41. Nash
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Nash
Another town council meeting. Another round of stares, whispers, and raised eyebrows. The kind that says it all without a single word being spoken. “What the hell are the McCoys and Longs doing together?”
But this time? I don’t care.
Tessa sits beside me, her back straight, her gaze locked ahead, ready to take on the world. Everything we’ve been through sits between us, but there's something solid in the way she holds herself. She’s showing me, and the rest of this damn room, that we’re not just playing their game anymore.
We’re playing ours.
Her hand’s resting a little too close to mine.
We’re trying to keep it professional, but I can feel that pull between us, the one that’s always been there, always unspoken.
Her presence makes everything else feel just a little easier, and I can’t help but glance at her, watching the way she handles the tension.
When it’s her turn to speak, I watch her closely. Her posture’s perfect, her back straight and unyielding, but there’s a difference in the way she’s holding herself.
“I’m here to talk about the past,” she says, as she surveys the room. “The past that’s been used against us for too long.”
I feel her words before the council even responds.
Everyone in this room knows the story. It’s been whispered for years, how our families were once allies, then how we became rivals.
But Tessa’s not just retelling the same tired narrative.
She’s bringing it to life. She’s pulling back the curtain on everything that’s been buried under layers of silence and resentment.
“The handshake agreement between the McCoys and Longs,” she continues, flipping through the pages of one of the journals she brought with her.
“It wasn’t just about land. It was about respect.
Mutual respect that both families worked hard to build.
” She looks up, locking eyes with the council, and I can feel the room shift.
“That respect was lost, but it wasn’t lost overnight. ”
She flips another page, and I can see the faint tremble of her fingers.
“There was grief. There was loss. And after that, silence. The kind of silence that turned what should’ve been an agreement into a rivalry. A rivalry that was only fueled by misunderstanding.”
She pauses, giving the room a moment to catch up. The council is watching her closely, waiting for what comes next. I watch her, too. She’s stronger than I expected. She’s carrying all of this with so much grace, it’s as if the years of tension never existed.
“I’m not here to blame anyone,” she says. “I’m not here to point fingers. What I’m here to say is this…" She looks at me briefly, a quiet signal between us, a reminder that we’re in this together now, "I refuse to let either family weaponize history again. We’re done with that.”
The council shifts uncomfortably, their gaze flickering between Tessa and me. Some people nod slightly, while others remain tight-lipped, clearly unsure how to react. But Tessa doesn’t flinch.
She’s made her point, and now she’s watching them, waiting for them to process what she’s just dropped on them.
“I refuse to let either family weaponize history again,” she says, her eyes never leaving the council members.
The air feels heavier in the room. Tessa doesn’t flinch at their stares. She’s here, and she’s speaking her truth.
I take a step forward, my hand brushing the microphone. When I speak, it’s as if I’m not addressing the council anymore. It’s just me, Tessa, and everything we’ve been through.
“I’m not here to make excuses for what happened,” I start, “The truth is, I lied about being engaged to Tessa.” I let that sit in the room this time.
No rushing past it. No trying to soften it.
“I wanted to be taken seriously. I thought if I looked settled, people might finally believe I was.” I glance at Tessa, then back at the council.
“Turns out, pretending doesn’t make anything stronger. It just makes the fallout worse.”
I wait for someone to speak, but no one does, so I continue.
“What’s real,” I continue, “is that somewhere in the middle of all that mess… this stopped being fake. And I’m not going to use that, use her, to fix my reputation or push this plan through. Because I am in love with her.”
A soft gasp from the crowd. The room holds its breath for a beat, and I’ve just exposed everything. But there’s no turning back now. This is the truth, and I’m not hiding from it.
Tessa’s gaze is firm, even as she looks at me, and I can see that flicker of understanding in her eyes. She’s not going to pull back now. She’s here, with me, and whatever happens next, we’re in this together.
I finish with, “We’re not perfect. But I don’t want to hide behind old stories anymore. I want to build something new with her. And that means being honest, even when it’s hard.”
The silence that follows is heavy, but I can feel there’s a shift.
Maybe it’s understanding. Maybe it’s hesitation.
Then, Tessa’s uncle stands. The scrape of his chair against the floor is deafening.
It slices through the room. He doesn’t look at us.
Doesn’t even glance in our direction. His eyes are fixed on the door as he storms out, quick, sharp strides, the sound of his footsteps louder than anything I’ve said.
The door slams behind him.
The entire town watches him go… frozen. Not a word.
But his exit? It’s a statement.
The game has changed.
Tessa doesn’t flinch at his departure. She doesn’t even glance toward the door. Instead, she turns back to the council, her voice as calm as before, but with a clarity I didn’t know she had until now.
“This isn’t about us trying to fix what’s broken by doing more damage.
This is about moving forward, making a plan that works for the future of both families.
” She pauses, and in that moment, I can feel the shift between us.
We’ve been through it all, and now it’s time to trust that this plan will work, that we’ll make it work.
