Page 30 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“No one says you gotta do her.” Roman snickered at his own childish joke. “Sorry, channeling Ricky there for a moment. Mom really wants you there.”

Nash didn’t want to be an even shittier son than he already was. He’d been enough of a disappointment and brought enough shame on their heads by not protecting Ana.

He itched to take the missing poster folded up in his wallet out. It was barely held together from being unfolded and refolded so many times over the years. He needed to carry his burden to remind him exactly why getting involved with someone again was a bad idea. The flyer might still say missing, but his ex was dead. He knew it in his bones. It had been five years. There was no way she’d have survived this long. But not knowing for certain ate him alive as he wondered what had happened to her after she walked out of the Shipwreck after their argument. I should have been there—gone after her.

“Nash, tell me what’s wrong?” Roman pressed, knocking Nash’s foot with his own.

“Nothing. I just wanted to be alone.”

“You keep pushing people away. One day, you’re gonna look up and realize you’ve lost everyone who ever cared about your sorry ass . . . but we’re family. You can’t get rid of us.” Roman stood, turning to walk out the door. He swung the front door open and paused. “Mom made upside-down pineapple cake. Said don’t be late or you won’t get any.”

My favorite. She knows I can’t resist it.

His younger brother left, shutting the door behind him, leaving Nash alone once more. The silence in his house was deafening.

The phone rang from his lap. Nash checked the caller ID and sighed. He downed the last swig of whiskey, setting the glass on the table before swiping to answer.

“Ro already told me Ma wants me at the house.”

“Get your ass over here. We don’t want to wait on you to eat,” his father ordered.

Didn’t matter if Nash was fifteen or thirty-nine; his dad told him to do something, and he did it. “Yes, sir. Be there in ten.”

“See you soon, son.”

Nash jogged up to his room and quickly changed into a fresh black T-shirt before he headed out into the summer evening. The sun was low in the sky, bordering the mountains in the distance. Cicadas trilled in the field to his left as he made his way down the gravel driveway towards his parents’ house.

Each of the four kids had picked out a plot of land to build a home on their parents’ property. Nash had chosen the one tucked away the farthest, bordered on one side by the forest and open fields everywhere else filled with wildflowers and sweet hay.

Nash wandered up the stone path to his parents’ home. Laughter spilling out of the open windows made him hesitate on the wraparound porch before going in. They were so happy while he was still barely getting through the day without feeling like he couldn’t breathe under the weight of his transgressions. He was an outsider. He didn’t deserve this—not when the woman he’d loved was rotting in an unmarked grave somewhere. He couldn’t bear the pitying looks from his mom, but this was his life. And now he had a baby counting on him to get his shit together.

Nash straightened his spine and filled his lungs with a fortifying breath before entering his parents’ home.

The scent of pineapple and savory dishes hit him as soon as he walked in. The comfort of his childhood home wrapped around him like a warm blanket. Voices came from the dining room. He bypassed the mudroom, heading into the foyer and through the living room with his father’s worn recliner sitting to his right. Continuing down the hall, he passed the bathroom, and made his way across scuffed wood floors to the brightly lit dining room where his family gathered most Sundays to share a meal.

“Finally, Nash is here. Can we eat now?” Ricky asked standing up to clap him on the back harder than necessary.

Nash shoved him.

“Enough, boys! No roughhousing. We have guests. Please try and act civilized,” his mother scolded.

Nash turned to her to give his mother a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before turning back to the table and froze.

Bella stared at him eyes wide and mouth parted. What the fuck is she doing here? His gaze snapped to his mother and father before going back to her. Her eyes dropped to the table, redness staining her tan cheeks. Did she plan this? Or did she know who I was all along? Everyone in Shattered Cove knew the Emersons, even before losing Ana had made headlines. They were hardworking people, and they were wealthier than most. Did I read her all wrong? Was she here for a meal ticket?

“Nash, come meet my new roommates. This is Isabella and her son, Eli,” Nova said.

Bella looked up to him. Her gaze held his with so many emotions flashing in her brown eyes, but one overruled them all: fear. The question was, was it fear of being caught? Or fear of his reaction? After the way they’d left things Friday, he couldn’t blame her if it was the latter.

“Hi. It’s, um, nice to meet you,” she said.

So this was the way she wanted to play it? He’d been an asshole to her, and she deserved the benefit of the doubt. So, he’d sit down in the chair and follow her lead, pretending this was the first time they’d met.

“I met Nash at Abuelo’s marina already. He said he’d take me fishing sometime if you say yes. Then he told me not to say anything and then he told me it was okay.” Eli waved as Nash took a seat across from them.

“What a coincidence we’re all sitting here now.” Nash looked pointedly at Bella.

She shifted in her seat before reaching for her glass of water and taking two big gulps.

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