Page 112 of Boss and Brat

Carter didn’t flinch. “I’ll make sure he stays on track. That he finishes. That he has structure and stability.”

Ethan jumped in quickly, heart pounding. “I’ll go, but I’ll commute. I don’t want to live on campus.”

His father raised an eyebrow. “Commuting means hours driving, but you did it for three years by enrolling in class three days a week. I could rent a room or a small apartment for the semester in case you need to stay overnight to study or just stay put.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need to stay there. I can do it again,” Ethan said. “But I want to stay at the ranch.”

Before his father could respond, Carter spoke—firm, calm, unshakable. “He’s finishing school,” Carter said. “That’s not negotiable. But we’ll figure out the best way to do it. And it might be a good idea that he has a place to stay overnight in the event he needs to.”

Ethan looked at him, surprised by the certainty in his voice. It wasn’t controlling—it was protective. Grounding. Like Carter was already planning how to hold him up, not hold him back.

His father leaned back, studying them both again. “Alright. If you’re both serious about this, then you need a plan of defense against those who are hateful.”

Ethan nodded, pulse still racing. “We will.”

His dad stood, smoothing his jacket. “Good. Because the world won’t make this easy for either of you. But if you’re going to do it, do it right.”

His father moved toward the doorway, not quite leaving but giving himself a little space, and Ethan’s heart pounded anyway. His mind was spinning, but underneath all that noise, something in him steadied more than it had all day.

Carter’s hand brushed lightly against his back—just a touch, but enough to ground him.

His father stayed where he was, one hand resting on the doorframe as he looked at both of them, squinting his eyes and stroking his beard, which he used when something big wascoming. Despite the tightness seizing his chest, Ethan didn’t stop looking.

“There’s something else,” his father said to Ethan. “Something I’ve kept from you until I knew where your head was.”

Ethan’s pulse jumped. Beside him, Carter straightened, alert.

Instead of pacing or walking off again, his father stepped back into the room and lowered himself into the chair with deliberate calm, like whatever he was about to say needed solid ground beneath him.

“It’s about the contract I made with Carter,” he said.

Ethan’s breath caught.The secret contract.The one Carter had mentioned but couldn’t explain. The one Ethan had been too scared to ask his father about.

Carter didn’t move, but the tension radiated off him.

His father continued, “I’m selling half the ranch.”

Ethan’s heart dropped. “What? To who?”

His father looked directly at Carter. “Half to him.”

Ethan’s breath stuttered. He turned to Carter, who looked like he’d been carrying this knowledge for a while.

“And the other half will be given to you,” he said, turning back to Ethan.

Ethan blinked hard. “Me?”

“Yes,” his father said. “But your name won’t go on the deed until you graduate. That’s the condition.”

A mix of disbelief, fear, and something warm Ethan didn’t know how to name rushed through him. “You’re… giving me half the ranch?”

“Yes, giving it to you. And your sister will receive the money from Carter’s half after she graduates.”

Ethan swallowed, overwhelmed. “Why… why would you do that now?”

His father’s voice softened just a fraction. “Because this ranch is your home. And because I want it to stay in the family.”

The air felt thick and heavy in Ethan’s throat. He didn’t know what to say. He’d spent so long thinking his father barely tolerated him—now this?