Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,246

have athlete’s foot, a result of constant running. I’m surprised she remembers that embarrassing moment when I walked into Forrest’s house years ago, asking for the medicinal cream, and she’d been sitting on his couch.

“Well, I guess we’re both even on the embarrassment front,” I manage to choke out.

There is a pssh sound from behind me. “This is way more embarrassing than you asking for foot cream! You saw me naked!”

My fingers won’t stop moving, tapping on my legs and wringing themselves in the other hand. I drop my head, unable to stop the words from rushing out of my mouth.

“There is nothing embarrassing about this, Ryan. Other than the fact that I walked in without knocking. But your body? Seeing you naked … I assure you, there is nothing humiliating about it. I’ve thought about this for a long time. Probably too often, if I’m being honest. Which, I guess, since we’re getting down to the bare bones of it, I have to be. You’re absolutely beautiful, every part of you. I only wish I had more time to examine every dip and crevice that makes you up. I apologize for surprising you, it won’t happen again.”

My lungs burn with the words I shouldn’t have let out, and I’m too much of a coward to turn around and face her before I bolt for the exit.

5

Ryan

“Can we slow down a bit? I’m winded, gosh, do I feel out of shape.”

Lily pushes the stroller with baby Molly in it, some paces behind Presley and me. Penelope is trying to wrangle Ames, her youngest son, from jumping in a pond fully clothed, and I have to smile at how much adulting we’re doing.

“You just had a baby, give yourself some grace,” Penelope chides her best friend as we all fall into step together.

When Presley suggested a Saturday morning walk with her sisters-in-law, I’d been a bit hesitant. These three spend so much time together, and even though I knew her first and she’s my best friend, it’s almost like Presley is closer with Lily and Penelope now. I don’t like to feel like the odd one out and was anxious to try to converse with people who spoke to each other every day.

“Says the woman with three kids who looks like a supermodel daily.” Lily rolls her eyes.

The baby whines for a moment, and Presley peaks inside, pulling back the blanket on her niece’s body and rubbing her tummy a little. Lily smiles at Presley in thanks, and Molly is fast asleep before I can blink an eye.

“Jeez, who knew you were so good with kids,” I say to Presley.

She shrugs. “Keaton and I babysit a lot for this growing brood.”

“Speaking of growing, is there anything you want to tell us?” Penelope eyes her hopefully.

Presley shakes her long red locks. “Not yet, although we’ve been talking about starting to try.”

That tidbit of information catches my attention. “Really? I thought you didn’t know about kids.”

We’d always talked about how neither of us was sure if we wanted to have children. Presley was too flighty, and I was too selfish. Listing off all the things I’d have to give up for a child … it seemed endless. I wasn’t sure if I wanted my life to change so drastically, and having a child meant putting everything you loved second.

Her green eyes are shifty as she glances from her sisters to me. “Well, I … I know how great of a father Keaton would be. I feel like I’d be robbing him of fulfilling some destiny. And, well, babysitting has really given me the fever. If I get a baby half as good as Molly, I’ll be lucky.”

“I’ll remember you said that when your little one is up at midnight, clawing at your boob,” Penelope jokes.

Lily nods in agreement. “Although, it’s the greatest thing on earth. I didn’t know how badly I wanted to be a milk machine until I had a child.”

I have to tamp down the shudder that runs through me because that doesn’t sound at all like something I’d want.

The silence that follows when no one responds makes my skin crawl. Maybe they’re not pushing the discussion further because I’m here, an intruder on their family talks.

“Ryan, I’m glad you’re back in town. Are you working remotely?” Lily asks politely.

Penelope tunes in as Ames runs ahead of us, and Presley grins at me. They’re all trying to make me feel included, which is nice, but I still feel like an outcast.

“I’m