“You know?—”
“No sense in rehashing the past, darling,” I said, leaving my room, not needing a reminder.
“Fine, but please think about that charity event, and I think I might have Carp Pro willing to do a sponsorship.”
“Seriously?!” I almost squealed. “How the hell did you manage that?”
“I’m fabulous, that’s how,” she said. “We might have to sell a little of the family, but nothing they will have to be involved with.”
My stomach soured.
“Josephina,” I growled.
“Nash,” she said, condescendingly.
“I don’t want any ties with them,” I snapped.
“I know, but if I can sell a family man image, then maybe we can secure this very generous offer. If the son of the owner of a very large store chain just came out as gay, I think this is the father’s way of showing his support for his son,” she said, her heels clicking in the background notifying him she was on the move. “They are very big on family values.”
Telling her I was married was on the tip of my tongue because now I was wondering if being married was a plus and not a hindrance like I had assumed. It would make Jo furious that I hadn’t told her, but that meant I would have to talk to my wife. With how much I dodged her calls, I didn’t see that going well.
“Trust me,” Jo sighed. “I know how much tension y’all have and how much you need to do this without them.”
“Ok, thank you,” I said, relieved to get into my truck.
“I’ll call you if I find anything else, but if you need me or anything happens, call me first,” she demanded.
“You got it, Jo,” I said as she ended the call without a goodbye.
My phone rang immediately. I answered it, thinking it was Jo, cringing when I realized it was my older brother, Brooks.
“Yeah?” I said. I started my truck.
“So, you don’t answer me, but you’ll answer your brother?” My father’s sharp voice came through.
Fuck. Just my fucking luck.
“I just got out of a photoshoot,” I said, grimacing at my excuse.
“That was only ten minutes ago,” he snapped.
“Exactly, I just got out,” I sighed. “I barely got into my car.”
“When I call, I expect a fucking answer, Nash,” he clipped.
I clenched my jaw, biting my tongue from the response I really wanted to give him.
“If I’m not busy, father, I will always answer,” I said. “Rodeo season is about to start and I’m always busy?—”
“I need to talk to your wife,” he growled. “She hasn’t been answering my calls and I need her to sign a few things that weren’t filed properly. There is also a piece of land that I need the deed for.”
“Ok, I’m not with her right now, but I’ll get in touch with her and have her call you,” I said, ready to end this fucking call.
“You do that. I need for this to happen as soon as possible,” he sighed. “I hope I don’t need to remind you who sponsors your little bull riding hobby.”
I scoffed. “Oh, no sir, you make sure I never forget.”
“Get your wife in order,” he said angrily. “I need that paperwork.”
