Page 133 of Josephine and Clay

The café keeps moving around us. Cups clinking. Laura laughing behind the counter. Someone near the door talking about hay prices.

But at our table, everything narrows down to Josie’s face.

My phone rings.

Josie flinches.

I curse under my breath and grab it from the table, already planning to silence it.

Nash.

I almost ignore it.

I should ignore it.

But Nash doesn’t call twice unless he’s joking or drowning, and when the screen stops, it starts ringing again immediately.

I drag a hand over my face and answer. “What?”

“Hey,” Nash says, breathless and frantic in a way that immediately puts me on edge. “I need help.”

I straighten despite the pain. “What happened?”

“Nothing bad. Not bad bad. Just… Hailey’s been crying for an hour, Tessa hasn’t slept, and I’ve got guests checking in at the dude ranch, two horses that need moving, and the water heater in cabin three is making a sound like it’s possessed.”

I close my eyes. “Nash.”

“I know, I know, you’re hurt. Boone’s tied up with the far pasture, Dallas is handling paperwork with the supplier, Mom’s got Rose and Faith helping with food for the church thing tonight, and I swear I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t⁠—”

“I’ll come.”

The words leave before I think them through.

Josie looks down.

My chest tightens.

Nash exhales hard. “Thank you. Seriously.”

“Yeah. Give me twenty.” I hang up. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head immediately. Too fast. “Don’t be. Your brother needs you.”

“Yeah, but⁠—”

“It’s fine.” She gathers her napkin, folding it too precisely. “It can wait.”

I don’t believe her.

But I also don’t know how to ask without pushing too hard. And for once, my family needs me for something other than getting out of bed or holding nails because I’m a decorative idiot.

Nash needs help. Actual help.

That should feel good. But leaving Josie sitting here with unfinished words in her mouth feels wrong.

I reach across the table before I can talk myself out of it and cover her hand with mine.

She goes still.