was no point trying to argue her side again. “And I can come back here, and live my best life.”
“That won’t give me grandchildren,” her father grumbled. “Between you and Miguel, I will never have the pleasure of holding the next generation of Garcias in my arms.”
“You never know, Dad,” Julia said. “Miguel is always full of surprises.”
She left the room before she said something that would clue her dad into realizing how much she’d come to care for Kaiden. The thing was, it felt like Kaiden was already hers. That despite everything, all the disagreements, the teasing, the sheer Kaiden Millerness of him, he was her perfect match. And it wasn’t as if they both didn’t know that, which somehow made everything worse.
She checked the timer and took the casserole out before calling for her dad to come and eat. Bernie had even put some baked potatoes in the oven to go with their meal so she didn’t have to do a thing. She’d been amazed to see how far the work had progressed on the master bathroom in the twenty-four hours she’d been away. Mike said it would be ready for use in two days, which was just before she had to go back to work.
He’d even managed to stick to her budget, which made her really thankful because the thought of going into debt always frightened her. The quicker she could make enough money to retire comfortably, the happier she would be.
Just before she set the table, she checked her phone. Kaiden hadn’t texted or called, which told her everything she needed to know. What was there left to say that hadn’t already been said? She glanced around the familiar room. Would he fulfill his promise to build her father a new kitchen, or would he designate it to someone else? She reminded herself that with her absence, he would be free to visit the ranch without worry. As long as she kept paying everyone’s bills no one would miss her at all.
* * *
“Kaiden . . .”
Kaiden looked up to see Adam leaning against the doorway of the tack room and deliberately turned his back on him.
“It’s okay, just don’t expect me to be up doing this tomorrow night. I‘m not trying to take anyone else’s job.”
His brother’s sigh was loud enough to hear without him turning around.
“Look, we both know that Dad can be a real dick sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you have to be one too.”
Kaiden finished cleaning the halter and went to hang it back on its designated hook. He’d come out to the barn after trying to get to sleep for an hour intending to work off some of his frustrations. He wanted to punch something, or yell, feelings so unusual for him that he didn’t know what to do with them. He should’ve known that someone from his way too invested family would track him down for a little chat.
Adam obviously didn’t know when to shut up because he kept talking.
“I get why you’re frustrated with Dad, but he’s still sick, Kaiden. Can you just give him a break for once?”
“For once?” Kaiden finally faced his brother. “Come on, Adam, we’ve been making fricking excuses for that man our entire lives. He’d already made up his mind that he wanted me out of here, so don’t try and lay this all on me.”
Adam’s brow creased. “I don’t follow.”
“He left the ranch to you. He’s got Mom back even if it is on her own terms, Evan’s finally on board, Danny’s got the qualifications to take us forward, so why the hell does he need me hanging around?”
Kaiden couldn’t quite believe what he’d just said, and how easily it rolled off his tongue. Had he secretly been resenting everyone all along?
“Because you’re his favorite son?” Adam wasn’t backing down. “Because you’ve always been the one who’s been able to get through to him?”
“I get it.” Kaiden shrugged. “I’m useful to everyone else, but maybe that’s not who I want to be anymore.”
Adam straightened, his frown deepening. “I guess I didn’t realize you felt like that about helping your own family.”
“Maybe it suited you not to see it as long as I toed the line and took the hits for everyone.”
“That’s not fair,” Adam retorted. “We all took our hits, Kaiden. They just never seemed to bother you as much.”
“Yeah, because I’m so thick-skinned, right? Good old Kaiden will just laugh it off. . . .” He shook his head. “Can we