Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,23

My brother drains his first cup of coffee and motions for Dylan, one of the regular employees at Java, to come refill his cup.

Well, at least he expressed a thought to continue on. “Yeah, Pittsburgh really needs to pull some kids out of their farm system or trade or something, or we’re going to miss the playoffs again this year.”

Bowen grunts, which officially ends the conversation. I love my brother, but he’s not great company. He has his demons, that I know, but they’ve turned him into a shell of his former self.

And my fucking God, sometimes irony is a cold bitch. Because at the exact moment I begin to think about my brother’s demons, the biggest one walks right through the door of the town coffee shop.

On the heels of my current crush.

“Shit.” Bowen spots Lily at the same time I do.

“It’s fine, Bow. We can all coexist, you’ve seen her before. We’re enjoying our coffee. I’m sure they’ll leave soon.” I wish I could inject my brother with Xanax.

He’s rubbing his clavicle in the same spot he broke it in three places all those years ago, and my stomach clenches for him. The shit he’s been through, especially where it comes to Lily, is heavy.

I’m not even worried about my heart, even though it’s badly bruised. Presley smiles from where she and Lily have just picked up their coffees from the other end of the counter. Now that we’ve seen each other, we can’t just ignore it. She smiles at me, and I can see the bad end to our date the other night written all over her face.

To her, this is an awkward run in. But for my brother and Lily, and me who knew their past, this was a hundred levels worse than Presley and I’s interaction was going to be.

“Hey.” Presley smiles, and I can’t help but let my eyes roam over her body.

Goddamn, did she have to be so attractive?

“Hey, you look great. How did class go?” It was a chore to keep my tongue from lolling out of my mouth.

What is it about yoga pants that made everything on a woman sexier? Especially Presley.

It was also a chore to keep my wounded pride from rearing its ugly head. We hadn’t spoken since our date ended in disaster last weekend, and I know she’s just over here for a pity hello. And even though she rejected me, and not for the first time, I still want to show my support. Presley is bright and smart, even in the short time I’ve known her I’ve figured that out. I’ve also figured out that she downplays that, and she seems to make herself smaller. I’m not sure why, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find out since she admitted to not knowing if she really likes me.

Ouch. That still burns.

“Yuck, I’m all gross. But it went well, we had a great turnout. And there is going to be a next time so that’s something.” Her smile reveals just how psyched she is about this even if she was trying to downplay it.

“She did a great job,” Lily added, sneaking a glance at Bowen.

My brother was actively trying not to spaz out like a crazy person and sprint out of the coffee shop, I could tell by his posture and the way his foot was hammering into the floor.

“You all must know each other, right? Everyone in this town knows each other.” Presley laughs innocently.

As much as I want to see her, despite her rejection, I wish she wasn’t here right now. Because it would mean Bowen wouldn’t have to face the girl whose heart he crushed to smithereens, and who did the same to him.

“You could say we know each other.” Bowen’s voice is deadly calm, and it has the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention.

Lily looks like she’s about to cry, and I don’t need Bowen doing something stupid. He’s got his life in order, he doesn’t need one mistake to throw it off track.

I get up abruptly, because I can feel the tension about to reach a boiling point. “We should go. You ladies enjoy your coffee. Presley, I’ll … see you later.”

What? God, that was a stupid thing to say.

Presley looks surprised, and I watch as Lily lets out a long, relieved breath. Bowen exits before I can even move from the table, and at the last second, my hand finds hers and squeezes.

The smile that spreads her lips