Toby raises an eyebrow. "OK. Can’t believe you kept this to yourself, especially for this long. So, what happened? Did she reject you or what?”
“Nothing happened. I didn’t tell her.”
“Say what?”
My loud sigh fills the cab of the truck. “She was comin' and goin' from college by then and barely had enough time to do anythin' other than study. Then she needed to focus as she was comin' to the end of her degree, so she slowly stopped comin' back so often. I figured that was that and we kind of drifted apart and let life come between us. Today was the first time she’s been back since then.”
He frowns. "I'm confused."
"Aren't you always?" I tease.
He flips me the bird. "Idiot. No, I'm wonderin’ how best friends drift apart like that, especially if you were in love with her."
I sit bolt upright in my seat, my eyes bugging out of my head. "I wasn't in love with her."
My brother smirks. "Yeah right. You were and goin’ by your reaction at the diner and the state of you now, a part of you still is."
I slump back down in my seat but don't answer him, there's no point.
"Actually, I think Idoremember her, her red hair just threw me. Glasses, a little meek—which is surprisin’ given who her mother is—but quiet, definitely."
"That was her.”
"A bookworm. She kept to herself a lot," he says thoughtfully.
"Yeah. Except for me." I can’t help but smile to myself at that.
"She never came around home though, right?"
I shrug, feigning ignorance but I know exactly why. I didn't want to share her. In a loud, boisterous family of five kids and my parents, and being the second in the birth order, it was easy to avoid attention if you wanted to. We always had to share everything–hand me down shoes, clothes,sports gear, you name it. So, I made sure Charlie wasmineand mine alone—my friend, my treasure...mine.
"OK, don't answer that one. How about this then, how old were y’all when she left?” He flicks on the turning signal and drives into our long winding driveway. At least now I know I've got five minutes tops left of this inquisition.
“I was twenty-three and she was twenty. We were gettin' busy with the rodeo back then too. It was just as Rhett was hittin' his stride on the circuit and we were pushin’ for a spot for him on the tour," I say, sounding far too coherent given the number of shots the old timers at the bar plied me with.Didn’t help though.
Toby nods and thankfully falls silent. Resting my cheek against the headrest, I stare out the window and close my eyes.
“Do you though?” he asks quietly.
I slowly move so that I’m looking at him. “Do I what?”
“Love her?”
“How can I love her if I don’tknowher anymore?” Even though I already know the answer to that, ofcourseI love her. Even before I knew about the prophesy, I knew she wasitfor me.
“Fix that then,” he replies matter-of-factly.
A dry laugh bubbles out of me. “Fixwhat? There’s nothin’ to fix.”
He groans and rolls his eyes. “You may be a bit tipsy, but don’t play dumb. I know you can throw back double what you did today and still walk in a straight line. Get to know her, brother. Reconnect. See if somethin’ is there–orstillthere.”
I close my eyes and let out a slow deep breath, but all I can see is Charlie and her eyes… and that bright red hair that looked like it would be so soft to touch. “Maybe…”
"Well, here’s a taste of your own medicine. Stop sayin’ maybe and justdoit. You’re the most unselfish man I know. Maybe it’s time to do somethin’ for yourself for once.”
“Mmm,” I say, the heavy weight of sleep taking me over.
“Until then, you better not be fallin' asleep 'cause youknowI’ll make you pay for that,” he murmurs and suddenly I’mwideawake.
