Page 40 of Secret Southern Promises

“Yeah,” I said softly. “But listen, Nash. Your mom made mistakes, no doubt about it. But she’s also been there for you your whole life. Don’t forget that.”

He was quiet for a while, the sounds of the movie playing in the background filling the room. “I guess,” he finally muttered. “I still don’t get why she didn’t tell you, though. Or why she didn’t tell me.”

“I don’t get it either,” I admitted. “But she did what she thought was right at the time. It doesn’t mean it was the right call, but she wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

Nash stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the TV. I could tell he was still turning it all over in his mind, trying to make sense of the past. I wasn’t sure he’d be able to, not right away. Hell, I was still working through my own feelings about it.

We watched the movie for a while longer, neither of us talking. It wasn’t until the credits started rolling that Nash finally spoke again.

“So... what now?” he asked, his voice quieter this time.

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “Now, we take it one step at a time. You and me, we get to know each other. I’m not going anywhere.”

He nodded, not looking at me, but I could tell he was listening. “You really mean that?”

“Yeah, Nash,” I said, my voice firm. “I mean it.”

There was another long pause before he spoke again, this time with a little more vulnerability in his voice. “Okay. We’ll see.”

It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And right now, that was more than enough for me.

Dolly

Man, this hurt.

All these years, I’d known that if Boone or Nash ever found out about the lie I’d told, life would be turned upside down. But I hadn’t prepared myself for how much it would hurtmewhen they finally looked at me with disappointment in their eyes—or worse, didn’t look at me at all. I couldn’t be mad at them, though. I had no right to be angry that they were upset with me. I was the one who had lied for fourteen years.

This was exactly what Lindsay had warned me about. She’d told me that when the truth finally came out, I’d have to put their feelings first and that I’d have to suck up my own pain because what they were going through would be worse.

Leaning against the bathroom sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes red-rimmed, but I’d held it together all through dinner. I’d dished up the food, set it in front of Boone and Nash, and even managed to smile when Nash wouldn’t look at me. But now that I was alone, locked in this small space, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The second I twisted the lock, my tears fell.

A knock sounded on the door, and I quickly wiped my nose with the back of my hand, trying to steady my voice. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to head out, Dolly,” Boone said from the other side of the door. “The movie’s over, and Nash said he was tired, so he went to his room.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Okay, sounds good.” I didn’t want to leave the bathroom. I wasn’t ready to face Boone, not after the way Nash had looked at me—or rather, the way he hadn’t.

“You need anything?” Boone asked after a beat.

Yeah, a time machine so I could go back and fix everything. “Nope, I’m just fine,” I called out, forcing a brightness into my voice that felt all wrong.

Boone paused before speaking again. “Maybe Nash can come over for dinner this week?”

I felt a fresh wave of tears building, but I pushed them back. Boone was trying to do the right thing, and I wasn’t about to make this harder on him than it already was. “Yeah, that would be fine. I’ll check his schedule to see when he doesn’t have anything after school.” I sniffled and grabbed a Kleenex, wiping my eyes. “Actually, I’ll just forward you his schedule. He’s got a pie fundraiser coming up in a week or so. I’m sure he would like you there.”

I wanted Boone to be part of Nash’s life. I hadn’t kept the secret because I thought Boone was a bad person. I’d done it because I didn’t want to hold him back, but that didn’t matternow. All that mattered was making sure they had a chance to build something together.

Boone hesitated. “Uh, that would be good.”

“Okay,” I said, my voice still too chipper, too fake. “I’ll let you know what night works for dinner.”

There was silence on the other side of the door, and for a second, I thought maybe he had already walked away. But then he spoke again, softer this time. “All right. I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Bye,” I called, my voice small. I listened as his footsteps moved away from the door, and when I was sure he was gone, I let my head drop into my hands. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, racking my body in silent sobs.

I had done this. I had created this mess. No matter how good my intentions had been back then, I’d still lied to Boone and Nash. And now, seeing the consequences play out in front of me, I realized just how much damage I had caused.

For so many years, I had convinced myself that I was protecting Nash from the uncertainty of Boone’s life on the road. I had convinced myself that letting Boone go was for his own good—that he deserved to chase his dreams without the weight of fatherhood holding him down. But now I saw how wrong I had been. I hadn’t given Boone the choice. I hadn’t giveneitherof them the choice.

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