Broken(9)

Cade resented the hell out of that statement. Did Stone honestly think he was still pining for a woman who was probably never worthy of his love in the first place? Someone who could take a young man’s heart and crush it without a thought. “Who says I’m not already? You’re reading more into this than there is. I just don’t feel like sitting down to break bread and talk about old times that are probably best forgotten.” Cade yanked out a pack of gum from his pocket and popped a piece into his mouth, more so for something to do than wanting it.

“Doesn’t sound like you’re over her to me.”

Cade narrowed his eyes, contemplating that punch again. Just one square shot to Stone’s jaw and he’d be out of here. “Do I look like I’m concerned about what you think?”

“Would you stop being such an ass! If you’re over her as you claim, then you shouldn’t have a problem coming to dinner tonight.”

“Maybe I have better things to do with my time than fawn over Queen Jocelyn. Magic is expecting her foal any day now and I should be around when that happens. I can’t stop everything at the drop of a hat because of that woman.”

Stone raised a dark brow. “That woman’s name is Jocelyn. Remember? She used to live on this ranch and she was like family. No, she was family, so don’t pretend otherwise.”

Cade’s lips tightened as he balled his hands into tight fists at his sides. Deep down he knew his brother meant well, but the more they dwelled on this topic the shorter his patience became. “I know what the hell her name is.” He barely managed to get the words out through gritted teeth.

“Then use it. Look, I don’t know exactly what happened between the two of you and why it ended, but avoiding her won’t help matters.”

It would certainly help his peace of mind. Cade rubbed his temples to soothe the coming headache. Stone wasn’t going away unless he opened up and Cade didn’t want to, but he had to say something to get his brother off his back. “There’s not really much to tell that I haven’t already told you. When I went to Dallas to see her, she told me in not so many words she’d outgrown me and I didn’t fit into the lifestyle she wanted for herself.” He didn’t dare go into further detail because that familiar tightening of chest seized him from within.

Stone scratched his head, frowning. “Yeah, you told us that already, but hell if I’m not confused. That doesn’t sound like our Jos. There has to be more to it. Maybe you misunderstood her.”

“Oh, I heard her loud and clear. I wasn’t good enough for her anymore. Why the hell are you defending her anyway? She stayed away from the ranch all this time, basically ignoring her own father’s existence. If that’s not proof, I don’t know what is. If she can treat blood like that, do you think she gave a shit about me or any of us? You’re remembering the kid she used to be, not the she-demon she turned into. If you’re willing to sit around the table talking about the good old days with her as if everything is okay, then be my guest. I’ll pass.”

“Cade—”

“Don’t Cade me. You know I’m right. When she left the way she did, she basically shit on us all. We treated her like family. Aunt Earlene watched out for Jocelyn when her mother died. You, Ridge and Decker treated her like a sister and I lo—” He broke off, nearly choking on the words. Goddamn her! Why the hell did she have to come back and ruin the life he’d carved for himself?

“And you loved her,” Stone said softly. “I know, little bro. We all did.”

Cade shook his head. “But not like I did. She was everything to me: my heart, my soul, and my reason for getting up in the morning. She owned my heart. Fool that I was, I never thought she’d stomp on it and laugh while she was doing it. Like you, I was in denial, thinking perhaps there was more to it, but when she never came back, I finally accepted she meant it. And maybe you should too because once she gets bored with you, she’ll discard you like garbage. It’s was a hard lesson but, I’m over it now and her.”