Page 113 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Let me go, Nash.”

“Someone was after you. Dad said someone followed you and hit your car.”

She sighed as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Tears shone in her eyes. Bella swallowed and looked up to him. “No one followed me. They just rode my ass and then clipped me and I hit a patch of black ice. They probably left so they didn’t get caught.”

“I can’t take any chances with you and our baby.” He placed a gentle hand on her belly.

“You know, I kept waiting for you to show up today at the appointment. You haven’t missed one. And after I was in the accident, I tried to call you. Over and over. But I kept getting your voicemail.”

“I didn’t have my phone on me—a stupid mistake on my part.” He’d been so consumed with running away from everything.

“I think it’s better if we take some time apart.”

No. She couldn’t leave him. She would be out there, unprotected. If she stayed here, he could be with her or make sure someone else was. If she left—anything could happen.

“Marry me.”

She gasped. “What?”

He cupped her face in his hands, her sweet scent wrapping around him, easing some of the ache in his chest. “Marry me. I can protect you. I swear I won’t let anything else happen to you or Eli or this baby. Just marry me and stay.”

“Why?” She searched his eyes as if looking for something specific.

His brows drew together. He hadn’t expected that question. “Why . . . because I have to keep you safe. I can’t lose you and the baby—or Eli.”

“You have to?”

“Yes! I can take care of you. Protect you, provide everything you need.” Let me give you everything.

Fat tears dripped down her cheeks over his fingers, soaking into his skin as the last bit of hope sparking in her eyes was snuffed out. “I can’t believe you’d ask me that. I told you about Robert—about what it did to me. I’ll never be in that situation again.” She shook her head and straightened, leveling him with a glare that made him realize he’d royally fucked up somehow. “I won’t be your wife because I’m having your baby. I won’t marry someone incapable of loving me back. I deserve better.” Her voice broke with a sob.

He reached out to hold her, but she held up her hand and backed up. “No. Don’t make this harder than it has to be. Just . . . I’ll let you know when the next appointment is. You can come or not. It’s up to you.”

She pulled the suitcase but he stopped her, picking it up himself and carrying it wordlessly out of the room and down the stairs on leaden feet while his heart shattered into a million pieces.

Her mother took it from him and wheeled it out to her waiting car. Eli hiked a bag over his shoulder, head down and shoulders slumped.

Nash walked over, barely holding it together himself, and placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Hey, bud. You have everything?”

Eli nodded.

“You need me, you call me, okay? Anything at all. And I’ll see you soon.”

“Let’s go, Eli,” his grandmother called, glaring at Nash.

Eli followed his grandmother obediently. Bella unplugged a charger from the kitchen wall and walked past him.

Nash reached out, tangling his fingers with hers. “This is what you really want?”

Her gaze was filled with so much pain and sorrow, Nash stumbled back a step.

“What I want doesn’t matter—it never does.” She turned and left, closing the door behind her. The quiet click was just as powerful as if she’d slammed it.

Nash fell to his knees, his face in his hands. The most heartbreaking pain and devastation slammed into him as the woman he’d fallen in love with left him for good.

50

NASH

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