“The only thing I’m going to say is that you’ve spent the last, what, thirty years making sure everyone else is happy? You’ve been dutiful beyond compare. Reliable. Selfless. Responsible. You deserve to be happy too, Cade.”

Responsible. That word follows me around like the plague. It haunts my dreams at night.

Fucking responsible.

He turns his massive frame and ambles away to whatever fancy SUV he drives now.

“You coming to the reunion?” I call out, not totally sure what to say to him. The guy is quiet all the time and then hits me with that shit.

“Wouldn’t miss it!” he calls back without even looking at me.

“You roping?”

He lets out a deep, amused hum. “Nope, I would never do that.”

Every year he refuses to admit that he’s going to rope. Something about riding horses being not allowed in his contract. Along with motorbikes, sky diving, and using fireworks.

But every year, I saddle him a horse, and every year he gets on. No one talks about it, but the kid can still throw one hell of a lasso.

Rhett waters Blueberry and then gives her a kind pat. “Way to show up the fancy horses, Blue. That’s the Eaton way.”

I watch through the window of my trailer, but Rhett catches me. “You’re lucky she tolerates you.” He chucks his chin at me as he says it.

“Blue?” I ask.

My brother shakes his head and turns away to toss the bucket of water out of the trailer while I latch up the doors. I’m still waiting for him to respond to my question but the asshole doesn’t.

For all the years he’s spent running his mouth, he’s got nothing to say to me right now.

“See you at home?” I call out as he heads over to Jasper’s vehicle.

“Yup.” He waves over his shoulder.

“Tell Summer to keep those goddamn snakeskin boots to herself!” I call, hoping to engage him. I’d rather argue with Rhett than get his cold shoulder. He’s spent his entire life bitching at me, and I want him to keep going.

When he gets to the passenger’s side door, he turns and glares back at me, a faint tip to his lips. “I don’t tell Summer what to do. Wouldn’t listen if I tried. That’s the best kind of woman if you ask me.” He winks and hops in with Jasper. They peel away with a wave, and I’m sure they’ll gossip like little biddies about me on their drive back to Chestnut Springs.

The ladies in town have nothing on them.

Assholes.

Luke is still asleep when I hop in the truck, which means it’s just me and my vicious thoughts on the drive.

Me and my regrets.