Page 79 of Brighton

“How long have you known?”

“Since the spring.”

He stands, growing impossibly bigger and angrier, almost like The Hulk. “The spring? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What should I have said, Brax? Sorry your mom died, and, oh, the Veramendi Conservancy might become a mega-neighborhood… Good talk? That’s not me, and you know it.”

He stares as I stay seated, leaning forward in my chair, hands clasped.

Waiting.

“I did what I could, man, for every moment from then until now. I know their game and have devised a response to every strategy they could take. I’ve researched for damn near nine months the history of the land, the agreements, the deeds, and the covenant restrictions concerning it. I know every place they could poke holes in that. There’s a stop-gap measure in place if none of that works.”

He retakes his seat, staring at me, as I go on.

“I couldn’t come to you when you were exhausted from lack of sleep when Colt came home or during the tenuous first weeks of Emberleigh’s arrival. There was a drought. Remember that? Your job has never been nine-to-five, and this summer was particularly trying for you. So I went to Kimp.”

He blinks, slow and dramatic, and it reminds me of a cartoon character. “Go on.”

“He asked me not to say anything to you. It wasn’t a command and it wasn’t deceptive. It was the request of a man protecting his son. He said you had a lot going on, and he’d take the burden until we knew more. And then shit went pear-shaped.” I pause. “Well, I don’t have to tell you.”

He nods. “And now?”

“Tonight, the votes didn’t go the way that we hoped. Reyes was voted out; Johnson was reelected. Both hurt our cause. Neither are insurmountable though.”

“That property is huge.”

“It is.”

He drains his beer and stands. “I can’t say I’m not pissed, but I understand.”

“There’s more,” I hedge, drinking my beer.

“Not tonight, there’s not. I need to get home to my family. I’m at my limit for information.”

I stand and walk to the door.

He extends a hand, and I take it. “Thanks for always being a brother to me, even when I didn’t know it.”

I swallow roughly, hoping he doesn’t see that. I’m glad, again, he’s not Exton reading my body language, and nod.

Somehow, I’ve managed to dig the hole even deeper when it comes to the lies I’m telling my best friend.

I pace the living room, twirling my phone over and over in my palm. I finally head to the bedroom and sit on the edge of my too-empty bed and text Brighton.

Me: Give Kimp grief for me. Heading to bed so I can get an early start in the morning. Love you, darlin’. Good night.”

Bright: Love you too. How did it go?

Me: Better than I expected, but that’s not saying much.

Bright: I’m sorry. Sleep well. {kissing emoji}

* * *

Brighton

A poundingon the door makes me jump. It’s always so quiet on the ranch at night that even a knock is loud. And this is no knock.

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