Page 112 of Unspoken Hearts
“Yeah,” he murmurs, but it sounds hollow.
“If something is wrong—”
“It’s just a headache, Mae.”
Nodding, I walk into the kitchen to get him some water. Reid grabs some tablets, tossing them down his throat. I watch him with wide eyes when he downs half his drink like he’s skilled in this.
Clearing his throat, Reid leans on the bench, closing his eyes. I’m not sure if he’s avoiding looking at me, or if he’s in too much pain.
“I get really bad migraines, especially when I’m stressed or triggered by loud noises.”
Swallowing, I look down at the half full glass. I’ve seen it a few times, like the night in the pub and other occasions in the past when Reid’s left early or looked irritated. Honestly, I always thought when I was younger that he just couldn’t stand being in the same room as Grayson and I for too long. It made me think that he didn’t like me, but now…
“You’ve never told me that,” I whisper, not wanting my voice to be too loud.
Reid shakes his head lightly. “No. Nobody knows except for my family, and some teachers when we were in school, but back then it wasn’t as bad.”
I look into his shiny eyes, feeling mine prickle a little with realisation. My quiet, sometimes grumpy man suffers from something I had no idea about. Why didn’t he tell me?
“Is this why you prefer being alone?”
He nods slowly, reaching out to hold my hand. “But I like when you’re with me. Not anyone else,” Reid admits in a small voice.
My heart warms as I lean against the bench.
Laynie ducks back in through the door.
Our hands break apart like retreating turtles. She definitely sees our little moment and clears her throat, concealing a smile. “Everyone wants hot chocolates.”
I’m glad she didn’t say anything. I doubt Reid is in the mood for that conversation right now.
“We’ll make them,” I tell her. “I’ll bring them out in a few minutes.”
Laynie looks between us again before heading back outside. I wait a long beat before looking back up at Reid, whose eyes are half-lidded.
“Is this stressing you out?” I ask, flicking a finger between the two of us before I move to fill up the kettle.
Reid groans, nodding. “Not you. I want to be with you, Mae. You know that.”
“But Grayson?”
He nods again, holding his forehead. A sharp spike of worry runs through me. “I’m trying to mend this rift between us, but I don’t know if it’s working.”
“How?”
Looking at me, he tells me about the ranch and their meeting today that didn’t go entirely to plan.
“You’ll figure it out as you go, though. You can’t expect to agree on everything right away. I think maybe you’re putting too much pressure on yourself,” I remind him gently.
“I know. I just want it to work out. I don’t want to screw up everything my grandad made.”
Grabbing out eight mugs and a kiddy cup for Aspen, Reid groans again. I can see him wobbling a little. My eyes widen as I grab a hold ofhis arms. “Do you want to go and rest upstairs?” My voice sounds more than a little stressed as he holds his temple.
“Yes,” he grunts, pressing his eyes shut.
I hold him against the bench. “Okay, don’t move.” I rush outside onto the porch to see the fire lit in the middle of the property.
Jogging up to Hazel and Austin sitting on a wooden log together, her eyes widen as she sees me approaching. “Macie, is something wrong?”
