Page 101 of Seein’ Red

“Willa,” he begs.

Nash’s eyes soften, defeat hovering just below the surface. There’s more he wants to say, but he holds back. So I beat him to it.

“Get out.”

He nods, accepting the answer.

“Auggie, thanks for your time this morning. And sorry about the F bombs.” He reaches out, shaking my father’s hand.

“No worries, son.”

Nash nods once more, spinning on his heel and walking out. He closes the door behind him, and for the first time since he walked into the conference room, I feel like I can breathe.

But only for a second.

“Are you out of your mind?” Jace asks.

“Pregnant? You thought you were pregnant?” Gus tosses out, not even waiting for me to respond to Jace.

“Kenzie’s right, you are an idiot,” Milo adds.

“I am not!” I snap. “First, you know nothing about this. Second, my life, my choice!”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not a dumb choice.”

I scoff. How dare Milo. Just because he’s been in on the secret I was keeping this last week—and the bigger one of sleeping with Nash to begin with—doesn’t mean he gets to comment. Doesn’t mean he knows what’s going on in my head.

Not that I know what’s going on in my head.

Because that was…perfect.

Of all the things Nash could have told me—all the things I could dream of any man telling me—he hit every item. Checked them right off the list. My heart wants to burst, loving that he was willing to come in here and do that. That same heart is kicking myself for not throwing myself at him and kissing him until we both can’t breathe.

But that’s not a good idea.

Because I will only get hurt again. I think.

But what if…

“Willa Mae,” Auggie says, cutting into my thoughts, pulling me away from them.

I look up at my father, watching as he slowly makes his way around the table, sitting down in the chair next to me. He has the same look on his face as he did when I was a child and I did something wrong.

The look of disappointment.

“Just what was all that about?”

I sigh. “It’s a long story, and one that is probably not suitable for Daddy ears.”

Undeterred by my deflection, he furrows his brow, the disappointment deepening. “No, I know all that stuff. Like I said, Nash and I had a lot to talk about this morning. He caught me up on all the finer details. I was referrin’ to your response.”

Oh…wait, he what?!

“Just what did he tell you?”

“All of it. Startin’ back in high school when Milo and Huxley put the fear of God in him before taking you to prom, your pact, his lie, the sneakin’ around, the pregnancy scare, your fight…all of it.”

He really did tell you all of it… Well, shit…