Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,294

Perhaps you’ve outgrown it, or more likely, you need a position that calls for more than just fixing rich people’s problems. What you crave is to help those who could really do good with the skills you can teach. And in doing so, you do good yourself.”

Jeez, I wasn’t looking for a therapy session when I came in here, but Hattie is taking me to church.

When I don’t reply, she goes on. “The need for comfort and security constantly battles your desire to see the world. You can have both, you know. A hometown and adventures abroad. You’ve done it before, but maybe it’s time to establish a new place to store your clothes. The same goes for love. You’ve done it before, but this time, with that strapping youngest Nash boy, it’s different. We all see it. I don’t even have to know your dating history to know that the way you look at each other, it’s the real deal.”

How the hell could she possibly know all of this? It’s like she’s reading my mind, and I can’t stop her. In a very short amount of time, I’ve come to care deeply for Fletcher. Not just on a romantic level, but I respect his drive and his values. I don’t think I can say that for any of my past relationships … those were all just fluff compared with the things I see in Fletcher.

“And last, your biological mother. I’m not even going to sugar-coat this one. It is far past time to cut her out of your life. She’s toxic, she’s cancer, and she’s eating up the confidence and good self-worth you have with each time she dials your num—”

This one, I can give her an answer to, so I cut her off.

“I’ve stopped taking her phone calls, and … I just blocked her number.” I breathe, because just saying it feels like a huge weight off of me.

Hattie’s expression turns from one of sternness, to surprise. “Well … good. No one like that deserves your love or attention. And if you ever need an ear to listen, I’m here. We’re your family, have been since the day Presley told me about her wacky new roommate in New York.”

“Aren’t you just supposed to say some mumbo jumbo about following my destiny, or seeing the light? From what I hear, you never give Presley the answers, you just guide her in the right direction. Why spell it all out for me?”

Hattie’s smile is small. “Because you already know the answers. You’re just sitting on your ass, pretending that you don’t. With Presley, she really didn’t know what she wanted out of life. You, Ryan, have all the options listed in front of you, but you simply won’t choose. That’s why. It’s time to make your choice.”

“Just because you say so?” Her words mildly annoy me, but the beat of my heart tells me she’s dangerously close to having my number.

Hattie rises, patting me on the shoulder. “I’m an old woman, close to death. I don’t mince words anymore, and you should take my advice before I’m gone.”

I yell after her, “You can’t play that card! It won’t work with me, Presley has warned me!”

The chuckle I hear down the hall tells me she doesn’t believe me. And to be honest, I don’t believe myself either.

27

Ryan

“You do know that camping is literally the worst thing you could force me to do, right?”

Inspecting the nature around us, I screw up my face and stick out my tongue.

“Oh, come on, it’s not so bad. You’ve hiked in Hawaii before, and you liked those hot springs in Iceland.” Presley tries to point these adventures out as if they’re anything like sleeping in a sweat cocoon on a floor of dirt.

“Those were beautiful, enchanting vacation experiences. I’d rather stick a fork in my eyeball than pee in a bucket and roast trout over a fire we started ourselves.”

Okay, I know I sound like a brat … but I’m a city girl. Fawn Hill is about as country as it gets for me, and then the Nash family decided to take me even further past my limits.

“I know whose sleeping bag I’m leaving a dead spider in,” Travis whispers loudly behind his hand to his little brothers, and I shoot him a death glare.

The whole crew decided to come along on this jaunt into the forest, with Penelope and Forrest bringing the kids. The only person not here is Lily, who opted to stay home