“Think this over. You know there is something big between us. Don’t. End. This.”
“Bye, Wade.”
Bullshit. He hung up first and called Dane. “Wanna go for a rumble?”
Dane huffed. “Hell no. What are you in to now?”
“Sophie’s brother is an asshole, but he doesn’t deserve to have his ass kicked when he’s drunk out of his mind.” He reflected on what Clay had done to Sophie the day he’d met her. She’d be better with him out of her life, but that wasn’t his call. Another loss would do her in.
“Wade? What do you plan on doing?” Dane asked.
“Giving moral support, I guess.”
“You’re an idiot.” Dane muted his end of the phone.
Wade paced around his yard while Dane must’ve explained this bullshit to whoever was near. He was an idiot for getting involved. He went back inside, got a drink of water, and he leaned against the counter, waiting. He tapped his fingers against his thigh.
“Sorry,” Dane said when he came back on the line. “I guess I’m a bigger idiot. Where’s it going down?”
“Sophie said out of town toward this way. Rocky’s has to be the place.”
“She asked you to do this for her? Wake up, Wade.”
“Hell no. The opposite. She dumped me. You know what? I don’t care.”
“Don’t go rolling it up with someone because you don’t care.”
“That’s not it, Dane. I’m leaving.”
“Shit, I’ll meet you there. I’m not fighting. We’re not seventeen anymore. Leon will throw your ass in jail. For what? A piece of—”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Chapter 10
Wade got in his truck and took off toward Rocky’s, asking himself why the whole time, but his brother’s bloody-raw face from his own fights formed in his mind. It wasn’t because of Sophie anymore. He was getting good at good-bye.
Sure enough, when he pulled in, her brother’s truck was there. Wade got out and headed in, but a group stumbled out the door, and Clay went flying into the sand. Sonofabitch. He lifted his palm to the group. “Hey, guys, let me take him home. It’s over for tonight.”
A grubby looking ranch hand Wade knew from another ranch kicked Clay in the gut. Wade dragged the guy away from Clay. Another snarling idiot he knew threw a punch toward Wade but pulled it back. “Wade? What the fuck? You know this asshole?”
“Yeah, unfortunately. Come on, Clay. Get up.”
Clay got up from the ground and staggered toward Wade. “You? Shit, get the hell out of my sight.” He threw a punch but fell to the ground. In time, Dane had arrived and came in with a right hook to one of the men out of five who tried to butt in. “Stay out of this. It’s not your fight.”
“It was until you and Emory showed up. Get the dickhead outta here.”
Wade held his hand up to the other guys. “Let it alone. Go back inside.”
“Carlson, you’re an idiot for getting involved with this drunk-ass fool.” The biggest of the bunch shuffled the other four inside. He turned back and asked Dane, “Why?”
“Moral support,” Dane replied. He asked Wade, “Done here?”
“Clay… Oh, my God.”
Wade whirled at hearing her voice. He never wanted her to know this happened. “He’s okay. He’ll live.”
She knelt at Clay’s side. “You stupid-ass fucker.” She looked up at Wade and Dane. “What are you both doing here?”
“Get out of the way, Sophie. Go home! Nothing more to see here.” Wade stepped closer. Clay had passed out. By the look of his face, the fight had started inside. “Look at you. You’re a damn mess. Give me a hand, Dane.” Wade took his arms while Dane took his feet and they dropped Clay in the bed of Wade’s truck.
Sophie grabbed Wade’s arm. “Put him in my car.”
“Nope.” Wade closed the tailgate. “Go on home. This mess is under control. Your brother is a stupid ass. I know how to handle this.”
Dane muttered. “He’s you and me all over, but at least we walked away from our scuffles.”
Wade glimpsed Sophie standing beside the truck. “Yeah. Don’t remind me. I’m glad those days are gone.”
Dane held up his knuckles. “Then what the hell are we doing here?”
Wade shook his head. “I don’t know. I can’t stand when one fool takes advantage of a weaker idiot. He was incapacitated before he got here.”
