Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,196

I swore would be denied entry to my heart could produce this kind of reaction?

19

Forrest

After I let Travis win one round of Mario Kart, by the smallest margin I can allow, Penelope calls her boys to wrap it up.

“Time to go home, loves.” She ruffles Matthew’s hair and hugs him to her.

“Mom! Not in front of Forrest!” he whisper-yells at her, and my chest puffs out that the kid thinks I’m that cool.

“It’s all good, my man. Moms can be cool sometimes.” I wink at Penelope and see a pinkish tint mark her cheeks.

But I can see how tired the little fellas are, all of them yawning and Ames practically asleep on my mom’s couch.

“Let me carry him out for you,” I offer, picking up the four-year-old who sat on my lap for the better part of an hour.

I swear, the jaws of my family collectively drop. They’re probably stunned that I’m offering to help out with kids, or that Penelope and I are so cool after what I said at the Goat. Honestly, they’re most likely shocked at all of it, and more.

“Thanks …” Penelope looks a little speechless, so I proceed out to her car.

The moment she sat down next to me at the dinner table, I’d felt my hands itching to touch her. Honestly, the moment she walked into my mother’s house, I realized just how much I miss her. From her initial silence, it was clear she was still pissed at me. It had been a risk putting my fingers on her leg under the table, but fuck …

I couldn’t help it.

And then when the boys had asked me to play video games with them, I’d jumped at the chance. If I had any hope of getting back onto Penelope’s good side, this was the moment. Of course, I hadn’t been chummy with her kids just to get her attention. Those little dudes were actually pretty cool … and getting better at gaming using the tricks I’d taught them.

No one follows us out, not her girlfriends or my mom. If they weren’t thinking something weird was going on between us before, they might now. But it was a risk I was willing to take.

I wanted to resume our agreement again.

After the kids are loaded into the car, I turn to her before she can open the driver’s side door.

“You didn’t return my texts or calls,” I say this not in anger, but more as a fact.

Penelope’s green eyes meet mine in the darkness. “Did you think I would?”

“No.” I chuckle. “I figure you’re about as good of a grudge holder as I am.”

“Thanks for helping with the boys.” She tries to change the subject.

“I want to see you, P,” I tell her.

A beat of silence passes. “I’m right in front of you.”

“I wasn’t being literal, and you know it. Don’t play dumb. I’m being serious with you.”

“Forrest …”

I reach out to run a singular finger up and down her arm. Just that touch is not enough … in just a few short weeks I’ve become addicted.

“Come on. I’m truly sorry, P. We’re good together, you know that. We can just be friends, with those fantastic benefits.” I’m pushing her, but I can’t help it.

Penelope turns her head, studying my mom’s square patch of lawn. She clucks her tongue, chews her lip, and then shakes her head as if she disagrees with whatever the voice inside of it is telling her to do.

Then, she turns back to me, a resigned annoyance on her face. “I’ll call you this week.”

And with that, she gets in the car. I stand in the driveway, staring as she backs out, with a small smile on my face.

Penelope wears the same kind of grin, and I know the game is back on.

When I walk back into the house, no one says anything about Penelope’s exit, but I can feel the questions on the tips of their tongues.

“Forrest, stay for a bit and help me clean up?” Mom asks.

My three brothers look surprised because it’s usually Keaton or Fletcher who take care of Mom. And Bowen is the one who fixes things in her house when they need fixing. I’m typically the last one to do things for her, not that I wouldn’t. But I think they all still assume I’m only concerned with myself and therefore don’t even ask me to help.

“Sure, Ma.” Because I’d never say no to my own mother.

The rest of my family kisses Mom, with Presley lingering longer