Braydon(51)

“I’ll still be here.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Brendon hesitated. “When you were gone, I was f*cked-up. I don’t like what it’s done to me, but I’m not blaming you. I just have to get used to it.”

Braydon didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want anything to come between them, either. And up to this point, he hadn’t considered that anything would. Strange how things could change overnight. Well, in their case it wasn’t instant, but now that he thought about it, things were changing. And as much as he hated it, Braydon knew that it was time.

Time for them to find the happiness that had managed to elude them for all these months.



BRENDON HAD HOPED that Braydon would argue and tell him that there was nothing to get used to. He’d wanted to hear that nothing was changing when, in fact, he knew everything was.

But Braydon didn’t say anything.

Pushing to his feet, Brendon looked over at his twin one more time.

“I’m happy for you. Really, I am. And I do owe Jess an apology. I don’t want to lose her as a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t promise this’ll be easy for me. It’s gonna be strange to see you with her. But I want that for you. And for her.” Brendon waited for Braydon to acknowledge him before he added, “I promise I won’t interfere. But I’m gonna need some time. Time to get my head on straight.” If that was even possible at this point.

“What about Cheyenne?” Braydon asked.

What about her? he wanted to say. But he didn’t.

Cheyenne Montgomery might never speak to him again, and he really didn’t blame her. As much as he wanted to blame his ignorance last night on the alcohol he’d plied himself with, Brendon knew he couldn’t. He had lost his ever-loving mind. That was all there was to it.

“She probably won’t ever speak to me again.”

Braydon raised one eyebrow in question.

“Like I said, I was an idiot. I tried to interfere in something that was none of my business. I can’t get past it though.”

“Nothing has ever happened between the two of you?” Braydon asked skeptically.

“Not except for that kiss.” The one that had sent his world spiraling right out of control.

“I don’t understand,” Braydon stated.

“Neither do I,” Brendon admitted. “I’m hung up on her. I find myself doing stupid shit because of it. And truthfully, she’s never made me any promises. Hell, I haven’t even slept with her. I don’t get it any more than you do.” And that was the truth. Last night, when Brendon had all but claimed Cheyenne as his own, he had deserved the fist to the face that he received.

From Sawyer, of all people.

It had been the wake-up call Brendon had needed.

“Don’t you dare disrespect her like that,” Sawyer growled angrily, stepping in between him and Cheyenne. “She’s a woman, Bren. I won’t stand here and let you talk to her like that. Understand me?”

At the sight of Sawyer standing so close, adrenaline had flooded him as his brother got up in his face, and Brendon’s fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. Too bad he’d opted for fight, because Sawyer was already geared up.

Not that Brendon blamed him. Cheyenne hadn’t deserved what he’d said to her. And the moment the words had left his mouth, she’d looked like he’d just killed her dog.

“Hooking up with ’em all, are ya? Is that what it takes to get ahead in the music industry these days? Does the media know that the West Texas princess gets around?” Brendon slurred.

Yeah. That was the dumbest f*cking thing he could’ve possibly said. Even six beers in and no food, Brendon had known it at the time, too. Not to mention, it was completely untrue. As far as he knew, Cheyenne hadn’t been with anyone. Including him. No matter how much he’d tried to tempt her.

So when he’d done the unthinkable and disrespected Cheyenne in the worst way, in public at that, Sawyer had stepped in. It was what any one of them would’ve done if they’d heard someone talking to a woman the way he had. When he was face-to-face with Sawyer, fury had surged through him. But more than that, he’d been filled with shame. Never in his life had he talked to a woman like that. Never.

And this was a woman he thought he might love.

God, no. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even know her.

Shit. He was definitely losing his mind.

Needless to say, Brendon had provoked Sawyer at that point. And that lasted until Sawyer belted him one.

Brendon didn’t fault him for it one bit.

Now he just had to figure out what the hell was wrong with him. And in order to do that, he had to take a good, long look at his life.

Brendon turned to Braydon once again. “I’ll stay out of your way. I promise you that much. Just know that . . . I don’t want . . .” Brendon swallowed hard. “I don’t want anything to come between us. I’m not sure I can deal with it.”

That was the understatement of the century, but Brendon closed his mouth. He wasn’t trying to guilt Braydon. It wasn’t like that. He did have a lot to figure out, but he had to accept that it wouldn’t be at the expense of his own twin’s happiness.

“So, go on. I’m sure Jessie’s waitin’ for you.” Brendon stood and headed for his room. “Have fun on your date.”