Dane got a bottle of water from his truck. “What will you do with him?”
You’re an idiot, Emory. “I’ll take him to my place.”
Sophie grabbed his arms. “No, take him to my house, please. Who knows what’ll happen when he wakes up.”
Wade gave her a stern glare. “Let go of me.”
Dane nodded at Sophie. “I’d let go of him if I were you.” She did, and Dane said to Wade, “I’ll follow you back and help you get him inside.” He left for his truck.
At home, they brought Clay into the house and tossed him on one of the spare beds downstairs. Then someone banged on the door.
Dane answered the door to let Sophie in on his way out. “See ya later.”
“Thanks, Dane.” Wade narrowed his gaze at Sophie, “Go home. He can sleep it off here.”
“Why did you get involved?”
“It doesn’t matter. Go on. I’m going to bed.”
“I want to stay here with him tonight.”
“Whatever.” He stepped up one step before she called him.
“Thank you on behalf of my dad, too.” She rushed toward him and stepped up two steps until she was at his eye level. She draped her arms over his shoulders.
He continued standing there with his hands at his sides. “Why are you doing this? I know what good-bye means. Let me go to bed.”
“It was a mistake to tell you what I did tonight. I was distraught.”
Another mistake like the “my kid” incident? “Of course, it was a mistake. A foolish one. I gotta go to bed. Lock the door before you settle in then put a towel under his head so he isn’t bleeding all over my blanket.” He removed her arms from around him. “You’re welcome to the bed in the other bedroom or the couch.”
Sophie placed a palm against his chest and clenched his shirt. “I’m sorry. I meant it at the time, before I thought straight, but…I need you.”
“You’re always sorry after the fact. Think first, Sophie. See me for who I am. This on and off shit has to stop. I expected more from you.” He stepped up two steps but she clenched his shirttail.
“I expected more from me.”
Wade took her hand and went to lock the door then sat on the couch. She stood a minute staring at him with her hand still in his. Then she sat beside him and he patted his thigh. “Lay your head down here and relax. Clay’s out for the night. Won’t he be shocked when he wakes up?”
Sophie lay her head on his lap but got back up. “I need to set the alarm on my phone.”
“Grab a blanket in the hall closet and get the towel.”
After doing that, she came back with a light blanket and set the phone on the table. She lay across the sofa with her head on his thigh. “Thank you.”
Wade leaned his head back. Sighed.
She peered up at him with those doe eyes. “I heard what Dane said.”
Wade flicked his gaze upward. “Believe what I tell you, woman.”
“I didn’t doubt you, but seeing who you are today makes it hard to believe you were like Clay.”
Wade huffed, still a little pissed. He smoothed hair away from her face and observed her attractive profile with her head on his thigh, dark hair spread out all over. He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts loose. This would be the last time she’d say good-bye to him. She wouldn’t get the chance again, but then he figured it out… He was probably in love. The ache in the pit of his gut lessened to know she’d be here in the morning.
***
Early, Wade slid out from under her head. He strode to the bedroom down the hall. Clay slept. He used the bat
hroom on the main floor then got a full pot of coffee going and sent Jake a text saying he’d be late. By the time he entered the living room, Sophie grabbed her phone to turn off the alarm. “Mornin’. Coffee’s on.”
“I’m calling the sub line. I can’t wear these clothes to work today.” She blew up her dad’s phone to ask if he’d get Emmett to school. Sophie asked Wade, “Can I fix you breakfast?”
“I’m going to work late. Sure, if you’re up for it.”
“Come here.”
Wade sat beside her, still with a cold-shoulder toward her, kind of.
“You’re wonderful to understand my family like you do.”
“That doesn’t mean I like it. Understanding you is a different matter.”
Sophie brought her hair up into a ponytail then let it fall. “I know it’ll take a while to trust me again after what I’d said last night.”
“And before. It surprised me after… What are you going to do today if you aren’t going to work?”
