Page 54 of Giddy-Up
This was like getting blood from a fucking stone.
Matt shrugged.“All I know is that I don’t want it with her.”
Ouch.
“Then you need to tell her.”
“Oh yeah, that’s gonna goreallywell.So, Melody, I know we’ve been together five years and everything, but I think we should call it quits.Mostly ‘cause I don’t wanna marry you and I don’t want you to be the mother of my children.”
Wade flinched.That was harsh.The truth, but so dang harsh.
“There are better ways of putting it, Matt, and you know it.What else is holding you back?”
His brother was a straight shooter.It wasn’t often he’d bite his tongue.Which meant there was something else stopping him from telling Melody the truth.
Matt’s eyes hit the table again, this time they were on his plate as he pushed what was left of his fries to one side.“She was with me before the accident,” he muttered.His voice so quiet, it could have been a whisper.
“So?”
“So?” Matt returned, clearly agitated.“She stuck by me.Was loyal.Don’t forget, we got together when I wassomeone.A bull rider.Then after the accident, she ended up with some fucking broken cowboy.And she still stayed.”
Just the mention of the accident had Wade’s fists clenching.Years ago, Matt had broken his ribs in a competition, which wasn’t unusual for a bull rider.That wasn’t the issue.A week after he was injured, his manager convinced him to ride another rodeo because he had a sponsor coming.It was safe to say it didn’t end well.In fact, his brother was lucky to be alive.
Wade downed his drink in an attempt to wash away some of the bitterness now tinging his tongue.
“You get it now?”Matt asked.
Oh, he got it alright.Good old guilt was keeping them together.
Wade clinked his glass down.“I get it.But that doesn’t mean it’s okay.”He pinned his brother with a serious stare.“Melody doesn’t give two shits about you being a bull rider.You were only together for a few months before the accident so really, for the majority of your relationship this is who you’ve been.”
When Matt’s gaze went back to his plate, Wade decided to try and lighten the mood.“I wouldn’t go as far to say you’rebrokenthough...that’s a little fucking dramatic...a rancher who’sonly kind of badat his job maybe, but not broken.”
He didn’t miss his brother’s lips kick up at the sides.“You’re an asshole.”
“Yup.You gonna talk to Melody?”
Matt nodded but didn’t say anymore.That was good enough for Wade.One problem dealt with, now he had to work out what was going on with his own relationship.Talking of which, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and shot Riley a message.
Wade: On my way back to the ranch now.You still going to be doing laundry at my place this afternoon?
Three little dots appeared right away.
Riley: Yes, I’m on my way.
Wade’s stomach flip-flopped.Please don’t be anything bad.Because a one-week relationship wouldn’t just be pathetic, it would be so damn typical of his luck.
