by Kayt Miller
“But you kept your old truck, right?”
“I did. For work.” Nash chuckles. “I don’t want to mess this one up. It’s the nicest vehicle I’ve ever owned.”
“I love the color too.”
“Yeah?” He looks over at me again. “Andi picked it out.”
I look back over the front seat at a sleeping Andi. “Makes sense. It matches her eyes.” And his, but I’m not about to say that aloud.
“It does.” Nash nods. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Changing the subject quickly, I ask, “So, Nash, what did you think about Isaac’s news?” My brother and his wife, Kelly, finally came home to visit last weekend because they had news. The kind of news that’s good for them, bad for the rest of us.
“I’m bummed but not surprised. He hates the job in Omaha.”
I knew that too. My brother has a degree in electrical engineering, and he’s been working for a small family-owned business in Omaha that specializes in substations and things like that. Honestly, I have no idea what a substation is, but Isaac does. Anyway, he just accepted a job in San Diego, California doing something similar but in a much larger company, and he’s thrilled for the move. He’s always wanted to live somewhere sunny—not that it isn’t sunny here. It is, but he wants sun 365 days per year. I guess he’ll get that there.
“I’m still surprised he didn’t want to farm. He used to love it.”
“I think he loved working with my dad, and his favorite part of it was fixing the equipment. He never enjoyed the actual farming part of it.” Honestly, I think my dad knew Isaac’s heart wasn’t in it and that I was the one who loved farming. Watching things grow, learning the business side of farming, and of course taking care of the animals was always exciting to me. And Dad encouraged me. He never made me feel like I was less of a farmer just because I was a girl. That may sound strange, but you’d be surprised how many men feel like farming is “men’s work.” **eye roll**
Nash laughs. “That’s true.”
“Still, I think my dad was a little disappointed.” How could he not be? He wanted one of his children to take over his farm. I sigh. “No matter. Isaac and Kelly will be happy out there. I’m sure they’ll come home from time to time.”
“A nice place for you to vacation too.”
“That’s true, especially after they have kids. I want to know my nieces and nephews.”
Nash nods, looks at me quickly; then his focus returns to the road. He says nothing more.
It’s dark by the time we pull into Nash’s driveway, but thanks to the outdoor floodlights on the house and barn, we’re able to see the car parked next to mine near the front door.
“Who’s that?” Nash asks, leaning forward to peer out the front window.
The car’s black and sleek, and if I had to guess, I’d say it was expensive. “I’ve never seen it around here before.” I look at the car again. “California plates.”
I haven’t processed the meaning of that when Nash growls, “Motherfucker.”
“Oh.” I look back at the strange car as he opens his door. He looks at me, then back at Andi as he steps down. I do the same on my side, checking on Andi before I exit. She’s still asleep, so I close my door gently but stay close to the truck in case she wakes up. I’ll be able to hear and see everything from this vantage point without getting involved. I watch the car door open and a tall, blonde woman emerge. She’s even prettier than I remember.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Ivy?” Nash’s voice is gravely and angry.
“Well—” She giggles. “—it’s nice to see you too, Nash.” She steps closer to him and opens her arms like she’s expecting him to hug her, but he backs up.
“I asked you a question. What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Well, Nash Watson.” She makes a sound like she can’t believe her ears. “That’s no way to greet an old friend.”
Old friend?
“I mean it. Why are you here?”
“Jesus, Nash.” She sighs and steps back. Giving her long blonde locks a flip, she gives him a big smile. It’s like I’m watching a scene from a bad movie. “I’m in town for a bit, so I thought I’d stop out and see how you’re doing.”
“I’m fine.” He looks back at the truck. “We’re fine.”
That’s when her eyes move my way. She scans his pretty new truck; then her eyes land on me for just a second or two. Looking back at him, she says, “I heard you were seeing someone.”
Seeing someone? Does she think…?
“So, that’s why you’re here? You heard I was with someone?”
Ivy does that thing where she flips her hair back and raises her nose in the air like she’s confident and in control.
“Of course not. I came home for a visit. My dad’s not doing so well, but the first thing people told me when I pulled into town is about the two of you. Hell, my mom called me a week ago with the news that you were ‘settling down.’” She uses air quotes on the settling down part; then she laughs, but it sounds fake.
“Who else told you that?”
Since Nash’s headlights are on and shining at the two of them, I see her eye roll perfectly. “Everyone, Nash. This shitty town hasn’t changed one bit. You’re still the talk of the town.”
Nash runs his fingers through his hair and makes a growling noise. Peering back at me, we make eye contact for a second. With a huff, he finally says, “Ivy, you need to leave.”
Ignoring Nash, Ivy turns and walks toward me. I feel my body tense. “Izzy, right? Isaac’s sister?” Oh, crap on a cracker. What am I supposed to say?
“Yeah.” I cough. “Yes.”
Before I know it, Nash is by my side. Not only that, he’s got his arm wrapped around my waist. I feel a tug as he pulls me against his side.
Ivy’s mouth opens, then closes. She leans forward and squints. Her eyes rake over me from head to toe and then back up. I’ve never felt so... so evaluated before. “You’ve certainly filled out.”
Filled out? What does that even mean? Whatever it means, it doesn’t sound nice, especially coming from a woman who’s so thin I’m surprised she has the strength to walk.
But Ivy’s not done. “You’ve got a pretty face, but that curvy body of yours wouldn’t make it in Hollywood. Back here though, I’m sure you’re quite sought after. You’ve certainly gotten Nash’s attention.”
Again, what does any of that mean? I can’t tell if she’s insulting me or not. I feel warm lips on the side of my head and know it’s Nash doing the kissing. “You’re right. She’s beautiful.” I’m sort of speechless right now. Part of me wants to reach out and slap her stupid face; the other part is wondering why Nash has got a tight hold on me as he kisses my face. It’s all surreal. Nash’s palm is on my left hip now, dangerously close to my ass. He pats my side, saying, “She’s an amazing woman.”
Ivy nods and smiles, revealing perfectly straight, white teeth. “She’d have to be to land you, Nash.” Then she laughs.
Was that sarcasm? It’s hard to tell. I can’t believe she hasn’t made it in Hollywood. From what I can tell, she’s a pretty good actress.
Nash ignores her words. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Nash’s palm is now moving back and forth over my hip. This time he’s actually touching my ass. It’s surprisingly soothing while also troubling. I like it.
“Well, it’s been nice seeing you again, Ivy. It’s getting late. We need to get to bed.”
We need to get to bed. Oh, hells bells…. Now he’s insinuating that we sleep together, in the same bed. I feel my face heat. Luckily, it’s too dark for either of them to notice.
“Of course. I need to get back to Mom and Dad’s.” She turns and walks to her car. Before she slides in though, she says, “We should grab dinner while I’m home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“No—” She laughs. “—not just us, Nash.
The three of us.” She points to me. “Just think of the gossipmongers in this town if the three of us were seen together.”
The three of us? Meaning Nash, Ivy, and me? What about Andi? Hey! She hasn’t mentioned Andi once.
“Goodbye, Ivy.” Nash’s voice is back to a grumble.
“Good night.” She waves using only her fingers. “See you soon.” Her voice sounds sweet and lyrical.
When her car door closes, I expect Nash to remove his palm from my side, but he stays right where he is. Even after she’s backed up and turned her car around, he’s still got his hand on me. It isn’t until we watch her taillights fade off into the darkness that he finally drops his hand.
I don’t know why I say it, but I feel it’s necessary. “She didn’t ask about Andi.”
His head turns so slowly I hold my breath, waiting for our eyes to meet. “I know.” Stomping away from me, then back to face me, he spits, “That fucking bitch.”
