His features soften as he takes me in, eyes going big and round, his breath catching in his throat. “I like you too, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“So, let’s tell her, then.”
“What?” he whisper-hisses, eyes widening like they’re about to pop out.
“Let’s tell Jade about us,” I say without a tremor of hesitation.
“I heard you the first time,” he retorts with a shake of his head. “Have you lost your mind? In no universe can I tell my sister that I fucked her husband. Are you nuts?”
“Okay, first of all, pretty sure I fucked you.” A smirk tugs on my lips as his scowl only deepens. “Secondly,ex-husband.”
He laughs dryly. “Oh, of course, I’m so sure Jade will care about that minor technicality.”
“She might,” I say weakly. “Give her a little credit, G. She wants you to be happy.”
Grady blows out a breath, thrusting his hands into his hair. “Why does it feel like I’m the only one with any sense right now?” he hisses. “Youhavelost your mind if you think she’d be okay with this. We are not fucking telling her, Boone, and it can’t happen again. It’s gone on too long as it is. We have to put a stop to this.”
It feels as if I’ve been sucker punched in the gut. Like all the air has been squeezed out of my lungs and I can’t catch my breath. My brows clash together as I watch him, surely hearing him wrong. There’s no way he can walk away.
“Grady…”
“I’d like you to get out, please,” he says firmly.
He doesn’t give me any opportunity to respond because he reaches behind himself, twisting the knob, and he opens the door before ducking around me. I clench my jaw, ignoring the pit in my stomach and the way my blood whooshes in my ears. The last fucking thing I’m about to do is beg somebody who clearly doesn’t want anything to do with me so, without another glance, I do exactly as he asked.
30
Grady Wilde
“Uncle Grady!”
Letting my camera hang around my neck, I turn my head and watch as my little bright-eyed, blonde-haired niece runs up to me, with her mom following behind at a normal pace, excitement on her face like it’s been months since she’s seen me instead of the two days it’s actually been.
“Hi, Suzy Q,” I gush, bending down and opening my arms for her to run into. “You having fun?”
“Yeah! Mommy said we can get shaved ice soon.”
“Yum, that sounds good,” I tell her as she pulls back from the hug. “I’m a little jealous.”
“Why don’t you get some too?” she asks with a tilt of her head.
“I’m working, little lady, otherwise I would.”
Standing up, I glance over at my sister. “Hey.”
She smiles, but I can see the concern in her eyes. “How’s it going?”
“Good, but busy,” I reply, glancing out into the dirt. We’re in an intermission right now, but bull riding is up next. The event is almost over for the night, and it’s been a long day.
“You coming back home any time soon before you hit the road again?”
A twinge of guilt hits me in the center of my chest. After Boone cornered me in my room and insanely suggested we tell Jade about us, I decided to crash at Benji’s. That was two days ago, and I’m wishing I could hide out there forever. I don’t know what to do, or how to handle this predicament I’ve put myself in.
“I’m sure I will,” I reply to my sister, unable to look her in the eye. “Benji went through a shitty break up, so I’m just trying to be there for him while I’m here.”
It’s a lie.
If anything, it’s the other way around—Benji being there for me while I sulk. The first night I was there, we got shitty drunk together after I got home from night one of Stampede Days. I spilled my guts abouteverything, and when I got to the part where Boone suggested telling Jade, he was as shocked as I was.
