Page 96 of Penny & Royce

“Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay. You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like to find something like that. And while I don’t agree with everything you’ve done, I can understand what it’s like to feel like you don’t have any control. Like you’re clinging to something you’re scared to lose.”

Royce blew out a harsh breath. “That’s not going to happen. Losing her, I mean. I won’t let fear take her from me.”

“Are you sure about that? What if she wants to leave?” Bentley’s voice stayed quiet. “I thought you loved her.”

“I do love her,” he snapped, his patience cracking.

“Then wouldn’t you do anything for her?”

“I—I…” Royce scowled at his brother. “Not that. Anything but that.”

“Just wondering,” Bentley said quietly.

And yet his words had taken a chunk out of the armor Royce had built around his heart. He couldn’t help but second-guess himself.

How long would Royce wait until he finally gave in to Penny’s request?

He wanted to think he’d stay strong indefinitely. But Bentley had proposed a new way of looking at his situation.

“Hey,” Bentley murmured, dragging Royce’s attention back to him.

“What?”

His brother seemed to hesitate. Then he pulled his hat from his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly, if what you say is true, I say don’t give up.”

Royce waited, holding his breath.

This was the first time one of his brothers was willing to see his side of things.

“A love like that…” Bentley whispered. “It doesn’t come around often, you know? Even I’m not dumb enough to believe you’d find it again.”

“No,” Royce agreed. “I wouldn’t.”

“Then don’t let Lincoln and Dad get to you. If Mom were alive…”

They both looked at each other, neither one having to finish that statement. If their mother were alive, she would have told Royce to follow his heart. She’d been a romantic, and even though they’d been children when she passed, they could still remember her talking about how she’d found her own true love in their father.

Royce’s throat closed up tight.

He nodded to Bentley in thanks.

“You got a plan?” Bentley finally asked when the silence between them continued to grow.

He shook his head. “Wait her out, I guess,” he rasped.

His brother nodded. “Well, I wish you luck. I know it hasn’t been easy.” Then Bentley grimaced. “And I know I’m part of that.”

Royce chuckled despite himself. “You can say that again.”

For the first time in a long while, they offered each other a genuine smile.

“Thanks, man. For… you know.”

Bentley laughed. “Don’t get all mushy on me. And next time you talk to Lincoln, don’t tell him I switched sides.” His smilefaded to a more serious expression. “I mean it. I don’t want to have his wrath set on me.”

Royce nodded. “Lucky for you, Lincoln and I aren’t really on speaking terms. And after I’m done with this, I’m headed to town. I’m going to try to talk to Penny.”