Chapter Twelve

Peyton

I had teased Nash about trading in one small town for another, but the next day, as he gave me a tour of Burton, I had to admit that the little community had undeniable charm. We drove through town first, as Nash pointed out spots of interest and places that he had mentioned to me over text: Kenny's Diner, the library, a bakery called Sweetness and Bites, the town green, and Brew Me Right microbrewery.

"Lots of eating options for such a small population," I observed.

"And I haven't even shown you Sasha and Cole Turner's place, Smoky Joe's Barbecue." He paused. "You probably wouldn't remember them, but they both grew up in the Cove. Sasha was originally from Burton, but she moved to Florida with her grandmother when she was pretty young."

"Is Cole any relation to the Turners who lived in that pretty white house on the way to the bridge out of town?"

"Yeah, he's their son." Nash nodded. "Sasha and her grandmother lived right next door to them."

"But they ended up here, in Burton." I shook my head. "It feels like there's a weird connection between the Cove and this town."

"Hey, maybe there is." Nash shrugged. "If you believe in ley lines and stuff like that, maybe these two towns have some sort of paranormal link."

"Nash Sampson, are you getting woo-woo in your old age?" I teased.

He cast me a glare that was pure outrage. "First of all, I'm not old. Second, any woo that I have, I picked up from Reggie over the years."

"Fine, fine." I lifted my hands in surrender. "Whatever you say."

"That's better." He winked at me as we stopped at a red traffic light. "So speaking of a Cove connection, I thought we'd ride out to the countryside so you can see some of the farms around here. That's where the town actually was born: a bunch of farmers decided to build a school, some stores and so on, and it grew into Burton."

"Okay," I began and then stopped abruptly. "Oh. A Cove connection. You're thinking of Jude's daughter."

"I was, yeah." He slid me a sidelong glance. "The Reynolds have a farm stand along the highway. Thought you might want to stop and take a look, maybe meet your cousin."

I was silent for a few minutes. While I'd left things with Jude on a positive note after the reunion, and I was very grateful for her pushing me to visit my mother before I left, I wasn't altogether convinced that I was ready to embrace all of my formerly estranged family. I'd lived the better part of my life without blood relations, aside from Charlie, and there was part of me that thought life was simpler without all of those connections.

"We don't have to do it," Nash said when I didn't respond right away. "We can skip the stand. I can still drive you out past the Nelsons' place . . . oh, and my friends the Mayfields live out on the other side of town. They have a pretty spread."

"I'm just not sure I'm ready to meet more family yet," I confessed. "Jude has invited me to parties and special occasions at her daughter's house in the past. Actually, Charlie, Peg and I were all invited to Meghan's wedding. But I always found an excuse to decline. I think I've spent so long feeling like the black sheep of the family that I'm not sure if I'm really welcome anymore. I've been on my own for too long to figure out how to be part of a family anymore."

The light turned green, and Nash made a right turn. The scenery outside my window changed from houses and stores and other businesses to wooded areas and then to long sweeps of land boasting a variety of crops.

"This is the Nelsons' farm. They have horses—I used to bring Max out here to ride when he was a kid." He chuckled. "You might not believe it, but they're part of another Cove connection. Their son Alex and his husband Cal run Jude's bed and breakfast. But that one's a little easier to explain. Meghan got to be friends with Alex when she moved here, and she introduced him to Jude and Logan, I guess. Also, Mason sometimes sends recommendations for musical talent down to Emmy for her consideration to play at the Tide, and Alex has helped to facilitate some of that."

"Emmy's really done a great job with turning the Tide into a Cove weekend hot spot, hasn't she?" I mused. "She was telling us how she got Jude to give her the job, and then how that job led to her relationship with Cooper." I sighed. "She's so happy. It's great to see her that way. All of us could see the writing on the wall when she and Eddy Carter were dating—we knew he wasn't the kind of dude to stick around. But sometimes you can't tell people anything—they have to learn it themselves." I hooked a thumb to my chest. "And believe me, I am fully aware that I'm a poster child for that particular cause."

Nash didn't comment, but he slowed the car and pointed to a grove of trees. "That's Sam and Meghan's land. Sam and his sister, Ali, lost their parents right after Sam graduated from high school. They struggled for years to keep the farm going, renting out land to other farmers in the area, but they turned a corner a couple of years ago. I think this season is the first time Sam's farmed all of his family's land since his mom and dad died."

"That's incredible. And Meghan's married to him?"

"Yeah, for a while now. They have twins. I don't know them real well, but we're acquainted." He shifted, resting his elbow on the steering wheel as he faced me. "Sure you don't want to stop at the farm stand? It's just up the road a piece."

