Chapter 19
Nash sat across from Davey at his parents’ table.
The steak melted in his mouth. The potatoes’ flavor burst. But while this was one of the best meals his mom had ever made, it sat like a rock in his stomach.
The scene yesterday rolled over in his mind.
Questions he hadn’t asked before circled.
How well did he know Addison? Was there more from her past that would come back to haunt her? To haunt them?
He looked at his son. What would he have done if Davey had been there when the woman showed up?
He stared at his empty plate. If anyone had asked him a week ago if Addison was the one, he’d have given a resounding yes. But now? He had doubts.
His mom cleared her throat, and he glanced up. Crap. The conversation had stopped. He’d been in his own head and missed what Davey had said. “Sorry, buddy. You were saying something about your friend?”
“I like Josh, but I don’t love hanging out at his mom’s house.”
Nash gave his son a questioning look. Oh, he understood. Jillian wasn’t one of his favorite people. Not that he’d say that to his son.
Davey shrugged as he pushed a carrot around his plate. “She always asks about you.”
“Me?” Well, shit. Maybe he needed to have a talk with her. He didn’t know how to make it any clearer that he wasn’t interested in anything more than a casual friendship with her.
“And Friday, she made a weird comment about Addison.”
“What comment?” Nash stared at his son, waiting.
Davey dropped his gaze to his plate. “Something about Addison being a pageant princess. It was petty, Dad. Anyway. I tuned her out.” Davey shrugged.
“Someone’s jealous,” Nash’s mom muttered.
“I’ll handle it. From now on, maybe invite Josh to your mom’s house to hang out.” Fucking Jillian. She’d obviously been digging through the internet for dirt on Addison. Maybe he needed to bring Beth into this. Jillian was her friend, after all.
“Will do.”
“Paul, will you and Davey go get the pie and plates I left in the kitchen, please?”
“Sure. Come on, sport.”
As soon as Nash’s dad and son were out of earshot, his mom pushed her plate away and leaned in. “What’s going on?”
“Jillian is jealous. I thought I had made it clear I wasn’t interested in her that way.”
“Not that. With you?”
Nash glanced over his mom’s shoulder toward the kitchen at the sound of cabinets opening. “It’s nothing.”
Georgia cocked her head to the side and gave him the same look she did when he tried to bullshit her in high school.
“I understand you’re a grown man, and you don’t need to talk to your mother like you used to.
” She patted his hand with hers. “But just know you deserve happiness, and I’m always in your corner. ”
Nash looked into her blue eyes, the same caring eyes that had stared back at him his whole life. There were a few more lines around them, but there was wisdom as well. Just then, his dad and son walked into the room, carrying dessert, fresh plates, and forks.
“Dad, Grandma made my favorite.”
It was Nash’s favorite too. His mom smiled at him. “We all deserve a little happiness here.”
Nash thought about his mom’s comment on the drive home last night. Happiness. Did he deserve it? If Davey hadn’t been a factor, Nash wouldn’t have flinched at the thought of dealing with trouble from Addison’s past. But Davey was part of the picture, and he always would be.
This morning, as he walked into work, Nash avoided the front office. Over the last week, he’d gotten into the habit of popping in to say hello to Addison. Not today. He still needed time to think. He changed for work. Walking out of the locker room, he pulled up short.
“Hi.” She leaned against the wall, her hands behind her back.
“Hey. Sorry I didn’t call last night. It got late. Davey ended up coming home with me.”
“No worries.” Her words didn’t match the look in her eyes.
Shit. He stepped to her, ran a hand down her arm, gripping her shoulders and pulling her into his arms. “We need to talk, but now’s not the time or the place.”
She bit her lip. “Talk. That sounds ominous.”
He cupped her cheek and stroked her soft skin with his thumb. “How about after work? Dinner? Davey is gonna go over to Leon’s to hang out with the twins.”
“Tonight I promised my mom I would drive to Rochester and pick up her order for the salon. But after, I can meet you for a late dinner.”
“It’s a date.” He gave her a quick kiss before strolling into the shop. He didn’t know where this relationship was headed, but he wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.
A few minutes later, Addison walked into the shop. The tiger was back.
“You have a customer. A walk-in. She insists you knew she was coming.” Addison’s smile was sweet, but her tone was clipped as she handed him the work order and keys.
Nash frowned. Obviously, she wasn’t happy about whoever was in the lobby. “Okay, don’t be cryptic. Who is it?”
“It’s the woman from the baseball game. You know, your ex’s friend.”
“Jillian?”
“That’s the one.”
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. “She’d mentioned wanting me to look under her hood, but…”
Addison nodded, a knowing look across her face. “Oh, I’m sure she meant exactly that, but she’s here now.”
He pressed his fists into his eye sockets. “I shot down every advance she made.”
Addison grinned. “I’m sure you were nice about it.”
“I was. I said she’d have to make an appointment at the shop.”
“And here she is. The woman doesn’t take no for an answer. I’ll give her that. Well, don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s comfortable in the office while you look at her vehicle.”
Nash watched her walk away. The click of her heels on the floor brought a smile to his lips. Nash swore he heard a battle cry as she entered the office. The woman was ready for a brawl.
Cade pulled his head out from under the hood of a car. “What was that about?”
“Nothing Addison can’t handle.” Nash took the keys and headed out to grab the van.