“I don’t know. Get Clay home, I guess.”
Wade clasped her hand. The warmth of her skin soothed his wretched soul. “If he’s lucky, his truck is at the bar.”
“I’ll have to take him to get it.”
Wade got up to get a cup of coffee. Sophie followed and got three mugs from the cupboard. “It smells good.”
She got creamer out then sat at the table. She shoved a knife tucked into a horizontal sheath around in a circle. “Wow, that’s a big knife in a holster.”
“It’s in a behind the back sheath. That’s one of my carry knives. Don’t worry, I locked them up before Emmett came in the other day.
“I appreciate that. Ah, you mentioned you carved wood. You carry that big knife when you’re out?”
“Most of my knives are homemade by the local farrier. He’s damn talented.” He skimmed his finger over the handle. “This is bone.”
“You touch that like I’d touch fine silk.”
“It is to me.”
“That scares me to death. A knife is so…awful.”
Wade cleared his throat. A knife isn’t awful. The damage it could do was though. He removed two other knives from the counter and carried them upstairs. Upon his return, he picked up his cup of coffee, poured cream in, and sipped it at the counter.
Sophie had the refrigerator door open. “Eggs okay?”
“Whatever you want to fix. I like most food whether I eat it or wear it.” He snickered.
Sophie caught the eggs from rolling off the counter. “You carry knives when you’re out with me?”
“Pre Sophie and Emmett, I carried it left of my belt buckle in a horizontal sheath.”
She opened the fridge again. “I see bacon. I’ll fix bacon and toast too.”
Wade observed her leaning into the refrigerator and held the door. She didn’t have to try to look pretty in the morning. All she did was brush her hair. Her skin looked make-up free. She had lips the color of—
“Wade?”
He snapped out of his brain freeze. “Want me to help?”
Sophie set the food on the counter and laid her hand on his arm. “Let me do this for you.”
“Where the hell am I?” a voice bellowed from the area of the spare bedroom.
They both turned toward the hallway. Wade took a step toward the doorway, but Sophie grasped his arm.
“Let me go first.”
Won’t this be fun? He leaned against the counter with his arms folded, but he let them hang at his sides to appear less confrontational. In a few minutes, Clay came out with Sophie and she poured him a cup of coffee. She treated him like she did her child.
“How’d I end up here?” Clay asked Sophie.
“Did you look in the mirror yet?” Wade frowned. “I brought you here. You notice you woke up alive. It could’ve been a different story.”
“Asshole—”
“Stop it.” Sophie shoved a cup of coffee toward Clay. “He saved you from getting your ass kicked more than it already was, so be nice.”
Clay gingerly ran his hand over his bruised face and glanced at Wade. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”
Wade stood straight. “Yes, you do. Like it or not. Until you get straightened out, you need someone. Your sister and dad try to help, and you don’t care or appreciate it.” This was like talking to Heath all over again.
Clay glanced out the back door then went to the front window. “I don’t need your lectures. Where’s my damn truck?”
Wade laughed.
“I’ll take you to get it.” Sophie gave a warning frown to Wade. “We’re having breakfast first.”
His tone mellowed. “Don’t you have to go to work, sis?”
“Not today.” She poured a warmup into his cup then sat a glass of water and aspirins beside it. “Have a seat at the table. I need to call Emmett. I’ll be right in.” She sauntered out the back door and sat in a patio chair but kept glancing back.
Wade set his cup down then cranked his neck to be sure she remained out there while he said his piece. “I warned you about hurting your sister.”
“Shut up, dude. I didn’t touch her. Who said I had to listen to you, anyway?”
Dumbass. He came close to grabbing him around the throat. “You can hurt people without touching them. Look at her. You need a job? Straighten up, and I’ll give you one where I work. We have a guy on his way out. He doesn’t know it yet. Let me know when you’re ready, and you got a job.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m crazy about your sister, and I don’t like seeing her distressed over you.” Sophie rose from the chair and headed inside. “Keep the job in mind. It’s your choice.” Wade removed a skillet from the bottom cupboard, turned the stove on, and added bacon. He warmed up his coffee and observed Sophie’s face when she came in. She glanced at Clay then back to him as if she expected new blood and bruising.
