Page 129 of Big Dill

“My thought exactly.” Jaxon’s watching me closely, his sharp, expectant eye pinned on my face like he’s waiting for the truth to surface and it’s well past time it did.

“Jaxon,” I start, dropping into the chair across from him because my legs have officially stopped working. There’s no point pretending anymore. “I don’t… I don’t understand. I thought—I thought⁠—”

“You thought she was happy here?”

“Yes.”

“You thought she wanted to build a life here?”

I nod again, my throat too tight for words.

“A life with you?”

The question hits like a pickleball to the face. For a second I can’t tell if he’s mocking me, baiting me, or bracing for impact himself. But one thing is suddenly crystal clear—Jaxon knows what’s been going on behind his back.

“Jaxon,” I say carefully. “We never meant⁠—”

He lifts a hand, stopping me cold. “Hey. You’re both adults. And for the record, everyone in town could see what was going on between you two.”

“Everyone?” My voice cracks. “How long have you known?”

He snorts, shaking his head. “Since the airport, Brody.”

“Shit.” Guilt burns hot and fast. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I sneak a glance at him, half-expecting him to haul himself up and take a swing. If he wasn’t on crutches, he probably would—and I wouldn’t even blame him. “We didn’t think…” I blow out a breath. “No. That’s not true. We did think. We tried not to let anything happen. Believe me, we tried.” My hands clench together. “I wanted to tell you. It damn near killed both of us keeping it quiet. You’re protective of her. I didn’t want to hurt our friendship. Or the business. Or your relationship with Jami.”

“Are you done?”

I flinch. My pulse thunders in my ears. Any second now, he’s going to crack a crutch over my skull.

I continue with, “Would it make it any better if I said I love her?”

The words hang there, bare, raw…honest.

His face softens, and he exhales like he’s letting go of a weight he’s been carrying for a while.

“I love you like a brother, Brody. And Jami…she’s my sister. Jami and I spent our entire lives being told what to do, being controlled. I wasn’t ever going to do that to her. I’m her brother, not her parent.”

I sit there and wait for the…but.

He leans forward, and his voice drops, low but steady. “Brody, I couldn’t think of a better man for her. I knew you both had a lot to figure out, so I stayed out of the way. I just…I never wanted to see my sister hurt.”

“Jaxon…” I mutter, my heart pinching tight.

A beat passes. Then, “She’s hurt, Brody. Do you want to tell me why?”

The accusation stings and I flinch. “I… I don’t know what happened.”

“You’re the last guy I thought would hurt her.”

My throat closes, and I gulp hard. “I would never do it on purpose.” My thoughts race. “Maybe I do know what happened. Maybe it’s because I didn’t ask her to stay…because I told her she should go to Toronto.”

“There’s more,” he says, rubbing his face, glancing down as if measuring every word. “I know my sister. There has to be more going on with her.”

I force myself to meet his gaze, every word scraping against the walls of my chest. “This place. Our home. Maybe she feels like I…pushed her out. I know what she’s been through, and in a million years, I would never purposely hurt her.”

He leans back, eyes narrowing slightly. “Why did you want her to go? You and I both know it’s not what she wanted.”

“I couldn’t ask her to stay, Jaxon. Not if it’s not what she wants.” My voice cracks on the last word.