I can’t disagree. What kind of mother would forget to ask about her child after being gone for years? The answer is, a bad one. “Well, you need to get Andi inside and to bed, and I need to head home too.”
Nash isn’t really paying attention, but he nods. “Yeah.”
I make my way to my car and turn to Nash. “Good night.”
He’s still not looking my way. “Yeah. Night.”
Behind the wheel, I give a silent prayer that my car will start because I need to get home. It works. As I turn the car around, I see Andi in Nash’s arms as they make their way toward the house. I feel sad leaving the two of them. I feel drawn to them in ways I never saw coming. But now that Ivy’s back, no doubt it means our time together is over. I sigh because it was inevitable. It was going to happen soon anyway. Andi’s reading has improved so much, she doesn’t need me anymore. And now that Ivy’s back, neither does Nash.
19
Nash
I tucked Andi into bed with her clothes on. She was so wiped out after a long day at school then dinner out, I was afraid I’d wake her up if I put her in pajamas. So, I slipped off her shoes and tucked her in. I stood beside her bed and stared down at her for a good long while. My little angel is beautiful. She’s smart and funny and amazing. She’s all of those things and more. But as I stood there, a chill ran up my spine. What if she’s back to take Andi? No, that’s impossible. She’d never get her. She abandoned her kid and never looked back. It’s desertion. My mom has said that to me several times over the years, and I’ve always just sort of let her words go in one ear and out the other, but now I get it. She must have suspected that Ivy would change her mind at some point. She also urged me to get an attorney. I never did that though. I didn’t think it was necessary. But what if it’s necessary now? I’ll call Max in the morning. He’s the only lawyer I know. Sure, his specialty is business law, but he’ll know people.
I contemplate a drink of the hard stuff like the whiskey my dad kept around for times like this, times when you had to think things through. But alcohol isn’t going to make me see things clearly, because I’ve no idea what Ivy is up to. Instead of drinking, I walk to my bedroom, strip down to my briefs, and slide beneath the covers. Sighing, I turn my head and look at the empty spot next to me. For the first time in years, I wish someone was beside me. Someone I could talk to, hold, kiss, and, well, love. Someone who would support me and my decisions even if they didn’t always agree with them. A partner. Someone who wouldn’t leave. Someone who’d love my little girl almost as much as I do. That’s the most important one. I sigh again because I see the face of the person I want next to me and I know it could never be.
“Fuck.” I groan into my pillow. The sight of Ivy DeLucas was a surprise, and not a good one. I never wanted to see her again, to be honest. Why would I? She packed up her shit one night and left our child and me behind. Sure, I thought she’d change her mind halfway to wherever the fuck she was going, but that’s not what happened. Instead of regretting her choice, she drove west and never looked back. Not once did she check in on Andi. Not fucking once. And tonight, standing in my driveway with my kid ten feet away, she didn’t even fucking ask about her. Who the fuck does that shit? Maybe she’s not back here to claim her daughter. If that’s the case, why is she here? Sure, I know what she said. I heard her words, but nothing Ivy does is that simple.
There’s got to be more to it, because Ivy DeLucas doesn’t forgive easily, nor does she do anything on a whim. She’s resentful and calculated, to put it mildly. Back in high school, if she didn’t get what she wanted, whatever that thing was, there was hell to pay. Take the school musical for example. She wanted the lead like she’d had in the play the year before, but Ivy can’t sing. Worse than that, she’s tone-deaf. Anyway, when Mr. Carmichael, our music teacher, gave the lead to someone else––someone who could actually carry a tune––Ivy was so livid, she went on a campaign to have the play boycotted. It worked to a certain extent. It got so bad Mr. Carmichael finally gave in and gave her the lead. To say the thing was awful is an understatement. But Ivy didn’t care. She got what she wanted.