“Do you have ice?” she asked.
“Yep.” All this reminded him too much about his own brother. Regardless, Wade missed him. Accepting his death hadn’t happened yet. How long would it take?
She got ice out and found a baggie in a drawer. “Here, bro. This will make you feel better.”
He glanced at Wade then applied the bag to a knot on his forehead. “Can I get out of here?” he asked Sophie.
“Not yet, I’m making breakfast. Take those aspirins.”
Wade had to get out of the room. He understood family issues better than most, but he was about to gag at the way she babied Clay. A couple big breaths later, he reentered the kitchen.
Clay headed down the hallway but came back, gripped the doorway, saying, “Thanks. Both of you. I appreciate it. Don’t fix anything for me.” He turned toward the bathroom. “Let me know when you can take me to get my truck.”
Sophie sighed. “I don’t know why I do this to myself.”
She’d hid her turmoil well. Wade got up to hug her. “This is what I wanted to do last night. You’re afraid of losing out again and don’t trust me.”
She returned his embrace. “Aren’t we all? I’m afraid of a lot of things like my boy being hurt again, me…”
Wade held her at an arm’s length. “I’m not going anywhere. Didn’t you hear me say I don’t want to hurt anybody? You need to stop hearing only what you want.”
“It’s a promise you can’t keep.”
“Yes, I can. The part I can keep. Yeah, I’m gonna die one day. We all are, but I hope it’s not too soon. Between now and then, I can promise.” Wade peered into her eyes. “You gonna hurt me? It works two ways.”
She sniffled, but tears didn’t fall. “I’m afraid I already did.”
Yeah, she did, but he allowed it to dig at him. “Will you hurt me again?”
“It isn’t my intention.”
“Let’s move on then. Stop dwelling on the fact that you’re going to lose again. Maybe the other loss was also your gain.” Damn, but that sounded cold-hearted. He grabbed a fork to turn the burning bacon.
“Oh no, it burned. I’m sorry. Go on. Get out of here so I can concentrate on feeding you.”
“I can take Clay to get his truck if you want to finish breakfast.”
She turned down the heat. “Sure. Let me ask him.”
He took her arm, but she shook it free with a glare. “No. Tell him instead of asking.”
She gave him a weird look. “Ah…”
“Sophie…” He wouldn’t say she needed to stop acting like Clay’s mother. That decision was hers. She’d have to find her own escape from his dominance and to stop enabling him.
“You’re right. Thank you for taking him in last night. If not, I’d be waiting at the hospital.”
Wade went into the great room and headed to the stairway. “I need to get my keys and wallet.” He went upstairs and stood at the rail. He couldn’t hear their voices, which was a good thing, meaning Clay hadn’t argued or raised his voice with her. Wade got what he came up for and went back downstairs.
Clay waited at the door. “I’ll pay for your gas. I don’t suppose you smoke.”
He shoved his wallet into his back pocket and attached a knife in a sheath to his belt. “Not anymore. It’s not necessary for you to put gas in my truck.”
“It’s the least I can do. That’s a damn big knife.”
“That’s the way I like them.” He gave Sophie a hug and kiss before leaving. “See you soon.”
At Wade’s truck, Clay held the door before getting inside. “You’re good for my sister.”
Wade nodded in agreement, got in, and drove away in silence. You’re damn right he was good for Sophie. Maybe she’d figure it out sooner than later because he didn’t plan on waiting until later.
***
He came back to the smell of breakfast in his home. A flash from a childhood memory with his family around the table on Sunday morning came to the surface. Inside, the dining room table had been set with plates across from each other. Sophie dished out scrambled eggs. He smiled. “Good timing.”
Sophie gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Did he give you any trouble? Come on, have a seat.”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 14