“We’re not asking for your approval, not in the way you think we are.
We’re asking for a chance to do this right. ”
Her words sink into the silence. The council murmurs, their heads turning slightly, and this time I don’t feel I’m speaking to a wall. I don’t feel we’re up against a brick wall anymore.
But the decision doesn’t come right away. There’s no applause, no declarations of support. The council huddles in quiet whispers, but no one moves to vote.
And then the meeting adjourns without a word.
Tessa and I exchange a glance. It’s not over, not yet, but it’s the first step, the only one that matters.
We walk out of the building side by side, and I don’t know if I’m relieved or just stunned. But there’s a lightness in the air between us now. We’ve finally crossed some kind of line.
When we’re out in the parking lot, I open the truck door for her. She gives me that look, half curiosity, half skepticism, and I can’t help but grin.
“Well, we don’t have an answer yet,” she says with a one-shouldered shrug. “But that’s a start, right? A step in the right direction.”
“Such a step, that I think we need to go out…” I smirk as I start the engine. “On our first real date.”
She gasps. “You sure that is a good idea, McCoy?”
“Just trust me.”
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but there’s a smile on her lips that makes my chest tighten. “You know, I’ve learned to be suspicious of anything you say that starts with ‘trust me.’”
“Trust me, I’m full of good ideas.”
I laugh, taking a turn down a narrow path, the truck rumbling beneath us. “I’m taking you somewhere nice. A secret spot, just the two of us.”
She eyes me sideways, skepticism written all over her face. “Uh huh. And how long have you been planning this ‘secret spot’?”
I glance at her, grinning wide. “A couple of days. You’re worth the wait, Tessa.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“Yep, all charm, no shame.” I wink at her, feeling lighter with every passing second.
I pull up to the McCoy Ranch, but to what I hope will become my part of it. Where my guest ranch will be. I park outside the guest house, the one I’ve been doing up before this plan even came to fruition in my mind.
The one that started all of these plans.
She sits, still eyeing the setup. Candlelight flickering in the wind, the firepit casting soft shadows against the house walls. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you had it in you. What’s the catch?”
I laugh, closing the door behind her. “There’s no catch. Just good food, wine, and—”
“Your charm?” she cuts in, teasing me.
“Exactly.” I pull her chair out for her, grinning. “But mainly, it’s about us. Finally, no performance. No pretending.”
She raises an eyebrow, glancing around, clearly impressed despite herself. “You really went all out with this, didn’t you?”
“You’ve got to admit, I’m full of surprises,” I say, feeling a warmth spread in my chest from the way she’s looking at me. “Good ones, right?”
Tessa crosses her arms and looks at me, a smirk playing at her lips. “You know, you’re getting dangerously good at this romantic thing. I might actually start to believe you know what you’re doing.”
I lean against the table, my grin widening. “I’ve been practicing.”
She takes her seat, and I sit across from her, the flickering candlelight casting shadows over her face. There’s a peacefulness about this, about being here with her.
I pour wine into our glasses, taking a sip before I speak again.
“I know it’s been one hell of a day,” I start, studying her closely, “but I thought you deserved a night to breathe.”
She swirls the wine in her glass, eyes on me. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we’re actually here, doing this. Not pretending to be engaged in some awkward town council meeting.”
I laugh, leaning back in my chair, watching her carefully. “Yeah, well, I think we’ve both had enough of pretending. I meant what I said in there. No more half steps. No more games.”
She sets her glass down, her fingers gently tracing the rim as she stares at me. “And no more pretending about how you feel?”
“Especially not that,” I say. “I didn’t clear the air at that meeting for me. I did it for you. So you wouldn’t have to hide anymore. You deserve more than that.”
She doesn’t say anything. She just looks at me, as if weighing my words, and then finally, she gives me that soft smile. “You’re really serious about this, huh?”
I nod, my heart pounding a little faster. “Absolutely. I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
She lets out a breath, as though she’s exhaling a heaviness. “I guess that makes two of us.”
I watch as her smile turns a little softer, the tension melting away between us. There’s no sarcasm now, no teasing edge.
I stand and walk to the fire pit, starting to stoke it. The flames crackle and hiss, and Tessa watches me before standing up to join me.
“I’m starting to think you’re more than just the guy who’s full of charm and terrible ideas,” she says softly.
I laugh, stepping closer to her. “Maybe I’m the guy who’s finally figured out what he wants.”
She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing playfully. “And what’s that?”
“Tonight,” I say, “I want this. I want you.”
She stares at me, her breath catching just slightly before she nods, a softness to her expression that makes my heart skip a beat.
I step closer, my fingers brushing against hers. “Tessa, this is real.”
She looks up at me, eyes wide with disbelief, and then she takes my hand. “I know.”
And finally, we’re both on the same page.
I lean down, brushing my lips against hers. She wraps her arms around my neck and deepens the kiss.
The world fades out around us, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.