No Good Mitchell - Riley Hart Page 0,93

I played a part in all that too. We didn’t always make the right decisions, but you are not insignificant. You don’t have to be afraid people are going to walk away from you. You don’t have to run before they get the chance. Love doesn’t always go away.”

She was right. Logically, I knew that. Hell, I knew if Brody felt similar to how I did, I’d tell him he was being ridiculous, but it was a lot easier to say words like that than it was to believe them.

“I don’t think I deserve him.” That was the difference between Brody and me. He always thought of other people. He put his family first. He’d never hurt anyone. I’d been selfish quite a bit in my life.

“You do. I can promise you that. Don’t live your life with regrets. If there’s one thing I want you to have learned from me, it’s to fight for what you want. And if you don’t think you deserve something, work your ass off to make sure you do. This boy, do you think he loves you too?”

I thought about the look on Brody’s face when he found out I was leaving. The sound of his voice. The way he laughed when we were together, and the way I caught him looking at me when he didn’t know I was watching. “I think he could.”

“And he’s worth it? Fighting for?”

“Hell yeah,” I answered automatically. Brody was worth everything.

“Then all you have to do is see that you’re worth it too. I can tell you that until I’m blue in the face, but no one can make you see it but you.”

As I sat there letting her words seep in, the truth dug itself deeper into me, becoming a part of everything that made me, me. I wanted to see what she told me about myself. I wanted to feel worthy. I wanted to do the right thing.

I wanted Brody O’Ralley.

Now I had to figure out if I had the balls to do anything about it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Brody

I took another swig of bourbon from my flask, sitting on my ass and gazing out across the pond at the Mitchell property—the pond we’d sneak off to as kids so many times, the place where Cohen and I had enjoyed such a good time. The sun was setting in the distance, a cruel reminder of the memories I would have to leave here.

Elliecomb nudged her face against the side of my head, and I turned, stroking her neck softly. She’d always known my moods so well, could sense when I was hurt or in pain.

Thinking about my losses.

We’d hardly had time for goodbyes, and even worse, I’d put so much on him.

It wasn’t his fault if he didn’t feel for me the way I’d come to feel about him. Maybe it was best for both of us that he’d picked up and moved along so quickly. Certainly made it easier than him telling me he didn’t feel the same and staying, and then, knowing that, we’d have to continue our relationship of exchanging tips and tricks in our areas of expertise.

I told myself he’d done me a favor, even though I knew it was only a justification to soothe my pain. No matter what I told myself, it couldn’t magically change the way I felt. Losing someone was never easy, and there were no shortcuts to getting to the other side.

As the sun finished setting, I did my best to accept the light that had set in my heart…then rode Elliecomb back to the stables and headed home.

Walking up to the house, I noticed a familiar car in the drive. Cohen? I picked up the pace, hurrying around the house to the front porch, where Cohen sat on the steps, illuminated by the light above the front door. His hands folded together, his gaze toward the woods.

He’s back.

No. He’s not, I reminded myself, because he could have come for any number of reasons. But if that were the case, why stop by here rather than the Mitchell house?

“Cohen,” I said as I neared him.

He pushed to his feet, turning to me. “Brody, hey…”

“Brody’s here!” I heard Dwain’s voice coming from inside, as though they’d been awaiting my return.

“Welcome to the O’Ralley home,” I said.

“Yeah, I was impressed I didn’t get shot straight away.”

Confused and upset as I still was, how could I not laugh? His beautiful smile returned, which just seemed so much worse if he’d dropped by