he even realized he’d had the thought.
His sister stood as she grinned. “And there it is.”
Wyatt came off his seat. “I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to lose what we have if it goes south. I can’t picture life without her. I think I’d wither and die.”
“Youarehurting her, and you’re going to hurt her again.”
He turned to face her. “Well, thanks, sis.”
“And she’s going to hurt you. It’s life. And it isn’t about how much you hurt each other. It’s about what you do when you realize you’ve hurt each other. Do you walk away, or do you make it right? It’s loving and laughing and fighting and being strong enough to bend when you need to. It’s compromise and forgiveness and grace.” Carrie Anne smiled. “It’s a partnership all the way to your soul.”
“What if I make a mistake?”
“That’s an inevitable part of loving someone.”
His stomach churned as he thought back to the night of the bachelorette party. “I hurt her, Carrie Anne. I told her she meant nothing to me. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me.”
Carrie Anne’s head dropped back. “Oh, Wyatt.”
“I was just going to talk to her, and the more I drove around, the angrier I got. By the time I got back home, I couldn’t see straight.”
His sister rolled her lips in and cringed. “Oh, Wyatt. If she loves you like I know she loves you, I think you can go in there and apologize. I’m not saying that will fix all of it, but it’ll be a start.”
“I’ve fallen for her. I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t forgive me.”
“I think she will. I just don’t think it’ll be easy.” She hooked her arm through his. “Let’s go inside. I need a fire to thaw out my bones. I’m freezing in here.”
Wyatt was freezing all right, but it had nothing to do with the weather. He’d been mean and cruel and hateful to Gabby. It would be a flat-out miracle if she forgave him. He’d have to find a way to apologize that she couldn’t run from.
He quickly looked up and inwardly begged for mercy. He wanted her, to be with her, and he hoped she still wanted him. If she did, he’d spend the rest of his life grateful he fell in love with a woman patient enough to put up with him.
“You think she’ll listen?” he whispered as they walked through the barn.
Carrie Anne squeezed his arm. “She’s loved you for forever. I know she will.”
He held Carrie Anne’s gaze a moment, debating how he should tell Gabby. Should it be simple? Should it be something so grand there’d be no doubt in her mind how he felt about her? There was a rodeo coming to Amarillo the day after Christmas. He hadn’t planned on participating, but it could be his last ride. A good ride.
If Gabby was there, he knew he could stay on those eight seconds, and then he could tell her. He could retire and tell her he was ready to start a life with her, and there’d be no doubt that he was sorry. He wanted to live out the dream they’d had since they were teenagers. A new, better dream. One that had her by his side and at the center of his world.
Carrie rolled her eyes. “Don’t overthink this. Just tell her.”
