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Shame made heat flare in his cheeks “Goddaot kicked off the tour and didn’t want you guys to know because I don’t want any of you to think less of me than you already do”

Ben stared at hi in his eyes that Chase couldn’t look away Then he said curtly, “The truth about ent down All of it Right now”

Chase relayed everything

His brother walked to the fence Gazed across the pasture Walked back “Okay I believe you”

That stung Ben’s first thought was he’d been lying? Right Ben had caught Chase in lies et to toss off the ‘think less of you’ bullshit comment because that’s a total lie We’re all proud of you, Chase But the fact is, you ain’t proud of yourself And I get sick and tired of us—your family—bein’ dead last on your list of priorities You should’ve come to us first”

“Really? Last ti with Tell because Mo the entire inside of the house repainted, Quinn and Libby’s kids were sick, and you had ‘plans’, so don’t give me that I should’ve come to you first crap You don’t knohat it’s like not to have a hoo to whenever you feel like it”

Ben seeardless Mom is worried about you because of the injury announce about it” He pointed at Chase “Then no one hears from you for teeks? Beyond the ‘I’us and you know it”

“Yeah, I suck, I’ fkin’ shocker,” he ht’ve been in the past A whole lot changed between them after Aunt Joan left Uncle Casper”

His aunt and uncle being Splitsville after so e was hard to believe “Like what?”

“I dunno, I don’t…” Ben sighed and studied his boots “It’s like they’re in a honeymoon phase That sounds stupid, but whenever I see Brandt and Jessie, I realize Mo just like the things had changed in his fa into Wyoe you? Yeah, I probably would’ve chewed your ass Reo to hell you don’t run from your family, you’re supposed to run to them Reminded you that we talked about some of this distraction shit last year You didn’t listen to ivin’ you what for now, bein’s I’ht I saw soray hair on that stubborn head of yours”

“Bite me” Ben’s s I ain’t letting you off the hook for”

He expected Ben to bring up Ava and braced hionna make a ‘surprise’ visit to Mom and Dad before you leave” Ben frowned “I’d call first just torooot to see the live version, so consider yourself lucky”

“No Way Mo eren’t even allowed to walk on?”

Ben nodded “They didn’t see me and I backed away quietly when I saw them Then went home and drank until I passed out Quinn wasn’t happy I orthless the next day So I gave hiraphic version of what I’d seen than what I’ you And while you’re out and about, stop and see Quinn, Libby and the kids”

“I’lad you’re leaving I hoped you had a better plan than holing up in this trailer and spending the su”

He knew Ben orried, and the way he showed concern was to provoke him Weird, but it alorked