Page 57 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Duke

‘She’ll be home soon,’ Gram assures me from the armchair where she’s reading, glasses having slipped all the way to the end of her nose. ‘You’re doing the right thing, giving them some space.’

My only response as I lay out on her couch the following morning from the accident, my arm now in a sling thanks to the broken collarbone I suffered from the crash, is to nod, hoping her words might finally settle the pattering mess that is my heart.

The long conversation we had yesterday after I turned up at her doorstep, unable to sit alone in my apartment as I waited on news about Cherry, and whether Wyatt had forgiven me yet, eased it somewhat.

Connecting with my grandmother over concerns I’d never have dared share before added a whole deeper level to our relationship that I hadn’t expected.

That I wished I’d have known about before, when I could’ve been sharing more with her.

But today’s a fresh new day with fresh new worries and knowing I can’t even call Cherry because of her battered phone and her need to rest, relying on Rory texting me updates instead and to relay any messages I want to send, has written over whatever ease I found yesterday, leaving me with a whirring mind.

The mid-morning sun glints off the edges of Gram’s book, illuminating the clinch cover that I hadn’t paid any attention to before. It looks scarily like a spicy book I know Cherry and Rory love to talk about, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Luckily, I don’t have much of chance to dwell on the fact that my girlfriend and friend may have roped my grandmother into their spicy romance book club because the doorbell goes.

‘Oh, will you get that, Junior? I’ve just got to the juicy bit,’ Gram says, waving her book at me.

The possibility that the juicy bit might mean my grandmother is about to read a sex scene with me in the same room has me flying up from the couch and out of the room alone, regardless of whether there’s someone at the door.

No wonder she comes up with all these filthy words for Scrabble.

The last thing I expect when I open the door is to find Wyatt hovering on the porch. Shadows line his eyes as his gaze stays downcast on the wooden floor for a beat before he offers me a weary smile – one that doesn’t quite reach his cheeks.

‘Hey,’ he says, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Do you have a minute? To talk?’

‘Sure.’ I cock my head towards the bench on the porch, stepping out and closing the door firmly, even though I’m sure Gram will have her ear pressed up against it the whole time.

I drop myself onto the bench, and Wyatt takes a second before he joins, a heavy sigh coming out as he does.

Once again, the moment drowns in silence, but I sit in it, waiting for Wyatt to speak first this time since he sought me out.

‘What was it in the end?’ he asks first, investigating my sling.

‘Broken collarbone.’

‘Shit.’ He scrapes his palm across his stubble. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

‘Not really. Just gotta rest, keep it in this sling for a while, and I guess I won’t be throwing drinks about in the air for a while.’

‘Any help you need at the bar, just call me, yeah?’ He offers me a brief smile, and relief rushes through my veins just like when the sunshine finally broke through the slate-grey clouds this morning. Because the storm is finally over.

I’ve not lost him.

‘Yeah, thanks, man.’

‘So,’ he continues, ‘you love my sister.’ Each word seems pushed out, like the notion doesn’t sit right on his tongue.

A sentence he probably never expected to say – hell, I never expected anyone to be saying such out loud, not when it was once just a fantasy to me.

It still has my head rearing back, has my heart stuttering like I’ve been caught out, forgetting that it’s all laid out in the open now. Nowhere to run. No need to run.

‘Yeah. A lot, actually,’ I laugh out, wincing. ‘How’s she doing?’

Eventually, a softness takes residence in his eyes. ‘She’s doing better – we just got her home. She’s tired still, but honestly she seems more concerned about you than herself.’

My chest falls, muscles finally surrendering, knowing she’s safe, even if I’m not the one to provide her with refuge this time. My next breath might be my easiest yet.

Wyatt lets out a drained laugh, his leg now bobbing, heel of his foot tapping against the wooden boards below.

‘Look, I know we don’t always do this talking thing very well – not about our feelings, anyway.

Toxic masculinity or whatever Rory calls it.

We should probably work on it – Wolfman and Sawyer too.

’ He waves the idea off with a snort. Then he turns to me properly – any hints of ire vanished from his stony expression, just a need to understand remaining.

It keeps the last sparks of hope in me burning.

‘So let me start by apologising for how I acted yesterday – I’m sorry.

