He shrugs before stepping outside and gesturing for me to have a seat. “I’m fine. Did you come all the way out here to ask how I’m feeling?”
I let out a wry laugh. This shouldn’t be so hard, but I guess it’s my fault. Looking back on the past several years, it’s not hard to understand why he thinks I do nothing but give him shit all the time. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t mean to come off that way. I did. And I didn’t try to change. All I can do now is talk to him and hope I’m not too late.
“You still pissed at me for Boulder Ranch?” I ask.
Gray studies me for a long moment before he responds. “I’m not pissed. I just think it’s bullshit that I can’t have one fucking thing for myself. It’s not enough that you also compete there once a month like I do?”
“Gray, listen,” I begin, stretching my arms out. “I’m not even going to compete like that anymore. If it was about winning, I wouldn’t have bought the place. I bought it forus.”
He stares at me in confusion, hostility all over his face. “What the hell do you mean, you bought it for us?”
“I bought it because I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else buying it and then getting rid of the rodeo and bull riding after we practically grew up there. I bought it and hoped you’d be interested in helping me. Something that could just be for us.”
He continues to stare at me. “What?”
“Gray, listen. I’m so sorry for how things have been, but I really hope we can get past it. We haven’t always been like this. I think we can work together or something. If you want. Just let me know.”
“Work together?” He looks at me, confusion etched in his features.
“Yeah. As in, help me run the place. You don’t have to give me an answer right now, but I really need the help, so the sooner the better. I’d rather have you there then have to hire a stranger I can’t trust.” I stand and reach out my hand. “Promise you’ll at least think about it?”
He zeroes in on my hand for a moment before he finally reaches out and takes it. “I’ll let you know.”
Relief floods through me with those four words. Hell, the fact that we got through the conversation without a screaming match or any punches thrown feels like a huge win. This conversation was a long time coming. I still feel like shit for the way things have been between us. As the older brother, I should have handled it better. But hopefully, this is the start of a new beginning for us. Only time will tell.
Thoughts of fresh starts flash across my mind as I make my way to the truck. I honestly couldn’t have imagined a better way for our conversation to go. I need help at the ranch. That’s a fact. And it is the honest truth that I would rather have that help come from my brother who I trust despite not always getting along.
“Tate. Hi,” Rayna greets me as soon as I walk into the Family Health Center. “Joy is with a patient. She didn’t tell me you were coming, or I could have done the intake for her.”
“Don’t worry about it. She didn’t know I was coming,” I respond, holding up a paper bag from the market. “Did you all eat? I stopped by the market and picked up some sandwiches.”
Rayna’s smile stretches as she looks from me to the bag, and back toward the exam rooms. I promised to be discreet when we’re at the ranch, but this isn’t the ranch. Rayna is Joy’s best friend, Dr. Robinson already knows, and the nurse doesn’t work on the days Joy works.
“You came out this way just to bring Joy lunch?” Her smile grows wider.
“I brought you a sandwich, too.” I reach into the bag and pull out a sandwich wrapped in butcher paper. “Smoked turkey melt.”
Her eyes widen, and she leans forward to reach for her sandwich. I didn’t want to show up with food as if Joy was the only person here. But I would be lying if I didn’t also do it for selfish reasons. I’m hoping Rayna won’t give me shit since I thought of her.
Rayna returns her attention to me just as I hear the exam room door open. Joy walks out with her face still buried in the tablet so I use the opportunity to drag my eyes over her. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her in scrubs, but each time I lay eyes on her I find something else to appreciate. The black scrubs are loose but cling in all the right places to remind me what’s underneath. Her curls are pulled back in a ponytail showing off the delicate curve of her neck.
“Oh. Hi,” she says with a gasp when she finally looks up.
“Hey.” I step closer and she stiffens before glancing at her friend. “I brought lunch.”
She relaxes a bit at the sight of the bag. “Oh. Thanks.”
I knew she might get upset at me showing up at her work, but I didn’t think it would be this awkward. I want to pull her to me. I want to kiss her and tell her how much I missed her. But something tells me that’s not the way to go.
“Did you eat, Tate? Joy, I can cover for you if you want to have lunch together,” Rayna offers.
I shake my head in answer to her question to me, and Joy offers a flat smile. “Thanks.”
I follow her down the hallway and out the back door to a small patio where we sit at one of the picnic tables. I’m quiet as I pass out our food. Hopefully she explains why she’s acting like a stranger, so I don’t have to come out and ask.
“I’m sorry,” she begins after a long silence. “I just wasn’t expecting to see you here. Thanks for bringing lunch.”
“I didn’t think it would be a problem since Rayna is your best friend and knows about us.”
