Broken(20)

“I didn’t ask you to come out here and analyze me, Dr. Phil.”

“No, you didn’t, but someone had to set you straight. If I didn’t care about you I wouldn’t nag so much, but since she’s been back, you haven’t been yourself and I’m worried. Taking your anger out on other people and being mad at Jocelyn for something that happened seven years ago won’t change anything except drive a wedge between the people who love you. Unless you talk to her, nothing is going to be resolved.”

“I doubt it would accomplish much. I think she’s made her feelings abundantly clear.”

“Did she? I saw the way she looked at you—the way you looked at each other. If the two of you no longer shared any feelings, why are you carrying around all this anger? And why did she look so damn sad when she looked at you? She reminded me of a hurt puppy. Jocelyn certainly didn’t remind me of someone who doesn’t give a damn.”

Cade turned to shoot his brother a glare. He’d had enough. The more he talked about Jocelyn, the more he hurt and he hated Stone in that moment for not letting it go, and he hated Jocelyn for being the source of his pain. Shit. It’s been seven years dammit. It shouldn’t still be this way. “Can’t you see I don’t want to talk about this?!” He wobbled to his feet, and began to walk away, but Stone was on his heels.

When his brother grabbed his arm, Cade had had enough. Turning around with balled fists, he took a swing at Stone. But his brother ducked just in time, grabbed Cade’s arm and twisted it behind his back.

“Get off of me!” The more Cade struggled, the harder Stone’s grip became. In most circumstances, Cade could have given Stone as good as he got, but in his state of fury, he couldn’t think rationally or focus properly making it easier for the other man to best him.

“No dammit! I’m not going to let you go until you agree to talk about this like men.”

Despite the shooting pain racing up his arm, he stubbornly struggled against the pain-inducing grip, uncaring that if he continued his bone was likely to break.

“Cade, please.” Where the harsh words hadn’t worked, Stone’s gentle heartfelt plea finally penetrated Cade’s senses. He didn’t want to fight his brother. He’d come out to the pond for privacy, God knows he deserved it. But seeing as how Stone wouldn’t leave him alone, the battle just wasn’t worth continuing.

With a resigned sigh, he relaxed his stance. “I won’t fight you anymore, but I can’t promise we’ll have the talk you want.”

“Then will you at least listen?”

Cade nodded, not wanting to commit anything in words.

Stone released the death grip and put some distance between the two of them. “You can’t go on like this. I love you, Cade, and I don’t want to see you headed down that path of destruction you were on seven years ago. I thought we were past that, the anger, the sudden outbursts and your disappearing days on end.”

“It won’t come to that again,” Cade muttered, his shoulders tensing. He appreciated none of his brothers mentioning that dark moment in his life and for Stone to bring it up now ticked him off. He would never let himself get to that point again. Jocelyn Winters, Jos Song, or whatever she called herself wasn’t worth it.

“How am I supposed to know that when you acted the way you did tonight? And the reason you’re acting this way is because of Jocelyn’s return.”

“Don’t you think I know this?” Cade snapped. “Do you think I like seeing her again and be reminded what a fool I was to fall for those big brown eyes of hers and that sweet smile? I curse the years I wasted loving her.”