Page 30 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“I lost my job, Wyatt.” Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d blurted.
He stared at her a second. “What?”
She kept her gaze from meeting his. “I lost my job the day before I came here. I thought I was getting a promotion, but when I went to the meeting, they were letting me go. They’re going a new direction, and it’s out with the old and in with the new.”
“I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
She hugged herself. “I don’t know. Coming back home, no job. I felt like a failure.”
Hewas sorry. She’d spent four and a half years building a life in Charleston, only to fail. What if she went in with him and this failed too? It was only money now, but later…who knows what it’d be.
Scoffing, he said, “You aren’t. You never have been. You’ve always put your heart and soul into everything. You always worked to be the best at whatever you set your mind to. That’s why I always wanted advice from you. You always asked the questions most people didn’t think to ask.”
“Maybe, but maybe this is also a good thing.” Gabby waved him off, frustrated that she’d let that fact slip. “And besides that, you’re still bull riding. This is a lovely fantasy, but there’s no way it can be a reality. It was silly talk between two teenagers.”
“Yes, it can. Money isn’t the only thing that makes a partnership. It’s vision, determination, and hard work. Just because you don’t have the money doesn’t mean you can’t participate. You have other things that are just as valuable.”
Gabby lifted her gaze to his. “We need to get back, and there’s no point in talking about this, especially since you’re still bull riding.”
He swore under his breath, waited a beat, and then said, “I’m not.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Well, I am, but I can’t stay on eight seconds.”
“Why? Because of the accident?”
He scrubbed his face with his hands and nodded. “Yes, I’m…afraid. Every time I ride, all I can think about is getting trampled. I woke up after the accident in more pain than I’d ever experienced. I panic.”
Her Wyatt…frightened? No confidence? She couldn’t even picture it. Was that why he’d snapped at her that first day? He was ashamed to admit he was scared of getting hurt again? Gabby had never heard him talk like this before. When she didn’t say anything, he continued.
“See? I’m worthless. I’ve been living on ramen noodles and cheap frozen meals because I want to earn my keep. That lottery money is still just sitting in the bank, doing nothing.”
She moved closer to him, laying her palm on his chest. “Oh, Wyatt, no. That’s not true. You’re worth more than an eight-second ride. Is that why you’re wanting to fix this house up?”
He shrugged. “I thought maybe it would make me feel useful.” His voice was low and thick.
She lifted her hand and palmed his cheek. “Your worth is not tied to this house, bull riding, or anything else. You have value because of your heart. You’ve always stood up for the little guy. When Bear wasn’t around, you’d protect Bandit. Remember when Carrie Anne and I broke our arms? You’re the one who hugged us and whispered that everything would be okay.”
“I’m thinking I’m going to quit.”
“Quit? Don’t say that. You’ve never been a quitter in your life.” She never thought she’d hear those words come from his lips. It made her ache to hear him say it.
Carrie Anne relayed that Wyatt had been hurt, but she’d never told Gabby how badly. She had figured Lori was by his side. Only, she hadn’t been. He’d had his family, sure, but Gabby should have been there for him. It shouldn’t have mattered how hard it would have been. He’d needed her, and she’d let him down.
He lifted his gaze to hers. “What else is there to do? If I can’t stay on the bull, what’s the point?”
“You keep fighting until you can.”
“I know everyone thinks I’m stupid—“
“No, they don’t. Wyatt, you aren’t stupid.”
He leveled his gaze at her. “Gabby, come on. I’m the thick-headed doofus of the family. Bear bought this place. Hunter flips houses. Josiah sells commercial real estate. And then there’s me. Too dumb to really do anything with his life, so he rides bulls.”
She’d never heard him talk like this before. All this time, she’d been thinking she was the only one who’d grown up while she was gone. “It takes skill to ride a bull. It’s not something everyone can do. Granted, there’s a two-ton animal bent on goring you to death, and that can be a little off-putting, but it does take a level of talent and courage most don’t possess.”
He pulled his Stetson off and set it in his lap. “I guess so,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
