Downpour (The Griffith Brothers, #2)

by Maggie C. Gates

“And you think I can convince...

“You’ve made it this long without getting fired. He must think you’r...

“How long have you been able to...” “Use my legs?”

“A few weeks. It’s hit or miss. I’ve been working on it in physical therapy. Sometimes my body decides it’s going to cooperate and other times I can’t get out of my wheelchair.”

“You can trust me. I won’t tell.” Because she needed the money. Not because she wanted me. I couldn’t let myself forget that.

“Can I give you a hug?”

“Why?”

“Because I have a feeling that you haven’t had one in a while. And if we’re keeping secrets, what’s one more? Besides, I like hugging it out afte...

“Come here, Sunnyside.”

“See? Don’t you feel so much better?”

“Yeah.” I let out a heavy breath. “It feels good.” And I didn’t want to let go.

“Oh my god. Pollyanna got him to leave the house.”

I had watched them grow up like they were mine. I used to be Superman to them. Invincible. They used to look at me like I hung the moon. Those two used to be my world.

It made my skin crawl. My neck tensed. I wanted to get out of there.

Then I felt her. Brooke squeezed my left hand under the table.

Behind the privacy of the tablecloth, Brooke’s fingers slipped between mine.

Brooke’s responding laugh sounded like wind chimes dancing in the breeze as a storm passed. Her thumb stroking across the top of mine was the break in the clouds. It was the promise of sunshine on the other side. So I kept my head down and finished my plate. But Brooke never let go.

From across the table, CJ tipped his chin at Brooke. She smiled. I didn’t like that. Didn’t like it one bit.

“And one for that sweet girl too. She was a lucky find, wasn’t she?” “Lightning in a bottle,” I said under my breath. Mom chuckled. “That’s the truth.”

“If the clouds don’t part where you are, keep going until you find your sunshine.”

Brooke devoured her pie in two bites.

“You weren’t full, were you?” A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. “I’ll never tell.”

I had dreams of him. Dreams of those tattooed arms and his chest. Every night, I fell asleep to the delusion that I was back on the couch with my head in his lap. I fantasized about his fingers combing through my hair and gliding over my shoulder.

Thoughts of Ray’s hand tangled with mine when we ate dinner at his parents’ house floated through my mind. His hands were calloused from using his wheelchair, but they felt so strong. So safe. I didn’t want to let go.

“Drink this.” “Are you a serial killer? Are you going to poison me?” “No, but I might kill my brother after he tells me why he let you out this way.”

“You know Ray’s gonna chew your ass out about this, right?” The thought of Ray anywhere near my ass made my spine turn electric.

“He’s the one who told me to go on a walk.”

“Yeah, and he’s the one who called me when you didn’t come back after two hours a...

“You’re gonna get yelled at, but you’re not getting fired. He likes you too much.” “He doesn’t like me. He tolerates me.” “For Ray, that’s the same thing.”

“Take your shirt off.” Hello, fantasy.

“Yeah. They were my girls as much as they were Christian’s.” “Why won’t you talk to them or let them see you?”

“Because I’m not their hero anymore.” “I don’t know about that.”

“I don’t think you were their hero because you were a rodeo star. You were their hero because you were there for them when they needed you. So, yeah. You’re not their hero right now because you won’t let them see you. You chose that. It has nothing to do with being able to walk or not.”

A three-word response was the best I could do when I wanted to tell her that this was the first and only weekend I wanted her away.

“Can you back your truck up under that tree?” I pointed to the big one by the pond that Brooke liked. “I wanna hang a tire swing.”

“I guess Bree might be a little old for it.”

“No. She’ll love it. I’ll see if I can convince her to come down here and check it out.” “What do you mean?”

“She’s hurt, man. I kept them from seeing you when you were in the ICU. They lost their mom, and

I didn’t know what seeing you intubated would do to them. They wanted to see you when you woke up after the accident, but you wouldn’t let them,”

“You moved back to the ranch and refused to see them for a year while you were up at the main house. Then you had this place built, and you still wouldn’t let them see you. Then you just showed up at family dinner unannounced. They’re hurt. They feel like y...

“I mean, that’s young, but she’s not a kid. She’s not even in college.” “I’m twelve years older than she is. That’s too much.”

It didn’t help that I did want Brooke in ways I shouldn’t. It didn’t help that every time I saw my nieces, I was reminded that having kids of my own was a bad idea.

“I don’t think I ever said I was sorry for everything you lost.”

I coped by working and moving forward. I had the girls to think about, and I had to hold on to the good moments to deal with the downpour. And I’m sorry for putting that expectation on you.”

I had only been gone for a day and a half, but I missed it. The ranch was a craving that just wouldn’t go away. But so was he.

“Surprisingly, it did,” I said as I walked by his side down the ramp. “I am a little curious how the engine magically doesn’t rattle anymore. Or how the oil magically got changed? Or how the sticker on my dashboard disappeared?” Ray didn’t even glance over at me. “Weird shit happens on the ranch. Could’ve been the cows.”

tire swing hung from a thick branch. A quilt was spread out off to the side with a picnic basket on top. “Ray…”

I wanted to be carried away to a world where no one but Ray and I existed.

Ray cradled my head beneath his chin. He was taller than me, but not by much. It felt like we fit together like long-lost puzzle

pieces. Maybe I dreamt it, but I could have swore he kissed my head.