Page 63 of Where She Belongs

Tate allowed her to pull him into the living room and down onto the couch that was also covered by a drop cloth. He watched her like he was expecting her to drop a bomb.

“Is this about Alexander? Because he’s been asking questions all over town, and if somebody’s repeated one of them to you⁠—”

Tate squeezed her hand with a shake of his head. “No, it’s not about him.” His eyes grew distant and he pulled in a breath before releasing it. “Jason seems… off.”

“Off? How?”

He withdrew from her and paced what little space there was after she’d pushed all the furniture together. “I don’t know. Everything about him is calm and steady. He soaks in his surroundings like a sponge. But lately… I don’t know. Antsy? Like something is going on in his life that he doesn’t want me to know about.”

“You think he’s hiding something from you.”

“Yeah? Maybe? But it’s more than that. He’s…” Tate closed his eyes and turned his face toward the ceiling. “He brought up that he wants to quit.”

She remained silent. Her own questions swirled in her mind, but they wouldn’t do Tate any good when he was trying to make sense of this on his own.

“Okay, that’s not entirely accurate,” he muttered after a beat as he brought his focus to meet hers. “He said he’d still be okay working with me, but he’s been considering starting another business.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound all bad…” she hedged.

“I’m not sure he understands the time and energy it takes to start a new business. It’s not just about getting the materials and the space. There’s more to consider. Licensing. Capital. Hiring employees. Finding clients. The list goes on and on and⁠—”

Rylee placed a hand on his forearm. “Jason is an adult, Tate. I’m sure he’s well aware of what he’ll need to do if he wants to get a new business off the ground. But I think you’re forgetting the most important thing he will need.”

Tate’s brows furrowed. “What’s that?”

“You. Just like you need him.”

He scoffed but she shook her head and gave his arm a squeeze.

“I’m not kidding. He’s going to need your support. He needs to feel comfortable coming to you and asking for advice because you’re the one who’s been running your business from the start.” She could see his demeanor softening slightly, so she pushed forward. “Maybe it’s time for you to stop worrying about your brother.”

And just like that, his walls shot sky-high.

“What?”

She withdrew, frowning.

“I know you probably don’t understand what it’s like to be the oldest because you don’t have any siblings. But I’ll tell you anyway. There are more responsibilities than you could even dream of. I will never stop worrying about my brother. Not because he can’t handle himself. He handles himself better than I do most days. I worry because that’s the job. Do you think for even one second that starting a business from nothing goes smoothly? Because I don’t. He’s got to win over folks who are set in their ways and already have a trainer they like. That’s a hard road for anybody. And he’ll walk it without complaining once, which means nobody will know when it gets heavy. Except me. That’s the part I’m for.”

His chest heaved as he spoke. His eyes were wild and his cheeks turned ruddy.

“I will never stop worrying about my brother. He’s one of the most important people in my life. I’d lay down everything for him if it means securing his happiness. So don’t stand there and tell me that he’ll manage. If this new venture is what’s going to make him happy, I’m going to guarantee it works. The problem is that he’s not talking to me about it.” Tate’s voice rose through his speech.

From his stance and the way his fists kept clenching, Rylee had overstepped. She’d wanted to comfort him, but that wasn’t what he needed. “You’re right,” she whispered.

His eyes cut to hers but then his expression softened. “Rylee, I’m⁠—”

She held up a hand. “It’s fine. I understand. You will always be his protector. You’re always going to want to be there for your family. It’s part of who you are. I wasn’t trying to say you should step back and let Jason have at it. I just…” Rylee closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m a fixer. I was trying to offer advice rather than reassurance. I have no doubt that you won’t hold back when it comes to helping him succeed. And as for him having a hard time talking to you, perhaps you should find some time for just the two of you so you can offer your support in a way he can’t turn down.”

Tate remained still. The way his eyes searched hers was more than a little unnerving. But then he pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the crown of her head. “Thank you.”

“What for?” she said with a breathless laugh.

“Talking me off the ledge. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”

She smiled into his chest. “Anytime, Tater.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO