The worst fight yet
627 Words
The festival should have made things better.
Instead, it made everything worse.
Because after two weeks of constant arguing, Damien had started noticing things.
Things he shouldn't notice.
Like how Ethan's eyes softened around children.
How the cowboy always made sure his workers got home safely.
How he remembered every horse's name.
Every ranch hand's birthday.
Every tiny detail about the people around him.
It was annoying.
Very annoying.
Because it made hating Ethan harder.
The next morning Damien was distracted.
Which was why he didn't notice Ethan calling his name.
"Damien."
Nothing.
"Damien."
Still nothing.
Finally—
A work glove hit him in the face.
"What was that for?"
Ethan crossed his arms.
"I've been talking to you."
Damien frowned.
"Maybe try being interesting."
The cowboy glared.
Damien smirked.
Unfortunately, the smirk vanished when Ethan handed him a shovel.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
The ranch hands immediately started taking bets again.
The trouble started around noon.
A black SUV appeared at the ranch.
Damien recognized it instantly.
His company.
His people.
His world.
For the first time in weeks, he felt relief.
Actual relief.
A man in a suit stepped out.
"Mr. Black."
Damien walked over.
"What are you doing here?"
The man handed him a folder.
"The board wants an update."
Damien sighed.
Of course they did.
The company project was behind schedule.
Investors were getting impatient.
Everyone wanted answers.
Unfortunately Ethan overheard.
And his mood darkened immediately.
The moment Damien mentioned the land deal, the cowboy's expression changed.
The walls came back up.
Fast.
An hour later they were alone near the stables.
And Ethan was furious.
"So that's it?"
Damien frowned.
"What?"
"You've been reporting back this whole time."
The accusation caught him off guard.
"It's my job."
"It's my land."
The argument exploded instantly.
Months of frustration finally boiling over.
"I never lied to you."
Ethan laughed.
A harsh sound.
"You came here to buy my ranch."
"That was never a secret."
"You made it seem different."
Damien stared.
"What exactly did I make seem different?"
Ethan opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Because he didn't have an answer.
And somehow that made him even angrier.
For the first time since Damien arrived, Ethan looked genuinely betrayed.
Which made no sense.
None.
They weren't friends.
Barely tolerated each other.
So why did Ethan look hurt?
"You know what?"
Ethan stepped back.
His eyes cold.
Colder than Damien had ever seen.
"When the month ends, take your contract and leave."
The words hit harder than they should have.
Damien immediately got angry.
Good.
Anger was easier.
"What is your problem?"
"My problem?"
Ethan laughed again.
"My problem is I almost forgot who you are."
Silence.
The words landed like a punch.
Damien felt something twist painfully in his chest.
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"There you go again."
"And there you go pretending this isn't about money."
The tension between them was unbearable now.
Neither willing to back down.
Neither willing to listen.
Finally Damien snapped.
"Maybe I should leave."
The moment the words left his mouth, the world seemed to stop.
Ethan froze.
Only for a second.
But Damien noticed.
The cowboy's jaw tightened.
"Then leave."
The answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
As if Ethan needed to say it before he changed his mind.
Neither spoke.
For several long seconds they simply stared at each other.
Furious.
Frustrated.
And somehow both hurt.
Then Damien turned around.
And walked away.
Without another word.
Leaving Ethan standing alone by the stable.
That night, the ranch house was silent.
No arguments.
No insults.
No sarcastic comments.
Nothing.
And somehow...
The silence felt worse.
Much worse.
Because for the first time since Damien arrived...
Neither man knew how to fix what had broken between them.
- Writer
