Page 44 of Secret Southern Promises

He quirked his lips, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at the corner. “I mean, not really. It’s just easier to be mad at her.”

“I get that too. But maybe forgiving her won’t be as hard as you think. Just imagine—if we forgive her, you can go back to talking to her like you used to. You can look at her without that anger weighing you down.”

Nash thought about it, his face thoughtful. “I’ve had a good life,” he finally said. “I mean, it’s not like we were living in a cardboard box eating cold SpaghettiOs’s out of a can.” He tilted his head to the side. “It would’ve been better if you’d been around, but you’re here now.”

I nodded, feeling a small flicker of hope. “Yeah, I’m here now. And this is where I’m going to stay.”

“Except when you’re off announcing for the Wild Bronc series,” Nash added with a smirk.

I chuckled. “Yup. But that doesn’t start until July, and hopefully, you and your mom can come with me when I’m on the road. At least during the summer.” I had decided last week to take the job. I had been worried when I told Nash about it that he would be upset I would be gone some, but he was excited about it. At least he was when I told him that he could come with me as long as he didn’t have school, and his mom was okay with it.

I had planned on her coming with us, too.

“Promise?” Nash asked, his eyes full of hope.

“Promise.” I pushed off the counter and clapped him lightly on the shoulder. “You ready to head home?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty tired. Who knew breaking your arm would make you so tired all the time?”

I grinned and wrapped an arm around his shoulder as we headed toward the front door. “Must be all that healing your body’s doing.”

We walked outside, the evening air cool against my skin. The truck was parked in the driveway, and Nash climbed in beside me. We drove in a comfortable silence, the engine humming as the road stretched ahead of us.

As we pulled up in front of his house, Nash turned to me. “You coming in?”

I shook my head. “Not tonight, kiddo.”

“I thought you said we needed to forgive Mom?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I smiled softly. “We do, and I am. But right now, you’re the one who needs to talk to her. She needs you.”

Nash nodded, seeming to understand. “Okay.” He opened the door, pausing for a second. “You want to come to my pieauction next week? It’s Tuesday. Mom said she’s gonna make some pies. I should probably remind her, though, in case she forgot.”

I chuckled. “Good idea. And yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Cool. Night, Boone.” Nash hopped out of the truck, running toward the front door. I watched until the door closed behind him before pulling out of the driveway, feeling lighter than I had in days.

The drive back to my place was peaceful, and for the first time in a while, I felt a little bit of hope blooming inside me. Things hadn’t been easy, but there was a sense that maybe we could figure this out.

I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out, but I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t going to let fear or anger dictate my choices anymore.

Nash, Dolly, and I—we deserved better than that.

Dolly

The sound of a truck pulling into the driveway woke me up. I must have drifted off. After my bath, I’d barely managed to pull on some pajamas before collapsing into bed. It was one of those days where sleep felt like the only way to escape. I heard the front door open and close quickly, but I didn’t move. I was glad Nash was home, but I didn’t have the energy to deal with his cold shoulder.

“Mom?”

His voice came through the hallway, and I lifted my head off the pillow. “In the bedroom,” I called, trying to sound more awake than I felt.

The door creaked open, and Nash stood in the doorway. “Are you sleeping already?”

That was the most words he’d said to me in one go since finding out about Boone. “Uh, yeah,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

“You tired or sick?” he asked as he stepped inside the room.

I blinked at him, taken aback by the concern in his voice. Was this my Nash? My sweet boy? Not the distant, angry version of him I’d been dealing with these past few days?

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