“Reilly? What does she have to do with this?”
Zane’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t talk to her?”
“Not in a few days, no.”
A sheepish grin pulled at his cousin’s mouth. “Let’s just say that sister of yours is one of a kind.”
She was that, though Stone wasn’t sure why Zane thought so.
“She dressed me down good. Right in the middle of the diner.”
“What?”
Zane laughed. “She missed her calling. That girl could be president one day. Or maybe in charge of the CIA. She’s quite the interrogator.” He poked the toe of his boot against the ground. “She made me realize I was bein’ an idiot. I let my personal bullshit interfere when I shouldn’t have.”
“What personal bullshit?”
Zane shook his head. “I’ll let her give you the lowdown.” He cocked his chin toward the house. “Right now, they’re waitin’ for you, and it’s too fuckin’ cold to stand out here when the only thing you need to know is that I’m sorry. I know you left because you were chasin’ your dream. It’s not my place to judge you for that.”
“Chasin’ my dream, huh?” Stone waited for Zane to look up. “That makes it sound almost noble.”
Zane frowned.
“It’s true, I wanted to work on a ranch, thought I could make a career out of it, but it wasn’t really ever my dream. I lied to myself for a long time, tryin’ to make it mine, but it didn’t stick.”
“Why’d you leave then?”
“Because I was in love with Stevie.”
Zane’s forehead creased, his confusion evident.
“I was in love with her,” Stone clarified, “but confused after … after somethin’ happened with Nico. It took one night with the two of them for me to realize what I needed to be complete.”
“Two partners?” Zane prompted.
“Yeah. But Stevie was still in high school, and I had nothin’ to offer her. When I thought about what I would want from her at that point, what I might ask of her, I knew she deserved more than that. So, no, I wasn’t chasin’ a dream. I was runnin’ from the only thing I’ve ever loved.”
“Wow. That…” Zane inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “That makes so much damn sense.”
He wasn’t being facetious, so Stone waited for him to say more.
“Love makes you do crazy things, huh?” Zane asked. “Your sister tells me you’re with Stevie and Nico now.”
“I am. And this time around, I won’t take it for granted.”
“A hard lesson to learn.”
That was an understatement.
“I guess I should’ve heard you out, huh? Would’ve saved us both some time.” Zane stood taller. “I’m sorry for the part I played in this. Like I said, personal bullshit got in the way.”
The last thing Stone expected was an apology. He thought for sure he was being summoned so his aunt and uncle could deliver the bad news in person. He’d even come up with a speech of his own because, as far as he was concerned, it was all behind them. Stone wouldn’t hold a grudge. In fact, he understood.
“We good?” Zane asked, his eyes glittering with what looked a hell of a lot like hope as he held out his hand.
Stone clapped his palm against Zane’s, then pulled him in for a back-slapping hug. “Of course we are, man.”
Zane hugged him back. “Maybe you can swing by the house one of these days. The boys would love to see you. And V’s eager to hear more cowboy stories. She was pissed that Beau got to hear ’em before she did.”
