Begin Again (Beautiful #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

be willing to let me fight for her.
    “The ranch is looking good,” Grayson remarked, breaking into my thoughts.
    “I’m anxious to see how much progress they’ve made with the building,” I replied. Grayson and his brother, Jeff, each bought a third of the ranch I inherited after my twenty-second birthday, and they’d agreed to help me fix it up. My grandparents still lived in the old farmhouse I’d grown up in and as soon as the new house was done, they would move in. I hadn’t decided what I wanted to do with it yet, but we’d agreed it would always stay in the family. Hunter dropped off my lap and ran around to where Grayson was sitting. Grayson picked him up and he settled against his chest. Seeing Grayson with his son made the ache in my chest a little more real. I wasn’t jealous of Grayson, but I wanted what he had - an amazing woman to come home to every night and children who made up the most perfect parts of us. I wanted that with Demetria, I always had. I always would. But in the same breath, I worried that it would never happen for us and I blamed myself. I’d walked away.
    “I’d better get going,” I said. “Looks like you need to put the little monster to bed.”
    Grayson smiled and looked down at Hunter. He’d dozed off at some point.
    “I’ll wait for Huntley to get home,” he replied. “She should be back any minute.”
    Just then the sound of a lock echoed and boots clicked on the hardwood floors. I looked up just as Huntley appeared at the door, and stood to greet her. Her smile was warm as she approached me, but I could see indecision swirling in her eyes. Could I blame her for being cautious with me? I’d broken her best friends’ heart and I probably would’ve felt the same if I were in her shoes.
    “Hey Brody.” She hugged me and I was once again reminded of her grace. I wasn’t her favorite person, I hadn’t been for a while now, but she still treated me as if I were a friend. I returned her hug, replying, “It’s good to see you again.”
    When she pulled away, Grayson appeared at her side and bent his head to kiss her. I looked away, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with their display of affection. It was a painful reminder of what I’d had and recklessly thrown away for something that no longer meant anything to me. I cleared my throat, and their heads whipped up as if remembering that they weren’t actually alone.
    “I’m going to take off,” I said. “But I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
    “I’ll walk you out,” Huntley said. I nodded, bumped fists with Grayson while he cradled a sleeping Hunter, and made my way out their home. I was dying to know how Demi was doing but I was almost sure I’d forfeited that right. In the end, my need to know outweighed everything else. I turned to face Huntley, and found her regarding me. It was both a knowing and probing gaze.
    “How is she?” I asked, letting it slip out before I lost my nerve. Huntley’s eyes pinned me and her lips thinned into a straight line. She was wondering whether or not to tell me and I hoped to God she took enough pity on me to tell me what I wanted to know.
    “I honestly don’t know,” she replied quietly, taking two steps closer to me. Her eyes lowered for a minute, and when she brought them back to me I could tell she wasn’t lying. “Some days it’s hard to tell, really. She does a pretty good job of hidin’ things. Too bad I know her better than that.”
    I brushed my hands through my hair, and my chest deflated with a heavy sigh. I could read between the lines.
    “That bad, huh?”
    “Why do you suddenly care?” Huntley asked, anger lacing her usually sweet voice. I was caught a little off-guard by the strength of her tone.
    “I’ve always cared,” I replied quietly, silently pleading that Huntley will believe me.
    “You have a really funny way of showing it, Brody. You left without a word, and she had to deal with…” Huntley clamped a hand over her mouth quickly before