I hesitated and then shook my head. "Not today. Maybe another time. My next visit to Burton."

Nash nodded and eased the car back onto the road. "I think you'd like Meghan—she'd remind you of Jude, a little sassy but always very kind. But I'm glad to hear you're planning another trip back to Burton."

"Well," I said, trailing my finger down his arm. "I've found a great place to stay around here now, and I hope to join their repeat guest rewards program."

"The rewards are pretty damn sweet," Nash agreed with a grin. "Speaking of which, I don't know about you, but I worked up an appetite last night. And this morning. And this morning, again."

I rolled my eyes, my cheeks warming.

"How about we grab some coffee and pastries for breakfast? A friend of mine has a place in town that I think you'd like."

My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and we both laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's go feed you, woman."

Harmony Beans Coffee Shop was absolutely adorable. I loved it the moment we walked through the door, and I felt even more comfortable after the owner, Lucie Mayfield, greeted Nash with a hug and turned to me.

"I'm so happy to meet you, Peyton. I've heard all about you from this one—" She pointed to Nash. "You know, he was pretty glum about going to the reunion, but he came home singing a completely different song! He couldn't stop talking about you."

Nash ducked his head. "Lucie, stop. You're embarrassing me. And Peyton, too."

I shrugged. "I'm not embarrassed a bit. I think it's sweet."

"And I only speak the truth." Lucie poked Nash in the side. "But to make up for it, how about I seat you two in my best table and bring your choice of beverage on the house?"

"You don't have to do that," Nash protested. "You can't keep giving away your profits, Lucie. Didn't I train you better than that?"

Lucie laughed. "It's true. Nash here was one of my business mentors. Between him and Mason, they made sure I didn't hit the pitfalls most start-ups encounter." She paused, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "He's also partly responsible for my husband admitting that he loved me, but that's a much longer story. I'll tell you the next time you visit Burton."

"That's it, Lucie," Nash encouraged. "Give her incentive to come back."

"Ha!" Lucie studied me, grinning. "I don't think I need to offer her another reason to see you again, my friend. I don't know quite how you managed it, but I think this one's smitten with you." She patted my arm. "Go grab your table and check out the menu. I'll be right over to take your beverage order."

We settled in a small table that sat in a window, looking out on a quiet avenue. Nash reached across the table to hold my hand.

"Don't pay any attention to Lucie. She likes to tease, and she and her husband Wyatt are good friends to me."

"She's very sweet," I assured him. "I liked her. And I'm glad you've got such good friends here. It makes me realize—" I broke off, frowning.

"Makes you realize what?" Nash prompted.

"Oh, I don't know." I waved my hand. "I guess it made me think that maybe Peg and Charlie are right that I don't really have friends or a community. I thought they were making a big deal out of nothing, but it's possible that they have a point."

Nash leaned forward. "Move to Burton. You'll make lots of friends and have a supportive community. You'll love it."

I laughed, but my humor died when Nash didn't join me. His gaze was steady as he wrapped my hand in both of his.

"Seriously, Peyton. I want you to think about it." He lifted our joined hands to his lips. "You and I are so good together. We can talk for hours, we have so much in common, and our chemistry—I don't think anyone can deny that we're explosive in bed together."

"No one is denying it," I murmured. "But good sex isn't a reasonable justification for someone to uproot her whole life and move."

Nash sat back. "I just said that we're more than that."

"And I agree. I love our time together, Nash. Finding you again—it's been so wonderful. I'm finally getting to find out one of my biggest what-ifs—and realizing that you were the better choice all along." I grappled to find the right words. "Nash, if our lives had been different, if we found each other again when we were younger, it would be a totally different situation. But now—now I have a life, and it's settled and pleasant and mine. I love it. I might not have friends, and my daughter might think I'm a recluse, but—" I broke off as Lucie came over to take our coffee order.

"We have a great special today, if you're interested," she began, and then seeing our faces, she stepped backward. "You know, why don't I just go bring you both one of our specials? On the house, like I said."

Nash nodded, and once Lucie had hurried away, he let out a long breath.

"Peyton, I just don't know—" He began and then shook his head. "I've been trying to be as open and honest with you as I can from the moment we found each other again. I hoped we were on the same page. I understand that maybe that's not fair to you because I've had a long head start on being in love with you."

My breath caught.

"I had a huge crush on you from the first time we met when we were freshmen. Then when we got to know each other, when we became friends, I fell head over heels in love with you. From then on, there was never anyone else. For years after you left, I tried to forget you. Tried to find someone else. Worked so damned hard to get you out of my mind. It never quite worked, but I managed to go on with life anyway.

