8. Brodie

brODIE

N either spoke again on the drive home. When they arrived at Los Osos Valley Road, Brodie didn't ask if there was anywhere else she wanted to go; he got on the highway that would take them to Cambria.

"I enjoyed our time together, Brodie," Peyton said when he pulled her car up next to his truck.

He had, too. He couldn't remember having a day as nice as this one, and when he got out of her car, he wouldn't have any excuse to see her again. He'd promised not to mention the box, and that was his only reason for being with her. The thought of not knowing when he'd see her again hurt.

He got her number from his mother and had used it to text her this morning. Which meant she had his too. But would she use it? He doubted it.

"Take care of yourself, Peyton. If there's ever anything you need, anything , don't hesitate to get in touch with me." He picked up the key fob and handed it to her. Her fingers brushed his when she tried to take it from him, making him want to pull her into his arms and never let go. He held the fob tighter and looked into her eyes. "Peyton…"

"Bye, Brodie."

He let go of the fob and got out of the car. "Bye, Peyton."

"Hey." Brodie tossed his keys on Naughton's kitchen table.

His brother didn't look up or answer.

"Did you hear me? What's goin' on?" Brodie pressed.

"I heard you."

"Okay. Good night, Naughton."

"Where're you going?" his brother asked.

"Over to my place."

"Where were you today?"

Brodie's eyes scrunched. "What do you mean?"

"Easy enough question to understand."

"I spent the day with Peyton."

"Why?" Naughton looked up at him for the first time since he came in.

"What's with all the questions, Naught?"

"Somebody saw you, told Ma."

"Ma's the reason I was with her."

"No, Ma asked you to give something to her, not spend the day with her."

When Brodie didn't respond, Naughton went upstairs.

When he left, he went in the direction of the vineyards instead of his cottage. When he was younger, he and Kade took a lot of walks like this one.

"See those stars up there?" He'd point at the sky. "No matter where I am in the world, I see the same stars as you. So you come out, talk to these stars, and they'll tell me what you said."

Brodie was twelve or thirteen when he and Kade had had that conversation. He remembered punching his brother's arm and telling him he was too old for that kind of bullshit. They'd laughed about it then. Now, more than ever, he wished it had been true.

"What should I do, Kade?" Brodie questioned the sky. "I can't stop thinking about her. You know what I'm talkin' about, because I know you couldn't either. She's amazing, big brother."

Brodie sat on a tree stump and thought about earlier in the day, when he'd told Peyton about his grandfather pounding the abalone. Her eyes were lit up the whole time he'd talked about his family. It wasn't only Kade she wanted to hear more about; she loved the stories he told about his parents and grandparents.

"So, bro, why didn't you tell her anything about our family? I don't get it." He shook his head and shuddered.

It was cold again tonight. Before he came out, he'd grabbed a jacket, but now, he realized he should've grabbed a hat too.

He'd asked Kade once why he shaved his head. "I'm gettin' thin up top. Decided to shave it instead of fighting it. Chicks like bald heads, Brode."

There was something else nagging at him. His whole family knew Kade had intended to propose to Peyton when he returned from his last mission. He even had a ring. Brodie wondered where it was now. Did his mother have it?

"Did she know how you felt? Did she know you wanted to marry her?"

When he got close to the wine caves, he sat on the bench outside the entrance, leaned forward, and put his elbows on his knees, like he had at the market. "I really like her, man. More than like. I'm crazy about her, and I don't know what the hell to do about it."

He wiped his face with his hand when tears slid down his cheeks. He had so many questions the stars couldn't answer for him. Only Kade could, and he was gone.