The drive back to Boise was long and excruciating. He white-knuckled it over the passes, half expecting to end up in a ditch from the icy roads. Just because the roads had been cleared of trees and snow, didn’t mean they were drivable.
He thought back to Candace and her attempting to get home with a bum ankle and frowned. He hadn’t even considered it.
“Shit,” he muttered.
He pulled open his calling list on the dashboard screen of his car and navigated to Travis’s phone number.
It rang only a few times before his brother’s voice came through the car speakers.
“Make it home all right?”
Brent let out a frustrated sigh. “No. The roads are icy as hell. I still have another hour at least. I’m calling because I’m wondering how Candace is getting home.”
Travis remained silent for a moment. “Candace?”
“Yeah. You know. Your sister-in-law. The one with the ankle injury.”
Travis chuckled. “Dude, don’t take your anger out on me. Jessica is driving Candace home tomorrow, and I’ll follow behind in our car. I’m only wondering whyyou’reasking.”
“It’s the decent thing to do.”
“Right, man. If that’s what you want to call it.”
Brent let out a sigh. “I just didn’t want her to drive home alone. She acts like she’s fine, but she isn’t.”
“We’re all aware of her injuries. Don’t worry. We have it covered.”
Brent heard a door close over the phone line.
“So why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Travis said.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve always had a thing for Candace. I can see it. Did this trip help that along at all?”
Brent rarely discussed his feelings with Travis. It wasn’t like there had ever been a woman he had dated long enough to discuss with anyone. With Travis being so much younger than him, they didn’t really talk women, so this was new for him.
“I thought it did. But at breakfast, she made a comment about not wanting you all to know about us.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Ouch. I know this is going to make me sound like a girl, but it made me feel used. We were finally making progress, and then I became a secret for her.”
Brent gripped the steering wheel as the conversation he had had with Candace came back to mind. She had been adamant to make sure no one knew about them and was upset that he had admitted she had been in his room that morning.
Why was it such a big deal if their siblings knew? But why did it bother him if she wanted to keep it a secret a little longer? He knew that their families getting involved could complicate matters. What if things didn’t work out, and it was awkward? That was likely what had been crossing her mind.
But he wanted everyone to know. He had wanted Candace since the day he met her in college. Even if he hadn’t realized she was the same person Jessica introduced him to so many years later, he had still wanted her. There was a connection between them he had felt and knew she felt it too, even if she denied it for so long.
As if he had said all that out loud, Travis replied.
“Maybe she’s scared about the fallout if things don’t work. You live in two different states.”
Brent turned off the highway into Boise, finally unclenching the steering wheel and relaxing his shoulders as he navigated the familiar streets toward his home.
“Yeah. Look, can you do me a favor and message me when you all get home safely?”
“I can do that. I’ll let you know when Candace is delivered safely at home.”
Brent could hear the smile in Travis’s voice and rolled his eyes.
“Thanks, bro.”
“No problem.” Travis was silent for a beat before adding, “Call her. That’s the only way to patch things. Talk it out and don’t let it build up into more than it needs to be.”
They said goodbye as Brent pulled into his driveway and maneuvered the car into his garage. He shut it off and leaned back in his seat, letting out a sigh.
