Page 111 of Unspoken Hearts
Nodding, Grayson meets my gaze, his features sharp and rounded. “What about a new shed?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, knowing that we need more water tanks and feeding troughs. I peer at Grayson and nod. “If you think that’s important.”
“Well, I know we need more feeding stuff. But we can’t have that without a place to store it that’s dry.”
“True,” I utter, glancing at Dad, who is watching. I lick my bottom lip. “That’s a good idea.” The knot in my stomach tightens.
Grayson adds it to the list, before staring back at me, laser focused. “And we’ll need to replace the fruit trees that have died.”
Scratching the back of my neck, I go to say something, but Dad intervenes. “All great things, but we also need more water tanks for storage.”
I nod to that.
“Can we fit that in?” Grayson asks, looking back over the numbers.
Tongue poking the side of my cheek, I point to one of his notes. “Forget about the extra fuel for the tractor. That can wait. We should get the tanks before winter starts.”
Grayson frowns at the paper before staring up at me, the crease between his eyebrows deepening. “Why are you not fighting me on any of this?” he half demands, like he’s confused as to why I’m agreeing with him for the first time in a long time.
My brows pull together. “What do you mean?”
My brother stands, staring across at me with a sharpened gaze. “I mean, you’re just going along with everything I’m suggesting. Why aren’t you arguing with me?”
“I don’t have to argue with you on this. They’re all important things.”
His eyelids narrow.
Dad bangs a hand on the desk, gaining my attention. “If you two want to work together on this, then you need to agree. I think Reid is doing the right thing.”
Grayson shakes his head, making my frown intensify. “Why are you just agreeing with me? You never agree with me on anything.”
I let out a breath, ignoring dad’s glare as I focus on my younger brother. My hands rise, landing on his shoulders, squeezing gently. “Because working together means we have to agree, and if these are the things you want to work on first, then we will. We don’t need to argue about it.”
His mouth tightens as he glances at Dad, who remains silent between us.
“I shouldn’t have argued with you all the time as kids, or men. You're my brother, and if we are doing this together, then Dad is right, we have to agree on things,” I remind him in my calm tone as my insides twist uncomfortably.
Grayson’s gaze locks with mine, steady and unblinking. He nods slowly. “You’re right. We’re working together now.” He slumps back down into the chair.
I let out a slow breath, catching Dad’s calculating eyes. I can see the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what I’m up to, but he can’t. Grayson won’t either, until I gain his trust enough to break the news about Macie and I. With how twisted my organs feel, I’m hoping that it’s sooner rather than later.
Chapter thirty-one
Macie
“Grayson,canyoupleasegrab the marshmallows?” Laynie calls from the kitchen.
Standing from the couch, Grayson goes to help her. I glance over at Reid, sitting silently in his trackpants and loose tee, fingers tugging at his damp hair. I get the feeling that he’s distracted by something tonight, but I can’t figure out what it could be.
I haven’t had a moment alone with him since I walked through the door. Laynie drove me home and insisted that we join Grayson, Cole and Sawyer—who came back just for the festival—down by the creek.
I wanted to see Reid after the long day we’d had at Golden Hour prepping everything, but I couldn’t find him until dinner time. He sat down beside me at the long table, knee pressing against mine like he needed me to ground his thoughts, the connection bringing fire to my veins, but he looked a little bothered whenever I glanced his way. He also barely spoke, but that’s not unusual for him.
Our gazes meet, and I see how rounded and distant they look. I give him a twisted smile.
Grayson and Laynie disappear through the back door.
‘Are you okay?’ I mouth at him. Getting up, I walk towards him when he stands, towering over me. “Are you feeling okay?”
