Page 77 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Later that week Nash lifted the massive fake bone as Roman put the last screw in. Ricky held the back of the giant skeleton up for stability.

“That’s the last one.” Roman stepped away, his feet crunching in the leaves that littered their parents’ yard.

“Damn, these are almost as tall as the house.” Ricky motioned to their parents’ large home.

“We should convince Mom to do a haunted walk. We can use one of the fields. It would bring in a lot of money,” Roman suggested.

“There’s already one in Lee, the DeMeritt Hill Farm,” Nash replied.

“Yeah, that’s right. I haven’t been in years. We should go.” Ricky smiled.

“If you want to look at something truly horrific, all you have to do is check out a mirror,” Nash grumbled.

Ricky punched his arm.

Nash swerved out of the way, but his brother still clipped him. “Ow, fucker.”

“You started it.”

“Okay, you two. Enough. Nash, you’re the oldest. You’re supposed to be the responsible one.” Roman shook his head with a smile.

“What I want to know is how’s having the mother of your future child living with you working out?” Roman asked.

“Fine.”

“Come on, give me more than that. You’ve been alone for years. It’s got to be an adjustment having not only one but two other people in your space.”

“I heard she’s a masseuse and looking for a few clients,” Ricky added.

“Yeah. She got permission to use a room at Drift, the spa in town, part-time. At least until the baby comes,” Nash answered.

Ricky’s eyebrows moved up and down playfully, and Nash had a feeling he wasn’t gonna like what came out of the bastard’s mouth next.

“Does she give happy endings? If so, I might have to—”

Nash shoved his brother into the leaf-covered yard. “Don’t you ever fucking talk about her like that.”

Ricky held up his hands with a smirk. “I was just joking.”

“You don’t joke about shit like that.”

“That was pretty low, Ricky,” Roman agreed.

Ricky stood up, wiping his ass off. “You really like her.”

“What’s not to like?”

“No, I mean you care about her,” Ricky said.

“Of course I do. She’s the mother of my child.”

“I’d say it’s a little more than that,” Ricky pressed.

“No.” The part of Nash that was capable of loving someone, of taking that risk, had died when it was clear Ana wasn’t coming back.

“I gotta go. Got an appointment to get to.” Nash pushed past them and headed towards the driveway where his truck was parked.

“Finding out if it’s a girl or boy?” Roman asked.

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