Page 12 of Fragments of You

“You know what, you’re right. I shouldn’t have said what I said about Nash. You’re a grown woman with a good head on your shoulders. If Felix is who you want, your father and I will support that. Always.”

I hold back what I really want to say, offering a simple nod and thank you instead.

I have enough on my mind with Nash showing up here today. I don’t need to add to the pile of things that are going to keep me up tonight.

“How about another glass of that wine?” She smiles, turning to grab the bottle off the counter.

“Please,” I agree, knowing right now I need it.

After refilling my glass and then hers, she lifts the long-stem crystal, which belonged to Felix’s mom, to her lips and takes a small sip.

“Felix, wherever did you get this wine?” She exits the kitchen, making a show of sitting down next to him on the sofa, looking directly at me as she does, as if to say, see...

“Actually, your daughter picked it out. She has great taste.” His eyes meet mine, and I’m rewarded with a smile and a wink.

“I got it at the vineyard in Harrison,” I tell her, moving to squeeze in between her and Felix.

“I’ve always wanted to go there but have never made it out that way,” my mother says, taking another sip.

“They offer wine tastings,” Felix offers. “Perhaps we can all go sometime.”

“I would like that very much.” My mom puts on her best smile, one she has crafted to perfection over the years.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll get something scheduled.” I take Felix’s hand, intertwining our fingers. “Sound good to you, Daddy?” I ask, almost daring him to decline.

“Sure, baby girl. Whatever you want.”

It’s not a grand slam, but I feel like maybe we’re making a little progress with my parents. I think they can see I’m not going to change my mind. Or at least, I’m hoping I’ve convinced my mother of this fact. I don’t need them to love Felix, but I really want them to. I want to walk down that aisle in September and know that everyone is as happy for me as I am for myself.

But just as I’ve pushed all thoughts of Nash from my mind, he creeps back in... Those blue eyes haunting me, just as they have for the past four years. Only now, it’s so much worse because I know he’s here. Nash is back in Madison for the first time in four years, and considering he didn’t even come home for his father’s funeral, I find myself even more curious about what could have prompted his unexpected return.

Why do I care? My inner voice sneers. Him being back changes nothing. I wonder how long I’m going to have to repeat the lie before I actually start to believe it.

Chapter Four

Nash

“I HEARD YOU WERE BACK in town.” I turn to find Iris Walters, of all people, standing in the doorway of my father’s house, her shoulder propped against the frame.

I immediately wonder how long she’s been standing there. When I opened the doors to air out the smell—stale cigarettes and something else rather foul that I later learned was food rotting under the couch, making it unbearable to be inside longer than a few seconds—I didn’t even consider it would be an invitation for unwanted guests.

For one, this place is pretty remote—the closest neighbor is a good two miles away. My dad moved us here after my mom left. Probably so he could drink himself into oblivion and neglect his only child without people in town judging him. And for two, no one even knows I’m here, or at least, that’s what I assumed. Then again, it makes sense that Paisley would have told her best friend about my return. Probably why she’s here.

“What do you want, Iris?” I grumble, not at all in the mood for whatever bullshit she’s come here to deliver. I’m barely hanging on by a thread as it is.

“Hello to you too, asshole.” She casually crosses her arms in front of herself, seeming completely unfazed by my greeting.

“I’m a little busy at the moment.” I gesture around the room to the various boxes cluttering the space.

“I can see that.” She makes her way inside without waiting to be invited in. “Finally come to pack up all your father’s things, I see.” She runs a perfectly manicured finger across the top of one box.

Iris looks exactly as I remember. Tall and lean, blue eyes that stand out against light brown skin. She’s beautiful, there’s no denying it, but I could never see past Paisley to really appreciate hers, or anyone else’s beauty, for that matter.

Fuck, I still can’t.

Nothing could have prepared me for seeing Paisley when Felix’s front door opened. I met her eyes for only a brief second, but in that moment, I felt like I took my first real breath in years. The weight I’d carried with me seemed to disappear in an instant. That is until realization hit and suffocated me all over again.

I shake my head, trying to rid the memory of what happened next.

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