Say You'll Stay

Reality Check

"Can you head over to the James ranch today?" Olivia looks at Jordan like he's grown two heads. He knew that was the last place she wanted to go.

"Why can't Dillon get the horses? It is his family"

"Look, it's business. We bought two more horses from them. I need Dillon out in the pasture and field. The other guys are busy, and you work for me"

Jordan tries really hard to be stern with her.

She giggled.

"Wow, that was almost convincing, emphasis on almost"

"I'm not playin wit you, you need to be there before six"

It had been two weeks since she last saw Spence. Two weeks without an word. Like one step forward and two steps back with him. She thought they had gotten somewhere in his truck, but he blew that back up when he kissed her. They have these small increment moments of clarity only to have it eclipsed and destroyed by the past.

"Jordan, I can't" She went through possible excuses in her mind. He'll catch on to her lies, but be as it may, there's not a chance this is happening.

"I wasn't asking"

"And I'm not going"

"This isn't about you and your love life, Olivia. Some of us don't have a choice. Some of us had to give up on our dreams and goals in the face of reality. It's bound time you grow up and face your own"

What does he know about reality? I've been through hell, waiting for things to be an little easier. But no, everytime I feel an ounce of relief, more stuff happens.

"Wow, it must be nice to sit in your perfect tower judging me. You think I haven't had to grow up? Live real life? You really think I didn't have dreams of my own that didn't pan out the way I wanted? Think again, wake the fuck up J"

She stands and Jordan rolls his eyes.

"So, you had to come back home? So what"

"I didn't come back Jordan, I lost everything , there's an difference in that. Every single thing that I had in my life. Lost it all. My husband, the bakery, home, friends, twins school, you name it....it's dead and gone. So you tell me what reality, you think I haven't faced yet, my lovely brother"

Jordan and Olivia were close as kids. Being only two years apart meant they spent an lot of time together. Between him dating her girlfriends and teaming up with the James boys to torment her, they were always in the same space. Plus, they had to help with the company and ranch. But this guy standing in front of her, this angry man wasn't Jordan. Not the Jordan she knew.

"I'm not bout to sit here and argue wit you"

"Yes" She pressed. "You are, I want my brother back"

"Fine" His hands rise and fall.

"You left all of us Olivia. You didn't just leave for college. You left period. You never came back to visit or check in on the family. I didn't even know your husband until after you had gotten married. Let alone ever got to know my nephews. They're how old? Eleven? This is the first time I've spent any time with them-ever"

She could imagine it hurt him, but she never thought it did this much damage. She always assumed Jordan was mad about not being able to leave himself.

"You were welcome to my home, at any point in time"

"That's what you don't get, I didn't want to come there. I wanted you to come home, here, with us. This is your home Liv, this is where you had your entire life you've pretended didn't even exist, where you dreamed the most of getting out of here"

As angry as he appeared to be, she could hear the underlying sorrow in his tone. Tears pool up as his words cut her like an knife in the heart. She never wanted to hurt her brother or her family. She couldn't come back here. She didn't want to face the people who told her Spence and her were crazy and too young for their own good. Seeing the pity, shame, and hearing the whispers was one thing she couldn't endure.

"It wasn't like that. I just couldn't come home and deal with the rumors"

"Who cares what people think? If you would've given anyone a chance, you would've known everyone was upset for you. But you never gave anyone that chance to even show you that. You hid away and created an whole new life with none of us included in the picture"

Jordan was right. She should've come home after the first time she visited. She excluded everyone from this place in her life. Her parents, her brother, and anyone who had any connection to Spencer. She didn't want to think about him. Just the mere thought of hearing his name felt like someone had ripped her heart from her chest and stomped all over it. It brought her into an frenzy she tried so hard to avoid. She's gone from hearing an million apologies for months to saying them constantly.

"Jordan, I'm sorry, I really am. I love you" She steps forward, grabbing his arm.

"It was just easier to avoid my pain then, face it at the time"

She sees the fight leave Jordan's eyes.

"Maybe for you, but it hurt me to my core losing my sister"

All she wanted was to feel normal again. She didn't want the tension with her brother or anyone else for that matter. Her brother had been there for the twins since they arrived. She wanted to get back to where they once were as siblings.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you" Her honesty meeting in each syllable.

"Can we move on from this? Find an way to be close again?"

"Yeah" An smile creeped up.

"You can shovel the stables for the next month, and maybe, just maybe, I'll find an way to love you again" He teased.

"Not an chance!" She laughs. Jordan tugs her into an embrace.

"I would've been there for you, if you had let me. I'm always going to be here, stop being so tough and stubborn and let us help you" She sunk into her brother's arms letting go.

"I'm so angry, and sad" He held her tightly.

"I know, Liv. It's going to be okay though, I promise you that" She let him console her because she was too tired to pretend and fake the funk anymore. And with Jordan, she didn't have to.

Cute little chapter to shed light on the two siblings, glad they were able to finally talk! Until next time ya'll!