Page 34 of SEAL of Valor

But I won’t ever repeat that to Zane. Nah, the self-loathing I carry belongs inside so it can’t taint those around me.

“How are things going with Reese?” he asks.

“Wow, took you a whole five minutes before you pried. And you didn’t even use any tricks; you just straight up asked.”

Zane’s particular skill is getting any and all information out of someone. Most of the time, they don’t even realize they’ve said anything vital until afterward. Truthfully, between him and Garrison, I’m not sure how any of us keeps anything private.

“You and I both know you’d see right through any tactics I might use. So, I didn’t feel like wasting the time.”

I take a deep breath. Might as well be honest. “We got into it on Monday night, and I’ve been avoiding her ever since.”

“Over what?” He straightens and crosses both arms as he turns to face me.

“She’d just brought Vivian home from the hospital, and⁠—”

“Vivian was in the hospital?” Zane interrupts, turning to face me.

Oops. Left that part out. “Yeah. She got dizzy during an argument I was having with Reese that morning.”

Zane runs a hand through his hair. “How many times have you and Reese gotten into it since she got back to town?”

“Twice. Anyway, she came by when they got home to tell me that the doctor found benzodiazepines in Vivian’s blood.”

“I didn’t realize Vivian was on any medication.”

“She’s not,” I reply. “Vivian claims she has no idea how those got into her system.”

My tone must give something away because Zane’s expression darkens. “She’s not your mom.”

“No,” I reply. And somehow, knowing that makes things worse. I trust Vivian Faye explicitly. Was she popping pills right beneath my nose, and I didn’t know it? How else would those pills have popped up on the lab work?

“So, Reese came by to tell you about it. How did that lead to a fight?”

“Vivian told her that I own half the ranch.”

Once again, Zane narrows his gaze. “Since when?”

“A few years back. She hit some trouble, so I helped. It’s not a big deal.”

“The fact that you didn’t tell me about it kind of screams the opposite, Brother.”

I shrug.

“So, I take it Reese didn’t take too kindly to that?”

“It wasn’t even that, I think. I don’t know. I’m not even entirely sure I can pinpoint where the conversation went sideways. It just did, she stormed out, end of story.” I leave out that I slipped into tennis shoes and ran a ways behind her as she drove her car home. That way, I could make sure she got there safely. I still remember how debilitating her migraines were when we were teens.

“Somehow I doubt that’s the end of the story, but I’ll let it go.”

I take a frustrated breath as he snaps two more shelves into place. “It’s just so irritating. She acts like she’s not the one who bailed in the first place. I didn’t leave. Not until she was already gone.”

“Did you give her a reason to stay?”

I glare at him, hating that what he’s implying is absolutely true. I didn’t give Reese a reason to stay because I’d completely given up on everything by the time she left. I was so worn out that there was nothing left of me to give her.

Or, at least, that’s what I told myself.

Really, I think I was so afraid of losing her, too, that I chased her away.