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He pulls into Declan’s, and I reach for the handle. “Thank you for this.”
“Any time, brother. When you’re ready, call me.”
I nod, climb out of his truck, and make my way to mine. I should go inside and see my niece and nephew, but I’m not in the right headspace. Instead, I pull out of the driveway and point my truck toward home.
When I get into the house, I head straight for my bedroom, strip out of my clothes, and start the shower. Finding my phone on the bed, I send Crosby a message.
Me: I miss you.
I hit Send and toss my phone back on the bed. I don’t expect a reply from her, but it’s important that she understands I’m still here. She needs to know I want her and that even though she asked me to leave, I’m not gone forever. How can I disappear from her life forever when all I want is for us to stay together?
Stepping out of my bedroom, I hear low murmurs, and I sigh. I don’t need to keep walking to know who it is. My guess is all eight of my brothers are sitting in my living room. My feet, still feeling as though they’re lead weights, carry me toward my living room to face my brothers. I should have known they wouldn’t let me stew in peace. That’s just now how we do things.
“Please, come in. Make yourselves at home,” I say sarcastically.
“Thanks.” Archer smirks.
I stomp into the room like a toddler throwing a fit and plop down on the only remaining seat. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at them. Why? I have no idea. It’s not their fault I’m in a pissy mood.
Crosby’s words about how lucky I am to have a big family filter through my mind, and I find myself relaxing my stare and dropping my hands to my lap. Taking a deep breath, I say the first words that pop into my head. “I’m in love with her.”
There’s a knock on the door, and in walks Deacon, not bothering to wait for an invitation to enter. “Sorry, I’m late.” He moves toward the kitchen and brings back a chair setting it next to Archer and Ryder, who are also sitting in chairs from my kitchen table.
“You didn’t miss much. Rush just declared his love for a woman.”
“Crosby?” Deacon asks.
“Yeah, Crosby.”
“Start from the beginning,” Orrin tells me.
So I do. I tell them about the day I met her and how she was easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I continue telling them about each and every interaction with her. I tell them about our text messages and how she’s suddenly the first thing I think about when I open my eyes, and she’s always my final thought before closing my eyes at night.
“You two seemed good when you left with Merrick last night,” Brooks points out.
“I wasn’t done with my story,” I tell him. I tell them about last night. How I thought all she wanted was for me to hold her, and I was okay with that. “I didn’t expect more from her. I didn’t expect it to turn into a night that would change who I am.”
“Change you?” Archer asks.
“Yeah. I know it sounds insane, but there was just something about being with her, being a part of her, that changed me. I can’t explain it.” I make eye contact with Deacon and my four older brothers, my eyes finally landing on Ryder’s.
“You can’t control it,” he tells me. “We don’t get to choose who we fall in love with.”
“That’s just it. I’d choose her every damn time,” I confess.
“So, what’s the plan?” Declan asks.
“Fight for her.”
“Love her harder,” they all say at the same time. If this were not my future we were talking about, it would be funny.
“Dad would be proud,” I tell them.
“That’s what I’m doing,” Ryder tells me. “I refuse to give up on her. I was willing to do long-distance, and well, I guess I still am. I don’t know if she’s seeing someone while she’s there, but I have to believe that I’m such a big part of her that she won’t.”
“And if she does?” Sterling asks.
“I just want her to come home to me,” Ryder answers.
“So, let’s lay this out. You want her, and you’ve told her that you want her?” Brooks asks for clarification.
“Yes.”
“And she’s worried about not getting a contract renewal and leaving Willow River and, in turn, leaving you?” Orrin asks.
“She’s had a rough life.” I pause, debating on what I should tell them. It’s not my story to tell, but I trust my brothers with my life, and to be honest, I need help getting the girl. “This stays between us,” I tell them. “You can’t tell your wives, although my guess is that they already know at least a little of it.”
