5. Nash
CHAPTER FIVE
NASH
R iley’s face lights up as the server brings an enormous plate of food and sets it in front of her on the table. She does a little dance in her seat, where she quickly rocks her body back and forth, and I can’t help but smile as I watch her. Her energy is contagious and it’s a stark contrast from the gloomy expression she was wearing earlier.
I know Riley has so much going on in her life right now and it’s hard to not let such heavy things weigh you down and poison the other parts of your life. I’m also not sure what happened today, but I have a feeling it wasn’t because she was tired. Knowing what I know now, I think it’s safe to say it was probably related to her health issues.
“Thank you,” I tell the man, nodding as he asks us if we need anything else. Riley smiles and shakes her head, thanking him after me. The man walks away, leaving the two of us alone again, and she wastes no time. “You skipped lunch, didn’t you?”
Riley lifts her head, chewing a mouthful of food before she swallows it down. “Oh my god, you were right, these are amazing.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” I admit, the seriousness in my tone as her eyes rest on mine. Her lips flatten, parting slightly as she blinks. To lighten the moment, I wink. “I know my enchiladas.”
“I trust you.” Her lips twitch. “When it comes to your opinion on the best food.”
Grabbing my glass of water, I shake my head, moving the rim to my lips to conceal my smile. In typical Riley fashion, she never misses a goddamn beat. “So, are you going to tell me what happened today?”
She levels her eyes on me, narrowing them slightly. “Food first and then we’ll talk.”
“Deal.”
***
Thirty minutes later, we’re both completely full and comfortable in our booth as Riley surprises me and starts to tell me about what happened earlier. She tells me about what happened at her shop while she was in the middle of making an arrangement and how this isn’t the first time she’s experienced it. She goes on to tell me how Nova called, so she listened to her body and had her pick her up.
I’m glad she listened to her body, but my mind takes a more serious turn, playing over the worst scenarios that could have happened. What could have happened if she did faint. If she passed out and hit her head. She was completely alone and lucky that Nova called when she did.
“I don’t think you should be alone, Riley.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Excuse me?”
“What happens when you experience this again and you pass out? What happens when you’re alone and you hit your head or your stomach?”
The color drains from her face and her body falls rigid as she sits up straighter in her seat. “I don’t need a babysitter, Nash. I’ve never passed out before.”
“That doesn’t mean you won’t,” I press. Dread fills my stomach at the thought and it leaves an uncomfortable feeling pricking my skin. “You’re not invincible, Riley. All it takes is one time and then what?”
There’s nothing warm or comforting about what I’m laying out for her to consider. Riley Harris is a strong, fierce, and independent woman. She’s stubborn and hardheaded and never asks for help from anyone. “I know this isn’t what you want, but you have to think of yourself and the baby.”
“Fuck,” she mumbles, the word barely audible as her shoulders sag. She lets out a sigh, her jaw tightening as she shakes her head. “Can life seriously stop fucking me? Or at least use some lube?”
“Come stay with me tonight.”
She lifts her head, her eyes flashing to mine as she widens them. “Absolutely not.”
“I’ll come stay with you then.”
“No way.”
“Riley…” My voice trails off as I dial back the frustration washing over me. “Can you stop being so goddamn hard headed? After the day you had, you shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
She squares her shoulders, challenging me as she stares at me head-on. “Fine, if it makes you feel better, you can come stay with me.” There’s resignation in her tone and I’m immediately caught off guard by the fact that she just agreed. “But only for the night.”
“Of course,” I agree, nodding with her. “I won’t hold you hostage.”
Though the idea is extremely tempting…
“Well, that’s good to know.” She laughs softly before letting out a yawn. “Are you ready to go?” She slides her hand over her bump. “I need to get a bath and go to bed.”
I smile at her, nodding as I get out of the booth and hold my hand out. “Your chariot awaits.”
I lead her out to my car and help her into the passenger seat before walking around to my side. She’s pulling her seat belt across her chest, securing it around her body as I get into my seat. I follow suit and start the engine before turning to look at her. It’s already dark outside and the lights in the parking lot illuminate her face.
“I think I’ve found a solution to your insurance issue.”
Riley whips her head to the side, her body turning partially as she looks at me. “If it has to do with you saying you’ll cover my medical costs or something, I can’t let?—”
“Marry me.”
Her eyes widen and her jaw goes slack. “What?”
“Ford’s cousin plays for the league and he did it with his fiancée. She got a new job and lost her insurance and was having some medical issues, so they got married so she’d have his insurance. They didn’t have a ceremony or anything before the real wedding, so it was purely on paper so she could get the amazing coverage we have.”
Riley doesn’t speak. She doesn’t say a fucking word. She just stares at me with that same shocked expression. Anticipation swirls in the pit of my stomach and I don’t even know why. I’m not asking her to marry me for real. It’s just to help her out while she’s in a shitty position.
“Nash, isn’t that insurance fraud?”
I can’t help myself as I laugh. “Really? That’s your response?”
Insurance fraud is something I thought about when first thinking of the idea, but really, there’s no way for anyone to prove that it’s fraud. And technically, she’s not marrying me for my insurance without me knowing. She’s not at fault if I’m the one who’s proposing the entire idea.
