Page 64 of A Lot Like Love
“Guess I’ll be seeing a lot of you boys soon, huh?”
Ryder left the bar with Parker’s high-pitched laugh ringing in his ears, drowning out the country music and loud voices. This was it. It was time to confess to his brothers and it wasn’t gonna be pretty. He glanced at Chloe over his shoulder, forgot everything else when he saw the heartbroken expression on her face. And then he was walking through the door and toward Nate in the parking lot.
“I’m gonna ask you again, Ryder, and I want a straight answer. What the hell was Parker talking about?” Nate’s voice had the same commanding, deep edge as their grandfather’s, only Ryder knew that unlike their granddad, Nate was capable of talking with his fists if he didn’t get the answer he wanted.
Chase moved around to stand beside Nate, his arms folded across his chest. Both Ryder’s brothers were staring at him, unblinking, waiting for an explanation.
“It was the night after the rodeo,” Ryder said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’d been gambling all night, playing poker, and I screwed up.”
“When you say screwed up, what exactly do you mean?” Chase asked.
Ryder glanced at Nate, saw the grim set of his mouth. “Parker upped the stakes, I had all aces, and I bet my third of the ranch.” He blew out a breath. “I thought I was gonna burgle his ranch out from under him. Instead I lost mine.”
“You lied to me,” Chase ground out. “You lied to me when I told you what I’d heard!”
Ryder hung his head. “Yeah, I did. I wanted to get it sorted before you guys had to find out.”
Nate stalked the few feet between them until his big frame was almost touching Ryder’s. Nate had a slight height advantage as he locked eyes on his, his anger almost tangible.
“You thought you had the right to gamble our land away?” His voice was a low, menacing rasp.
Ryder met his brother’s stare. “I’ve done a lot of stupid shit in my life, Nate, but I’ll never forgive myself for this.”
“Damn fucking right you won’t.”
The punch connected with the side of his face before Ryder even saw it coming. One second Nate was staring at him, the next his fist was flying through the air. The blow sent Ryder reeling, stumbling backward with the force of it, head pounding as he covered his face in case Nate came at him again.
“What the hell are we going to tell Granddad?” Ryder heard Chase say. He tried to focus on his brothers. From where he was staggering it looked like there were six of them standing talking.
“He knows,” Ryder muttered, spitting to see if there was blood.
“What did you say?” Nate asked, coming closer again.
Ryder straightened and held up his hands, not wanting to get into a fight. He was prepared this time, wasn’t going to let Nate too close, or miss one of his fists again, but he wasn’t going to say anything.
“He knows. When you saw me in there with him this morning, I was telling him everything.”
“Dammit, Ryder! He’s got cancer. Have you missed the part about us trying not to cause him any stress?”
“This is low, even for you,” Chase muttered.
“Don’t you dare,” Ryder hissed. “Yeah, I’ve screwed up big-time, but don’t you make out like I’ve always been some kind of royal fuckup.”
Chase looked as imposing as Nate now, standing way too close and glaring at him like he was ready to draw blood. But Ryder had had enough.
“Do you have any idea what it must have been like for Granddad worrying about you all those years? When you went off to have fun and we never heard from you?” Nate asked.
“You heard from me plenty,” Ryder said. “And I’ll have you know that Granddad was damn proud of me.”
“Don’t…”
“No,” Ryder said, interrupting Nate. “You’re the golden boy primed to take over the family business. Chase, you’ve wanted to run the ranch all your life. Where did that leave me?”
“Don’t play the poor-me card,” Chase said, unfolding his arms. “We’ve all been lucky and we know it.”
“I’m not saying I haven’t been lucky. But you guys knew your place in the world and I didn’t. So for all the shit you give me about what I do, it’s my choice. I’ve screwed up big-time here, but I’m gonna make it right. Just you wait.”
“That what you told Granddad?” Nate asked, his fists still bunched.
