His brother laughed. “So what brought this on?”
Tripp craned his neck to the side and glanced at his brother. “A couple things.”
“Like?”
Blowing out a breath, he returned his focus to the ceiling. “You and Wendy for starters.” When his brother didn’t comment or ask for clarification, Tripp continued. “Both of you have these dreams of doing something you love. Whether for fun or for a career. It made me realize that I had something I’ve always been interested in, too.”
Brent huffed a derisive laugh. “I’d say mine is more of a pipe dream based on the way our folks would disown me if I even looked too long at the broncs going into the arena.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Tripp mused, a smile tugging at his lips. “But can you blame them? A lot of people get hurt in that job.”
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt.”
“Maybe you should be.”
“Why?”
Tripp glanced over at his younger brother again. “Because life is short enough as it is. Risking it all for some shot of adrenaline isn’t worth it, is it?”
“Says you. The fact that you look at it that way means you don’t understand anything.” The bitterness in Brent’s tone made it clear Tripp had hit a nerve. He’d never stood in Brent’s way when it came to him researching the field or going to the rodeo to watch his friends compete. Heck, he’d never even told their parents that Brent longed to join them.
He’d continue to keep that secret as long as Brent needed him to.
Sighing, Tripp closed his eyes. He was being a hypocrite. Life was too short. Which meant that he was wasting the possibility of having more with Wendy all because he was scared of triggering something and losing her. Was it really worth it to maintain the status quo? Or was he just driving himself insane with each passing day?
“What are you going to do with that typewriter and desk?”
Tripp sighed again. He’d purchased the typewriter and desk at the last estate sale with the intention of giving it to Wendy when the time was right. Something was holding him back. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he got the feeling that it was just too much and it too would scare her off. “I don’t know yet.”
“You think Wendy would want to sell it?” Brent was baiting him. He knew darn well that Tripp had gotten the set for Wendy. He was just digging for information. Currently, they sat covered by a drop cloth in the garage. One day he’d figure out how to give it to her without making her feel put on the spot.
“Yeah, maybe,” he muttered noncommittally.
Brent snorted but he didn’t comment further. They were both grappling with decisions they were too scared to pull the trigger on. Two peas in a pod. Two cowards. And he didn’t even feel equipped to tell his brother to just go for it because he couldn’t do the same.
His brother got to his feet and strode for the door. “Not that you asked, but I think being a horse dentist suits you. Any man who lets his fears stand in the way of getting what he wants doesn’t deserve to have it.” Then he disappeared down the hallway.
Tripp chuckled despite himself. Leave it to Brent to lay all the cards out on the table without a second thought. Little did he know that his last statement applied to more than just the job.
This was getting ridiculous.
Didn’t Wendy know that her messages sent receipts that she’d read them?
One whole week where his messages were left as read with no reply. One whole week where he stopped in at the shop but she managed to duck out the back before he could talk to her. One. Whole. Week. He’d continued to capture glimpses of her but she managed to escape him. No answered calls. No returned messages.
What had he done to deserve this kind of treatment? They’d been on good terms. Nothing made sense.
Tripp was going crazy. He could feel it in the way his body tensed at the mere thought of her. He was distracted. Yes, he’d finally pinned down what program he’d use for the equine dentistry certification, but not even that seemed to quell the growing anxiety within him.
Then a thought occurred to him that had his body breaking out in cold sweats.
What if she’d found someone else and she didn’t know how to tell him?
Just like Olivia had settled down with someone better.
Just like Vallerie.
He’d bumped into her at the coffee shop last week and she’d practically shoved her engagement ring in his face. She was glowing. They’d dated for maybe a week a couple months before he’d met Wendy. And now she was engaged.
