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“Hey, Leah. I’m on my way.”
“Craig?” She face-palmed herself. “I lost track of time.”
“Where are you?”
“The park.”
“You’d rather I meet you there?”
“No, I’ll be there. I’m leaving now. Leah hung up and hustled down the street for home.
Chapter 20
“I told you I didn’t feel like talking,” Seth said to Cole over the phone.
“You’ve been in a funk almost all week, even before you left town. You go too long without answering my calls, and you know I will keep calling until you answer.” Cole picked up the menu to peruse his choices. “I think I’m going for the barbeque ribs.”
“You’re at Mack’s BBQ?” Seth sighed. “I guess I brought it on myself.”
Cole’s eyebrows knitted together, confused by the lack of segue. “Brought what?”
“I rushed things and now it backfired.”
“Not following.”
“Leah.”
Cole opened his mouth to respond but refrained from speaking.
His brother continued.
“We’ve been hanging out, and I acted on impulse. I took her to the lake. She didn’t respond like I hoped.”
Cole kneaded his neck to relieve the tension. “Have you talked to her since then?” How should he handle this now? He hadn’t talked with Leah since the wedding. Is that why she agreed to keep seeing Seth? Did their almost-kiss scare her off?
“She says she needs time, but you and I both know what that means,” Seth said.
“Yeah. Dad taught us to know some things about women.”
“He’s been married to Mom long enough. He must know something.”
“At least he talks to you,” Cole grumbled, not wanting to go down this road.
“When are you two going to come to an understanding?”
Cole shrugged his shoulders. “I’d be all for it, if he didn’t hate what I do.”
“He doesn’t hate it, little brother. Dad…”
“What? I would love to know what his issue is with me.”
“Dad’s always pictured in his mind the life he wanted for us. Going against his plans and finding something better only proves him wrong. What man you know enjoys being wrong?”
“So, success outside of what he wanted is wrong for him. Got it.” Cole bit back the scream he wanted to unleash but refused. The days trying to please him were over. He needed to handle other things.
“I can’t figure Leah out, bro. She is the most amazing woman I know.”
“Look, Seth, I need—”
