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  He couldn’t stop thinking about it, though. Part of the reason he never apologized was because he couldn’t face seeing Amy again, at the risk of seeing that hurt on her face. He hated disappointing her. The feeling that he failed her stayed with him for a long time.

  Then there was the humiliation of Delia coming home from prom with a new boyfriend. He’d still been in jail, while she moved on. That could have been Sy. His biggest regret was blowing his chance. But he didn’t want to admit that to Easton right now.

  The twins had always teased him about the way he hung around Delia, just hoping she would notice. “You’re like a dog, waiting for her scraps,” Elton had said, more than once.

  He wasn’t wrong, but Sy felt like Delia was worth the wait. Sy had watched her date different guys, most of them from the team. Because he was her friend, often Delia complained to him about her guy troubles, while Sy pretended every word wasn’t crushing him. He kept waiting for that moment that always happens in the movies when Delia would realize that she was in love with the guy who had been there for her all along. Only, it seemed like it would never happen. Finally, she was single around prom and he’d gotten his chance. Only to blow it.

  Sy swallowed. “My biggest regret was going to jail, I guess?”

  “That certainly had the biggest consequences.”

  Sy almost lost his chance to play college ball at the University of Texas. But hours of community service and an anger management course helped him keep his full ride. And because the cop who arrested him had been a neighbor, off-duty at the time, his parents’ lawyer got the whole thing dropped from his record.

  But Sy could tell that Easton didn’t think that was the worst thing. It was like he was trying to get Sy to the right answer without telling him outright what it was. The whole conversation was frustrating.

  “Just tell me what you think I should say. You clearly have an idea.”

  Easton put the sandpaper down. He propped a hip against the table and looked at Sy. “I’m glad you’re dealing with your regrets and things from your past. I just don’t want to see you getting hurt again. Other than jail, I can’t say I was sorry about how the whole thing turned out.”

  Sy’s anger flashed and he worked to unclench his fists and take deep breaths. “Why would you say that?”

  Easton picked up the sandpaper again. “Maybe Elton can help you. He’s great with words. What do I know?”

  “Pax said he’s not here.”

  “He just pulled in. Heard his car in the drive.”

  Sy hadn’t heard a thing, but E nodded to the doorway without looking up. It was a dismissal if Sy ever saw one. As much as he loved Easton, at this moment, Sy couldn’t wait to get away from him.

  “Thanks,” he muttered, storming out of the barn.

  As Sy walked back to the house, he replayed the conversation. Why did Easton seem so against this?

  By the time he got to the back porch, Sy had calmed down some, even if a nagging sense of worry clung to him. He heard Elton’s voice before he walked into the kitchen and found him talking to Pax. Elton spun to face Sy, clutching his chest dramatically.

  “Well, I’ll be! Look what the cat drug in!”

  “Hey, El.”

  Elton wrapped Sy in a big hug, whooping a loud greeting. Pax still sat at the table. “Hello? Is that all? How about a drink? Food? Pull up a chair. Make yourself at home.”

  Paxton stood as Sy sat down at the kitchen table. “I’ve got to run. See y’all later. Want these peas back in the freezer?”

  “Good idea. With both of y’all home, who knows the next time we’ll need em.” Elton winked as both Pax and Sy groaned.

  “Too soon,” Pax growled, storming out the back door.

  Elton rolled his eyes. “Touchy, touchy. Hope you’re in a better mood, Sylvester. But you’ve got the look of someone who just had a deep discussion with my brother, the wounded philosopher slash woodworker slash horse whisperer.”

  Sy grunted a response.

  Elton flopped into a chair across the table. “So, what’s on your mind?”

  “I wanted to apologize to Delia. Make things right.”

  Elton’s eyebrows shot up, his eyes wide and round. “You’re joking.”

  “Not a joke.”

  “Okayyyy …”

  Sy frowned. “Why are you guys being so weird about this? It’s been six years. I never apologized and now I want to. Is that so bad? Or do you think what I did was that unforgivable?”

  Sighing, Elton met his gaze. “That’s not it.”

  “Then what?”

  “You did screw up. Big time. But honestly? None of us were that broken up about you and Delia. Honestly, we thought you dodged a bullet.”

  “Why were you guys so against me and Delia?”

  “We just never understood why you liked her. You were too good for her.”

  Sy choked out a laugh. “Me? Too good for her? That’s rich.”

  Elton shook his head. “I’m not sure you ever really saw Delia.”

  “Oh, I saw her alright.”

  “Maybe that’s the problem,” Elton said. “You just saw her with your eyes. And I get it. She was a pretty girl, still is. Those blue eyes and legs for days. Mostly used for social climbing though. And you were her next ladder.”

  Sy glared at Elton. “You’re remembering this all wrong. Socially? I was nothing. I played football, sure. But other than you guys, basically no one knew me off the field.”

  “Until you got that scholarship to UT. You had the road to pro paved out for you and Delia wanted to hitch a ride.”

  Was that true? The thought struck Sy like a physical blow.

  He had asked Delia to prom after he got the scholarship. But that didn’t necessarily mean anything. She’d always been dating someone before, with Sy hanging out in the wings, being her friend, waiting for his chance. It was a timing thing, not related to his future plans.

  Or was it?

  “Now, Amy on the other hand …” Elton whistled.

  Sy immediately felt a protectiveness rise in his chest. “What about her? Is she doing okay?”

  “Sure is. She’s been in remission for years now. Amazing thing. A miracle, the doctors said. Are you going to apologize to her too?”

  “I doubt she cares.” Sy shook his head.

  “Hm,” Easton said.

  When he didn’t offer up anything else, Sy said, “So, I guess you’re not going to help me figure out what to say to Delia?”

  “That would be a no. I don’t want to see Delia get her hooks in you again. You’re a much bigger fish now with a much bigger wallet.” Elton pantomimed casting out a fishing line and reeling it in.

  Sy stood, barely holding back his anger. “I better go. I’ve got to find a hotel since Pax is here.”

  “Yeah, that big lug called dibs on the guest room.” Elton suddenly snapped his fingers, a grin stretching over his face. Sy didn’t like the gleam in his eye. “We may not have room, but I’ve got the perfect place for you.”

  Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited or Purchase HERE!

  Also by Amelia C. Adams

  The Kansas Crossroads series

  Nurses of New York series

  The Heart of Nashville series

  The Main Street Merchants series

  The River’s End Ranch series

  The Mail Order Mounties series

  The Pinkerton Matchmaker series,

  The Cowboys and Angels series

  The Kansas Cowboys series

  The Brody Hotel series

  About the Author

  Amelia C. Adams traces her family tree right back to the settlement of the Old West—her great-great-grandmother even drove a wagon to her new home. Amelia is a wife, a mother, and a novelist. She spends her days dreaming up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you might just see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels. She loves all things historical and enjoys learning about days gone by, but she's
glad she was born in modern times because the Internet is awesome, and she's glad she doesn't have to wash her clothes by hand in a galvanized tub. She’s an eater of tacos, a taker of naps, and a dreamer of dreams.

  Find her here:

  Website: www.ameliacadams.com

  Email: [email protected]

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  Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-C-Adams/e/B0174DY9SY

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