I’m not gonna pretend I’m not still angry at you for letting her on your bike – I’d be mad at anyone for that. ’

I shrug. ‘I deserve that – and for what it’s worth, I’m angry with myself too.’

‘Still … I probably could have handled my reaction better, and I am sorry about that. I was overwhelmed, what with the panic of her and you being hurt, and then suddenly discovering you two were sleeping together which some people already knew about, but not me, your best friend? None of it made sense to me.’ He chews on his lip, gaze floating off into the distance for a moment before returning to me on a sigh.

‘So, I’m here to understand, and I need you to talk to me, properly. To tell me what’s happening.’

‘I can do that.’ If it wasn’t for Cherry, for how she’s teased me open one small part of my life at a time, I’m not sure I’d have the gall.

The strength to let him in. But like she said, the more I share, the closer I can get to people.

I’m so afraid of losing the ones I love, but if I never let them in, how can I expect them to stay?

Wyatt regards me for a beat, then asks, ‘How long has this been going on?’

I let out a long breath, running a hand over my head. ‘It’s been like this since she started working at the bar.’

Wyatt’s eyes flash. ‘You’ve been dating for years ?’

‘No!’ I hold my hand up, Wyatt’s chest immediately deflating with a relieved laugh.

‘No, I’ve liked – loved her, maybe – for years.

We’ve only been seeing each other this summer.

I meant it when I said it started just as friends, I promise.

I didn’t expect this to ever happen.’ A laugh teeters out of me as I shake my head.

‘I honestly tried to not let this happen.’

‘But you always wanted more?’ he asks.

I concede, nodding.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘She’s your little sister. It felt wrong. I … Fuck . You’re right, we really do need to get better at talking to each other, because it’s hard to explain.’

‘That’s why we should start now,’ Wyatt says, his stare unyielding.

My mouth begins to dry, the truth trying to crawl away, but I force the confession out, knowing I owe it to him.

To myself. To Cherry. ‘I’m terrified of losing you , Wyatt.

You’re the only one who knows how much I struggled losing my mom, and my grandfather, even if I still never really told you how much.

You’ve always been there for me, and even though I’ve never cared for someone like I do for Cherry, I didn’t want to risk losing you.

I love you too, Wyatt. I don’t have a lot of family left, and you’re not just my best friend, you’re my brother.

I didn’t want to ruin that and lose anyone else. ’

Wyatt glances to the floor for a second, swallowing, before facing me again.

He presses his lips together, then admits, ‘I – I love you too, Duke. You’re my brother too, and you always will be.

It’s gonna need a lot more to take you from me, you got that?

’ He nudges my leg with his, and my heart feels so fucking full, even from the smallest action.

‘And I won’t pretend I haven’t noticed that Cherry seems a lot happier in herself this summer.

More confident, definitely. She really put me in my place in that hospital room, and as much as it shocked me, I’m not gonna pretend I wasn’t a bit proud of her.

I know we as a family don’t exactly give her a lot of room to be free – like you said.

But …’ He lets out a long sigh, slumping back in his seat.

‘Well, I’m glad she has you to make her feel stronger.

Someone who cares for her but doesn’t clip her wings. ’

‘We’re always happier when we’re flying free, not caged,’ I tease, remembering Wyatt’s favourite phrase – the one that helped him through all his own difficult decisions and was the inspiration behind the eagle tattoo he got with me once.

‘Hey, don’t use my tattoo against me,’ Wyatt chuckles, the first smile finally spreading out on his face. ‘We just gotta promise that we’ll talk to each other more, okay? Can’t have my best man keeping secrets from me now, can I?’

Best man. My grin is irrepressible.

‘Promise.’

Wyatt stands, holding out a hand to help me up – but also a silent confirmation that we’re okay. I haven’t lost him. He asks, ‘You’re gonna look after her, right?’

My throat tightens as I slap my hand against his and let him take some of my weight to pull me up. ‘Of course. I’ll do anything for her. It’s … crazy how badly I want to make her happy.’

He snorts. ‘Yeah, love will do that to you. One minute I’m living my quiet life on my ranch and the next thing I know I’m planning to convert a barn into a wedding venue for this British wellness influencer I met last year because all I care about is making her smile.’

‘You’re down bad, you know that?’

‘And proud.’ He grins lazily. ‘So, do you want a ride to my parents’ house so you can see her?’