"But then when I saw you again, and I found out that you're not married, you're not with someone else, I knew we had a chance to be together. And I want to take that chance with you. I told you back in the Cove that I was ready to figure out how we can make this work."

I gripped the edge of the table. "I know. And I told you that I would try." I tapped my chest. "And me being here this weekend? This is me trying. You might not realize it, but coming here and spending the night with you is stepping way out of my comfort zone."

"I'm glad for that. Grateful that you did." Nash picked up his paper napkin, folding it in half and then in half again. "And I'll give you time, Peyton. But I need to know that we're moving in the same direction. I want you to meet Max and Reggie. I want to get to know Charlie. I want to visit your store in Savannah, and I want to see your house. I want to be open about how we feel about each other. With you, Peyton Rivers, I want it all. And yeah, I'll wait, but I don't want to wait forever."

Lucie chose that moment to return with our coffees and a plate of pastries. She glanced worriedly from Nash to me.

"Enjoy your breakfast. And if you need anything else, just yell."

Once she had retreated again, I took a deep breath. "You have been honest with me, Nash. I'd never claim anything less. And when you talk like you do, I start to think that maybe what you say is actually possible."

He hitched his chair forward. "It is possible, Peyton. All of it, and more."

I closed my eyes. "I want to believe that. But when I consider what would happen if we . . . took a chance with each other, then I start to panic."

"You panic?" Nash sounded incredulous. "When you think about being with me, that's your reaction?"

"That's not what I meant." I rushed to make myself clear. "I said I'm worried about all of the changes that would have to happen in order for us to happen. You've told me yourself a number of times that we aren't eighteen years old anymore. We have commitments, people who depend on us. We both have homes. And even though I think it's a crazy coincidence that we ended up living less than an hour from each other all this time, Burton and Savannah are still two different places. How would we make that work?"

"I don't know." Nash picked up his cup and sipped the coffee Lucie had placed before him. "I never claimed to have all of the details worked out. But if we decide we're going to be together, it'll work out."

"That is such a man thing to say," I snorted. "Things don't just work out. People make decisions and then someone has to figure out all the hows and the wheres . . . and that someone is usually a woman."

"I wouldn't do that to you," Nash snapped. "I've never treated you that way, Peyton. Since I've known you—since we've been friends, and even before then—I only ever showed you respect."

"I know. I wasn't trying to insinuate anything like that." I was trying to stay calm, but deep inside of me, a storm was roiling. I didn't understand why I was so upset, but there was no denying that I was. It felt as though everything in my calm and well-ordered life was threatening to fly out of my control, and it was terrifying.

"Okay." Nash picked up a pastry and broke it in half. "I understand that you need a little time. We can let this go for now." He offered me a piece of the Danish.

I took the pastry and bit into it absently. I knew Nash was trying to be conciliatory, to give me the space and time I needed, but I was still lost in my own turmoil, and I felt as though I needed to justify my hesitation.

"Nash, the last thing I want to do is hurt your feelings about this or disappoint you. I've had to be the only person in the world I can depend on since I was eighteen years old. I haven't kept my body and soul together—not to mention raise a daughter—by making snap decisions or following my heart. I've done it by thinking things through, making a plan, and then following through."

"I see what you mean." He chewed his piece of Danish slowly. "But don't you think there are times in life where we should just trust each other and . . . jump?"

My mouth twisted. "The last time I jumped, I ended up pregnant and alone and sneaking out of town instead of graduating."

Nash set down his pastry, wiped off his fingers, and sat back, slumping in his chair. "Peyton, tell me you didn't just compare me to Ryan fucking Harvey."

My face went hot. "I wasn't. I wouldn't. Never."

"You don't trust me," he said heavily. "And maybe I can't blame you. Maybe I'm the crazy one."

"It's not that I don't trust you. It's that I don't trust life. I don't trust the world. Maybe I don't trust myself unless I'm sticking to a plan."

Nash reached for his wallet and dug out a few bills, tossing them onto the table. "Let's get out of here. I think we've talked ourselves in circles—and maybe a little space wouldn't hurt us."

I couldn't sit there any longer, anyway. I looped the strap of my purse over my head and rose to my feet.

"Sure. Let's go. I should get back to Savannah, anyway."

As we walked stiffly toward the door, Lucie called out.

"Bye, y'all! Have a great day."

Although I wanted to race for the exit, I was raised better than that, so I paused, forced a smile and responded, "Thank you so much for the coffee and the pastries. Everything was delicious."

"Glad you enjoyed them." Lucie glanced anxiously at Nash before she faced me again. "Nice to meet you, Peyton. I hope you come back real soon."

I nodded, but I knew I wasn't going to be back in this town for a long time.