“Seriously, Marti. The woman had some nerve bringing her van all the way down here and acting like it was her right to stroll in and expect Nash to work on it right that second.” Addison pulled out of the beauty supply parking lot.
She’d arrived minutes before they were locking up for the night.
Luckily, her mom’s order was prepaid and waiting.
“Some people just can’t take a hint.” Marti’s voice echoed through the car’s audio system speakers.
“I know. It’s as clear as a white wine spritzer that Nash is not interested in her. I’d feel sorry for her if Nash hadn’t made it clear the other weekend.”
“Sounds like she knew the score. I gotta say, I give her props for shooting her shot like that, knowing he was with you.”
Addison groaned.
“Uh-oh. I thought all was well in Addison and Nash land?”
“I don’t know. We were, but then the whole thing with Amber happened this weekend. It’s murky at the moment.”
“That was two days ago. Haven’t you talked yet? Don’t let this thing fester.”
“I know. Good news is he gave me a kiss before work today. He said we’d talk tonight.
I’m on my way there now.” Addison worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
What could she say to her friend? The last thing she wanted to do was lie, but everything wasn’t right.
Deep in the pit of her stomach, she worried this could be her last chance with Nash.
“Uh-oh. You’re awful quiet. I know that quiet, and you’re wrong.”
Addison scoffed. “What are you talking about? I’m just focusing on my driving.”
“Yeah, okay. If you say so. But remember, that man has been head over heels for you since the day you met.”
Yes, but now, he’d gotten to really know her. Did his opinion change? “Listen, I’ve gotta let you go. The turn’s coming up on my GPS, and I’m a little confused as to which way I’m going.”
“Call me tomorrow. Let me know how it goes.”
Addison ended the call.
Her friend wasn’t wrong. Out of all the guys Addison had dated, she’d made Nash work the hardest. Because he is the one. Even if she hadn’t realized it at the time.
She blew out a breath. She’d be there in a little while, and they would talk… She gulped at the word.
“Everything would work out.” Be strong and have faith.
A flash of the late-day sun peeked through the trees. She smiled as it lit the rock face on the other side of the road. Addison loved this area.
The time on the dashboard reminded her she was going to be late. Shoot. Something in her gut told her this date with Nash was a turning point in their relationship, but which way would it turn?
She clicked the call button on the steering wheel, but before she could give the command, a silver vehicle came out of nowhere.
“Whoa!” Addison slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right. She barely missed the vehicle as it crossed in front of her and turned left.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Driving away, she glanced in her rearview mirror, looking for a road approach. She hadn’t seen one through the trees.
Addison’s heart still pounded as she drove away, adrenaline racing through her like a horse galloping through a field.
“No more distractions. Focus.” Addison clenched the steering wheel, her eyes peeled on the sides of the road. In her mirror, she caught another glimpse of light off a vehicle. It was gaining on her.
It couldn’t be the same vehicle, could it? No, that one was going the other way. But knowing her luck lately, she wouldn’t rule it out.
She squinted into her mirror. They were both vans, but she couldn’t make out much with their lights in her mirror.
She tapped the gas pedal, accelerating five miles an hour. The car behind her mimicked her speed.
Addison swallowed the fear creeping up her throat. The road was quiet at this time of night. Why hadn’t she taken the highway?
“Just had to take the scenic route, didn’t you?” she scolded herself as her gaze bounced from the road to the rearview mirror.
She slowed down and glanced at the vehicle. “Pass already.”
The other driver didn’t take the hint. They sped up, ramming her, throwing her forward and then back into her seat. Addison gripped the steering wheel with more force. “What the fuck?”
Something wasn’t right. This driver was erratic. If anything, Addison should be the one with road rage. Assuming it was the same van, the person cut her off and almost forced her into the ditch.
If this were a normal accident, she would stop and call the police. But her instincts screamed, “Don’t stop!” Every true crime show where the female never made it home flashed in her mind. Hell, no. She wouldn’t stop until she was somewhere safe.
She hit the phone button on her steering wheel. Nothing happened. Frantic, she glanced at the screen on the dash. No service. “Fucking black holes.” She knew there was one between Rochester and Gray Duck Grove.
Fifteen miles to go, then she’d be in town. One more mile, and she’d have service. She blew out a breath and tipped into the gas. Another jolt rocked her. A little farther, and she’d be safe.
Another bump, this one harder, jarred her. She craned her neck. Gravel spewed from the back wheel as she ran over the edge of the shoulder. Addison overcorrected.
She squinted into the rear-view mirror, trying to identify the vehicle as she centered her car in the lane. Between the rapidly setting sun and the glare of the vehicle’s lights, she couldn’t make out squat.
The vehicle grew closer in the mirror.
She braced.
The impact pushed her. A scream filled the car as she sailed over the embankment through the trees. Fast. Too Fast. Her car slammed to a stop.
Addison reached for her door handle. Nothing. The door didn’t budge. “Come on. Open.”
There was a large tree inches from the window. She dropped her head to the glass. A sudden burst of dizziness overtook her. She blinked, focusing on the side mirror. An image stood at the top, on the edge of the road. She couldn’t quite make it out.
“Help.” The word came out weak and thready. She used all her strength to pound on the glass as a coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.
Addison slumped in her seat as darkness crowded her vision. The hope of being rescued slipped deeper into the night, and the realization that there might not be help coming for her but something far worse sent an icy shiver all the way to her toes.