Tanner didn’t look happy with any of it—another thing that was spiraling out of his control when his life had been so neat and tidy before. “I’m going to go call Garner. Let me know when we have a location, and we can make a plan.”
Nash didn’t offer to assist with it, and I frowned.
Lee looked at me and said, “I don’t want to announce anything until first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll put the press release together and email it to you for your review,” I told him. “Did anyone happen to pick up my bag from the restaurant?”
“Brady grabbed it. It’s over here,” Alice said, and she scrambled over to the formal dining room table and a chair where my purse was tucked away. I thanked her as she handed it to me and headed for the door.
Brady met me there. He hugged me one more time. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess. If I’d known, I never would have asked you to come on board. Georgie is going to tear me to shreds.”
I hugged him back. “You could never have suspected this. You take care of yourself and keep safe.”
“Let Nash protect you, please. I’ll feel better knowing you’re with him.”
God, letting Nash protect me was almost more than I could handle at the moment, but I nodded to reassure Brady.
Nash followed me out of the suite and back to the elevator without a word.
When the door opened, my feet stalled.
Nash put a foot in the door, as he had earlier, and then looked at me with concern in his eyes. “We can take the stairs.”
I shook my head, took a deep breath, and entered the box. I stood right by the door. Nash selected the button and then reached a hand for mine again. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing and the feel of his touch. A touch so gentle most people would never expect it from this tough, military man.
“Tell me where you live,” I said, wanting to focus on anything but me.
“It’s just across the state border in Georgia.”
“I don’t think I realized you had family.”
“I have an uncle,” he said.
I opened my eyes, and even though he was looking at me, I could tell he was somewhere else. Somewhere in his past. Somewhere that didn’t bring a smile to his lips, like thinking of my home, my childhood, and my family usually did to me.
It only made me more curious about the home he was taking us to.
The doors dinged open, and I stepped out. I’d made it through two elevator rides without a complete meltdown. After the day I’d had, I would consider it a huge win. An enormous step forward. Someday, I’d be able to do it on my own, without Nash guiding me through, and I’d feel even stronger.
As exhausted as I was, my day wasn’t over yet. I had a whole host of press releases and social media posts to schedule. I had to make a list of the VIPs and sponsors to call and start that process. So, when we got back to the hotel room, I set myself up at the desk and started to plow through it all as the afternoon dipped into the dark of night and the room became shadowed with lamplight.
While I worked, I tried sipping at the ginger ale Nash had given me earlier, but my stomach wouldn’t tolerate it. I headed for the restroom once again, frustrated more than embarrassed now. I was so freaking tired I just wanted to put my head down and sleep for a week. When I came back out, Nash looked me over from head to toe again, but I ignored it as my phone buzzed.
TRISTAN: I’m so glad Nash is there with you. Are you okay?
“You told Tristan?” I asked.
He nodded. “I didn’t want her to worry about where I was at.”
Tristan and Hannah and their frenzied dog were his family, even if he hadn’t mentioned them upstairs. Tristan relied on him. He cared for her. I had to remember those things when my body decided it would very much like a repeat performance of the disastrous poker night. Except, that night hadn’t felt disastrous. It had felt perfect right up until the next morning when I’d become a regret.
ME: Will be. I’m sorry to keep him from coming back to you.
TRISTAN: ** fall out of chair laughing emoji ** Can you please keep him a little longer? He’s driving me to the brink, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship. Darren would have hated that.
ME: You’re more than friends.
TRISTAN: I almost just gagged. Don’t imply there’s anything remotely sexual between Nash and me. He’s more the brother I never had. But just like a lot of siblings do, we’re going through a rough patch right now.
I wasn’t sure how to respond. Relief that my actions hadn’t done anything to hurt her or Nash or a relationship I’d imagined. Wariness because using her as a shield to protect me from what I felt for him would be gone if there was nothing there between them more than familial love. Fear because my emotions for Nash were complicated and because we were both pretty screwed up people who could easily hurt each other.
TRISTAN: Truth is, I need a break from more than him. I need a break from everything that reminds me of Darren, including this town we grew up in. I’m going back to New York to stay with my grandma for a while.
ME: What about Molly?
TRISTAN: I’m taking her with us. We’re leaving tomorrow.
ME: Will you let me know when you get there?
TRISTAN: Will do. And Dani, be gentle with him. He’s hurting, and he doesn’t believe he’s worthy of forgiveness or love.
Love was definitely not something I could think about. Not with him.
But the reminder that he was hurting, that