Then there was the whole shit show at prom our senior year. She wanted to be prom queen. The fact that she was crowned homecoming queen earlier in the year wasn’t enough. When she wasn’t even nominated to the prom court, most likely because she was six months pregnant, she made sure everyone knew the title belonged to her. Her best friend, Nicole, won and things have never been the same between them. As far as I know, they’re no longer best friends. Hell, I don’t even think they’ve spoken in years. It was unfair that she was eliminated from qualifying due to pregnancy. I wasn’t and I was the father. That shit stunk of inequity, but honestly, who the fuck cares about something like that? We were having a kid, for fuck’s sake. Ivy cared though.
With a sigh, I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. I need to paint in here. Everything is just sort of dingy. I let my thoughts of Ivy roll around in my head for a little while. I’m not tired, so sleep isn’t going to come easily. Reaching out, I pick up my phone.
Me: Can’t sleep.
Isabelle: Me neither.
Me: What if she’s here to take Andi?
Isabelle: Is that what you think she’s doing?
Me: Hell if I know.
Isabelle: She didn’t mention her name once.
Me: I know, but that doesn’t mean she’s not going to try.
Isabelle: Do you think she’d succeed?
Me: Who knows? I’m not married. According to my mom, judges will often side with the mother.
Isabelle: That doesn’t seem fair.
Me: No, it doesn’t.
Isabelle: So, what are you going to do?
Me: Wait and see. I want to know what she’s up to.
Isabelle: You think she’s up to something?
Me: The only thing I know for sure is her dad is doing okay, which makes her excuse just that, an excuse.
Isabelle: She did say her mom told her a week ago that you were settling down. She thinks we’re dating.
Me: Others in town must think so too.
Isabelle: I suppose.
Isabelle: I guess we shouldn’t be seen together, especially if it’s going to cause problems between you and Ivy. Andi’s reading has gotten so much better…
Not be seen together? I don’t like the idea of not being able to see Isabelle. Instead of sending another text message, I opt to call her instead.
She answers on the first ring. “Hello?”
I don’t bother saying anything other than “I don’t think us being seen together is a bad thing.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “As a matter of fact, I think we should play it up.”
There’s hesitation in her voice. “Um, play what up?”
“Our relationship.”
“Our relationship? You mean our friendship?”
“Sure.”
“You’re confusing me.”
I blow out of gust of air b
ecause I’m confusing myself. “I just think it would look better if it appears as if I’m in a long-term relationship with someone like you.” There’s silence on the other end of the line. I can practically hear the wheels turning in her pretty little head from here.
“Someone like me?”
“Someone sweet. Traditional.”
“Traditional?”
That’s what she picked up on? “Yeah, the girl next door.” I hear her giggle on the line and smile with relief.
“I am literally the girl next door.”
“Exactly. Nobody would think for a second that this was just one of my flings.” Ah-ha! That’s it. That’s what brought Ivy back. She heard I was dating Isabelle Harmon, the town angel, my best friend’s little sister, and daughter to the richest man in the county. That’s the part that made her jump in her expensive sports car and drive all this way home. It’s because Isabelle Harmon is a threat.
20
Isabelle
“I don’t know about this, Nash.”
It’s Friday night and the two of us are back at Three Sisters, only this time, we’re appearing as though we’re on a date. The place is packed due to the fact it’s homecoming and our high school football team won their game. It’s a big deal because last year they went zero and ten. That’s zero wins, in case you were wondering.
“Know about what, babe?” Nash is leaning in close, practically whispering in my ear. Just feeling his breath on my neck gives me goose bumps.
I turn and look up at him. I feel both of his arms slide around my waist and clasp behind me. With a little tug, my body is pressed up against his, and it’s sensation overload. I’m struck dumb for a second or two.
“Babe?”
“I… I said, I’m not sure about this.”
Nash doesn’t reply. Instead, he leans down and kisses my mouth. It’s a soft kiss, nothing over the top, but it lingers. I feel it everywhere. All the way down to my toes.
Gah!
How can this guy do this to me? He barely has to touch me and I’m a gelatinous mess.