Lyric walked over. “I wanna do a spotlight on you and Billy this week. Different than the interview we did on him at the National Western. This time the focus would be on him retiring, you gettin’ started on broncs. RodeoChat followers would love to hear your different perspectives, especially since ya’ll are travelin’ together. That’s weird on its own.”
He’d heard that Billy never had a travel partner when he was competing hardcore. Jace figured it was because no one wanted to be around the guy. He’d also heard Billy believed it was bad luck. They hadn’t talked about it, but Billy was riding great, so evidently, he’d stopped believing his own superstition.
“Sure, Lyric. You know we’re happy to talk to you anytime.”
“Bree’s gonna sit in on it, too. She’s got some questions of her own about some research project she’s doin’. If you ask me, that sociology stuff is a load of crap, but what do I know?”
Jace scratched his chin, wishing he’d seen that one coming. Too late to bow out now, though. “She mentioned somethin’ about it, but I didn’t get the impression she was interested in anything I had to say.”
Lyric shook her head and looked over at Bree. “You’re so wrong, cowboy. Bree is interested in everything you have to say.”
The interview hadn’t exactly gone the way Jace expected. Instead of Bree asking him about bronc riding, Lyric went in a completely different direction, asking him whether he believed twins had a connection unlike other siblings.
“When was the first time you realized you knew what your brother was thinking?” she asked.
Jace wished Bree wasn’t part of this conversation. He didn’t mind sharing this stuff with Lyric; she was a twin. She understood in a way Bree never would.
“I don’t know, exactly, it was always that way. Not so much that I knew what he was thinking, it was more what he was feeling.”
“Do you know what he’s feeling now?” Bree asked.
He did, but he wasn’t sure he could put it into words. Conflicted, but it was so much more than that.
He shrugged. “Not really.”
“Did you and Tucker ever talk about it—knowing how the other was feeling?” she asked.
“All the time,” he laughed. “Especially when we met your sister.” Why had he said that?
“You both love her, don’t you?”
That question took him by surprise. Based on how often Bree tried to kick him out of Blythe’s life, he doubted she knew the depth of his feelings for her sister.
“We do, but not in the same way.”
“It’s exactly the same way,” she murmured.
She was probably right, but he’d already said more than he wished he had. Bree had enough ammunition that she never hesitated to use against him. Her acknowledging his love for Blythe made him feel more vulnerable than ever.
“What if he never comes back?”
“I don’t know, Bree.”
“Do you think he knows how you’re feeling? About Blythe, I mean? Do you think he knows you’re in love with her?”
“I’m sure he does.”
“How do you do it?” she whispered.
“What choice do I have?”
“You could leave, too.”
“Never.” It was that simple. He’d never leave. He’d promised Blythe he’d be there for her and the baby, and he would be. It didn’t matter if she pushed him away, he’d just keep coming back.
“You got another question for me, or are we finished here?”
“One more, Jace. What if he does come back?”