“I mean, that’s a legitimate concern,” she snaps at me, her energy not matching mine. I can’t tell if she’s annoyed or pissed off or what the hell happened, but she’s not laughing. “I’m not going to do something that could get you in trouble.”
Her words catch me by surprise. “Wait, you’re considering it?”
“I didn’t say that,” she tells me, shaking her head. “I’m just saying, I wouldn’t ever do anything that could possibly get you in trouble. And I already told you, I’m not letting you pay for my insurance.”
“It’s covered by the organization,” I explain to her, not completely sure how it works for spouses, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
She’s silent as her eyes roam across my face. “So, you want to come stay with me tonight and you want me to marry you?”
“It’s all just temporary,” I tell her, stressing the point she tried to make earlier when I told her to come stay with me. “After the baby is born, we can get an annulment.”
I cannot believe she’s actually considering this.
“I can’t believe I’m really giving this any thought right now.” She pauses, letting out a breathy laugh as she shakes her head. “If we do this, I don’t want anyone to know.”
“Of course not,” I assure her, nodding convincingly. “It won’t be real. It will just be on paper for the insurance.”
“This is crazy, Nash,” she says, her eyes wide. “I don’t even know what to say to this right now.”
“You don’t have to decide right now,” I tell her as I begin to pull the car from the parking lot to head to her house. “I just want you to know you have other options and this one doesn’t involve me paying for it.” I pause, my foot pressing on the brakes as I glance over at her. “You are going to have to do something soon, Riley.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows. “I know.”
She’s quiet for most of the ride back to her house and I don’t push the issue. This is a decision Riley has to make herself, but she knows she’s out of options. She has to know this is her best one, but I don’t want to press her on it. I don’t want to make her feel pressured or forced.
I just want her to be okay.
I want her to say she’s fine—that everything is fine—and have it be the truth.
I want her to let me help her.
***
“I’ll show you where you can sleep so you don’t have to sleep on the couch.”
“I don’t mind the couch,” I say, bowing my head as I sweep my arm toward the door. Riley snorts, ducking her head to conceal her smile as she walks to the bottom of the stairs. She turns to glance at me, giving me a look that says I’d better follow her. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s go.”
We reach the second floor and she motions toward the bathroom. “I know you’ve been in here before, but in case you forgot, the bathroom is over there.” She pauses, a sheepish grin playing on her lips. “There should be an extra toothbrush you can use.”
“Slow down, babe,” I tell her, my voice soft as I wink at her. “I didn’t think things would move this fast.”
Riley whips her head to the side, staring at me with her eyes wide and a blank look on her face. “But you just asked me to marry you.”
I stare back at her for a moment before my face cracks and laughter spills from my lips. Riley’s face lights up and the soft sound of her laughing dances across my eardrums. Even if it’s only for a short moment, I like her like this—not worried about everything else that is going on in life.
If I can help ease her burdens and worries, just to see her like this, I’ll do whatever the fuck I have to.
“Okay, the guest room is over here,” Riley tells me as she walks past two other doors and stops at the one on the right. She opens the door, pushing it as we step inside. There’s a king-sized bed along the far wall, jutting out into the center of the room. Across from it is a dresser with a TV mounted on the wall above. The left wall is all windows and the right is a big walk-in closet.
“I really would have been fine with the couch,” I say, glancing around at all the space. Riley watches me as I walk to the windows, glancing out at the backyard. Turning back around, I look out into the hall and then back to her. “Which room is going to be the baby’s?”
“The one across the hall.” She glances over her shoulder and back to me. “It’s not finished and I still have a few things left to do.”
“Can I see it?”
A nervousness sweeps across her face. “I guess. It’s not ready yet, so keep that in mind.”
Riley spins on her heel and I follow her to the room across from mine. She pushes open the door and I’m half expecting to see it looking like the rest of her house, except it doesn't. The walls are white and it’s barren. There’s a small dark gray rug in the center and a few boxes.
“Nova told me I should wait to order stuff until after the baby shower, so there’s not much yet.” She turns back to me, shrugging her shoulders. “I did order a crib and a dresser, but they won’t be here for a few more weeks because the set I picked was on backorder.” She pauses, looking at the wall before letting out a sigh. “I need to paint too.”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to do that when you’re pregnant,” I say, remembering how I painted for Nova when she was pregnant.
Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Yeah, I don’t know. I thought if I wore one of those masks, I could get it done.”
I stare at her for a moment, irritation pricking my skin. “I’ll do it.”
“Nash, no. I can’t ask you to do that. You’re already doing too much.”
“You’re not asking,” I tell her, the muscle in my jaw tightening as I push my hands into the front pockets of my pants. “I’m telling you I will do it. I want to do it, so please, just let me paint the fucking room for you.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I know you are independent and you don’t need any help, but I am begging you to please let me, Riley.”
She looks unsure at first, but finally she nods. “Okay, you’re right. I shouldn’t be painting.”
“There are a lot of things you probably shouldn’t be doing, but one step at a time.”
“One step at a time,” she repeats, nodding as her eyes search mine. Her lips part, as if she’s going to say something else, but she quickly shuts them again.
I would give anything to know what’s going on in that head of hers, but I’ll settle with what she gives me for now.