“Did you need him for somethin’?”
Brantley looked at Reese, then back to Gage. “Just wanted to check in. See how he’s doin’. He called me a couple of weeks ago but didn’t tell me what it was about. I heard he’s havin’ a rough time.” Brantley shrugged. “You know how the grapevine is.”
The answer was there in Gage’s brown eyes, but the man’s expression closed instantly.
“Just tell us if there’s somethin’ we can do,” Brantley told him earnestly. He didn’t want to pry, but he did want to help in whatever way he possibly could.
“At the moment … no.”
“Meaning you’ve been ordered not to talk to us until after the wedding?” Reese inquired.
“Somethin’ like that.”
So that was the theme? Travis was holding off until after they got married? Did that mean it was something big? Something that would consume them all?
“We stopped by and talked to Holt Callahan before we came over here,” Brantley informed him, hoping that might trigger his need to spill the beans.
It didn’t.
Gage sighed. “Look. It’s an interesting turn of events, but at this point, we’ve got nothin’. Not enough to pull you into it. Not yet.”
Brantley wanted to argue, but he could tell Gage was going to shut them down. As much as he wanted to help, it didn’t sound like a pressing issue. Not pressing enough for Brantley to push too hard.
“Seriously,” Gage added. “I told Travis we’d sit down and talk to youafterthe wedding. At that point, we’ll gladly take your help. Until then…”
Brantley held up his hands. “I know when to back off.”
Gage looked at Reese and grinned. “I thought that was one of those statements that Navy SEALs eradicated from their vocabulary when they got their trident. Along with shit likeI surrenderandno, sir.”
“Personally, I’ve never heard him sayanyof those things.” Reese laughed.
“Fine. I know when to take a break,” Brantley told him, feeling some of the tension dissolve. “But only for five more days.”
“No honeymoon?”
“We plan to, but not until we’ve got a little time to enjoy it.”
“You should do it before you have kids,” Gage said with a laugh.
Brantley glanced at Reese, then back to Gage. “Duly noted.”
Reese shifted back as though gearing up to leave. “You and Travis gonna make it to the bachelor party on Wednesday?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I’m just wonderin’ how y’all plan to fit all your friends and family into that place. And not exceed the fire code.”
Brantley chuckled. “We’ll make it work if we have to sit in the parkin’ lot.”
“Now,thatI believe.”
“Tell Travis I’m here if he needs me,” Brantley told Gage as he turned to leave. “If it’s urgent, I don’t want y’all waitin’.”
“It’s not.”
Brantley could tell he was lying, but pressing the issue at this point would likely send them all into a tailspin. As selfish as it made him, Brantley didn’t want to do anything to ruin this wedding for Reese. As far as he was concerned, he would’ve been happy to elope, but he knew Reese was looking forward to the big affair, and Brantley wanted to give him that.
“We’ll see you Wednesday night,” Brantley said before letting Tesha and Reese lead the way to the door.
***
