Page 40 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Pretty hard to do when you’re living with my sister and carrying my goddamned baby!” Nash’s chest heaved, his nostrils flaring. Anger radiated through his every cell that she would be so reckless.

Bella’s face drained of color as her gaze searched wildly around them.

Fuck. He’d been so overcome with the need to protect her that he’d forgotten they were in the middle of the town square. Everyone was staring at them. Once again, his emotions had gotten the better of him.

Nova appeared, linking her arm with Bella’s as she gave Nash a look of disappointment. “Come on, Bella. Let’s get out of here.”

Bella’s gaze locked on to the grass as his sister led her away from him and the audience he’d garnered. The last thing he wanted was to get this town gossiping about his business again, but what he regretted most was that it would affect Bella too. Nash wiped a hand over his face and shook his head. How do I keep making this worse?

He needed to go after her and apologize, but first, he needed to find his parents and own up to everything before the rumor mill notified them that their son had once again brought shame on the family.

When will I learn?

20

ISABELLA

Isabella clutched the towel wrapped around her modest one-piece bathing suit and kept her head down. Her skin burned with embarrassment from the attention of strangers who’d no doubt witnessed the spectacle Nash had made. Now everyone would be talking about poor Isabella Noveas, knocked up and a widow all in less than a year. No doubt some would pity her and others think she was a ho. She shook her head. It didn’t matter what people thought. But she needed to find Eli. He had to hear this from her.

Nova hadn’t said a word as she guided Isabella away from the crowds towards her truck. Isabella turned to face her friend. “I need to find Eli.”

Nova nodded, turning to look back at the people spread out over Green Park. The sun was shining. Birds chirped, people laughed, and kids screamed in glee. Her heart raced and sweat beaded on her skin despite being in her bathing suit and the thin wrap Nova had blessedly grabbed as they’d walked away from the booth.

“Do you know where he is?” Nova asked.

“With my parents.”

Nova turned back to her, tipping her head to the side as she studied Isabella. “It all makes sense now.”

“What?”

“The interest my usually silent loner brother has in you.”

Isabella’s shoulders hunched. The back of her eyes burned. She wanted to fall apart, but she couldn’t—not here. Not when Eli needed her to be strong. One foot in front of the other, Bella. Fake it until you make it.

“I’m sorry, Nova. I’ll move out—”

“The hell you will.”

Isabella’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Why would you move out?” Nova asked.

“Your parents are going to hate me. They’re all going to think I lied to them. But I didn’t know he was your brother until that family dinner—I swear.”

Nova crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. “It’s okay, really. I mean, I wish you would have told me, but I get it. We’re just getting to know each other again. And he is my brother. But even I can admit he’s been an asshole.” She sighed. “The thing about Nash is he has a complicated history. Not that I’m making excuses for him. What he did was cowardly, by not stepping up to the plate. You should know whatever is going on with him, it has to do with his past—not with you.”

“What happened in Nash’s past?”

Nova swallowed, her lips turning down sympathetically. “Nash lost someone he cared about—his fiancée, Anastasia.”

Dios. His boat is named after her. “She passed?”

Nova shook her head. “That’s the thing. She’s been missing for years. No one ever found her body. Nash blames himself. He just shut himself off from everyone after that. This is the first Juneteenth celebration he’s been to since, and I think you might have something to do with it.”

“I highly doubt that,” Isabella scoffed.

“Don’t sell yourself short. I know you said your baby daddy made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with the baby, but I’ve also seen my brother approach you with something weighing on his mind. I’m not telling you what to do, because it’s your choice. And I will support you no matter what—girl power and all.” Nova laughed. “But as his sister, I have to ask if you’ll hear him out when he pulls his head from his ass and comes to talk to you?”

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