Page 43 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“I’d start with talking to your baby mama,” Ricky offered.

“You better make this right,” his mother said before walking away.

“Yes, ma’am.” Nash saluted her retreating back.

“I didn’t raise a coward,” his father stated, following after his wife.

“No, sir.” Once again, he answered the back of his parent.

“Damn, I’m gonna be an uncle.” Ricky smiled.

“You’re already an uncle, idiot.” Roman shoved Ricky towards the festivities, leaving Nash alone with Nova.

“Go ahead. Get whatever you want to say off your chest.” I deserve it.

“You were an asshole.” Nova crossed her arms over her chest.

“Yup.”

“And you embarrassed her in front of the whole town.”

He grimaced. “I know.”

“You better not hurt her again.”

“I’ll try my best,” he promised.

She waited a beat and then asked, “How are you doing with this whole ‘becoming a dad’ thing?”

“I think I’m off to a pretty spectacular dumpster fire of a beginning, don’t you agree?”

Her expression softened before she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him close. He patted her back.

“I worry about you, you know?” Nova sighed. “I know you think you don’t deserve good things—”

He tried to pull away but she just held on tighter.

“Don’t try to deny it. I know you. And what happened to Ana was horrible. You’ve kept yourself shut off from everyone for so long, and you can’t do that with a baby. This might just be the best thing to ever happen to you.”

Or it could be the worst.

* * *

Nash left the keys in the ignition as he bypassed Nova’s parked truck and headed to her house. He knocked on the door. Footsteps padded on the other side as a curvy figure approached through the blurry glass window of the door.

“I’m here to talk,” he announced.

The door opened and a gorgeous Bella stared back at him, her expression carefully blank. The dark circles under her eyes were deeper, as if the afternoon’s events had exhausted her even more. It’s my fault. And now he was here to make it right—whatever it took. Because whether she liked it or not, Bella, their baby, and Eli were now under his care.

So much for keeping things simple.

“Can I come in for a minute?” he asked.

Bella didn’t budge.

“I’m sorry for this afternoon.”

Her lips parted as she gripped the doorframe.

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