Page 77 of Courageous Hearts

His lips press together tightly before he turns. Without another word, my brother walks off.

And alone within my rental car in Plum Valley, Texas, I let the tears flow unrestrained down my cheeks.

Chapter 23

Jameson

“Hey, James,” my brother says, his voice quiet. He looks tired, like the recent weeks have taken their toll.

“How are you doing?” I ask, even though it’s pretty easy to tell.

He shrugs slightly before propping his phone on his desk. The whiteboard takes up most of the space behind him, some Shakespeare quote scribbled across it if I had to guess. A container of what looks like pasta sits on the desk in front of him.

“Okay, all things considered,” he answers, spearing a bite of food onto his fork. He chews before going on. “Sophia has been struggling.”

My chest constricts. “I’m so sorry.”

He nods a little, continuing to eat his lunch. This isn’t the first time I’ve called him during his lunch hour after our chat at Mom’s. I don’t want to have regrets about not checking in again. And it’s been nice, talking a little more frequently with my brother. Not that we didn’t talk at least once a week before, barring that brief period of time where I was wrapped up in Bo and he was dealing with the fertility specialists.

But now, we feel a little closer again, and I’m glad for it.

“Figured we’d check out your workplace soon,” Grant says. “I think that’ll cheer her up.”

“You’re welcome anytime. Weekends are the best, though. That’s when they do the shows.”

He nods. “How’re things going with you?”

“Good,” I answer, my mind, of course, going to Bo. “Bo is in Texas this week.”

“Yeah? Things still good between you?” he asks before going back to his lunch.

“Yeah. Things are really good,” I say with a smile. How many more days until they’re back? Five? “By the way, I wanted to thank you for not blinking twice when I came to you about my feelings for them. I’m lucky to have you. And Mom.”

Grant’s smile is soft, and he finishes chewing before he answers me. “Of course, James. I love you. You know that.”

“I do,” I agree. “Talk soon?”

“You got it. Take care.”

When our call ends, I decide to head east on foot to visit the nearby shorefront. It takes about twenty minutes to get there from my house, and for a little while, I walk along the paths edging the sand, looking over at the brave families here so late in the season. It’s in the sixties today, and the water has to be cold, but there are a couple people wading in up to their knees, squeezing one last visit in before the long winter descends.

A sailboat drifts by, too, not far from shore. It’s a small dinghy with two riders and a little butterfly on the white sail: the same kind of boat Dad would take me and Grant out on. The sight of it listing gently in the wind makes me smile, and I wonder if Bo has ever sailed. Maybe we could go out together sometime.

After a half hour of walking along the beach, I grab a quick bite from a street vendor, and then I head home so I can get ready for work. I’m just stepping foot inside Gertie’s a short while later when my phone rings from inside my pocket.

A grin on my face, I pick up. “Bo?”

It’s quiet for a moment, apart from what sounds like a soft inhale. When Bo finally speaks, I can tell something is wrong. “Hi.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, slowing my gait to a stop in the back hall.

They make a soft sound before saying, “Just wanted to hear your voice.”

My heart rate kicks up. Something is definitely not right.

“You know I’m always happy to whisper sweet nothings in your ear,” I say lightly, to which Bo lets out a watery chuckle. “But I’d really like to know what’s wrong, Blue.”

They blow out a breath. “Ran into Diesel.”

---