Page 71 of Shattering Nash

“You have family close by?” he asked, cracking the eggs into the batter.

When he didn’t get an answer, he looked over. Charley clasped her hands where they rested on the counter and smiled. It was forced. This was an uncomfortable subject for her. But necessary.

“My dad passed away when I was fourteen. My mom is remarried and lives in North Rutherford. It’s about four hours from here, south of Turnersville. I don’t get to see her much.” Charley grew silent. “The distance and all.”

“Siblings?”

She cleared her throat. “I have a brother. Cody.”

I know.But Nash wasn’t going to let on that he knew any details. “Older?”

“Cody is two years younger than me.”

“Are you close?”

“Yes,” she muttered.

“He live locally?”

There was a small stretch of silence, but Nash continued focusing on making breakfast. She’d answer when she was ready.

“We actually lived together for a while, but um, he recently moved out of state.” She cleared her throat and blurted, “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

If he had to guess, it was a calculated move on her part to change the subject.

“No. I’m an only child.”

Nash walked over to the stove, switching on the burner. All talking had ceased briefly. The last thing he wanted was Charley to shut down on him. He’d steer the conversation in a different direction.

“Elle mentioned she offered you the apartment above her shop.” Nash turned. “She said you turned it down.”

Charley drew in a breath and slowly nodded.

“I don’t want to move again. Besides, as much as I love working at the store, living there too might be a lot.” Charley glanced down at the counter and twisted her fingers.

It was a fair and reasonable excuse. But Nash sensed there was more to it. She peeked up and straightened on the stool.

“That smells delicious,” she said eagerly. Again, he suspected she was trying to change the subject.

He’d end his inquisition.

For now.

Chapter Fourteen

Charley had spent the last three nights at Nash’s house. She usually went home during the day but came back at night. Nash always arrived past midnight, but he’d given her the code with instructions to make herself comfortable. He’d texted her that he’d be later than usual tonight, and she shouldn’t wait up, so she’d retired to his bed about twenty minutes ago. She was propped up on the pillows watching video reels when the call came in.

Charley intended on dismissing it but inadvertently hit the wrong tab.Shit!There was no going back now. She wiggled on the bed to an upright position and matted down her hair. With the dim lighting maybe Keely wouldn’t notice.

Wrong!

When the call connected, Keely popped up on her screen. “Hey, I was just…” She stopped in mid-sentence, and her face became magnified as she moved closer to the screen. “Where are you?”

Dammit!

Charley and Nash hadn’t had any conversations in regards to their relationship.Is it even that?She had no idea. They were in the weird space of enjoying each other’s company without defining it.

“I’m in bed.”

---