19. Nash

19

NASH

T hrowing items into the grocery cart, I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing. First, that I'm even in the grocery store, and second, is this my avoidance tactic for the next few days? Which I'm sure I'll be called out on since I know that my mom will handle the shopping for Thanksgiving. Hell, even Summer uses the grocery store as her ruse when she needs to escape.

A coo draws my attention to Bo who is sitting the cart seat with a coat I fluffed in to prop him up.

"Bet you only want the animal crackers to gnaw on, don't you?"

No reply.

I spot the oatmeal, and even though I'm aware that Summer stockpiled a few boxes at home, it won't hurt to have one more. She might kill me. I'm here while she'll arrive home soon from work to face my parents' arrival. They insisted on making Bo their first stop before heading to their house.

"Be on your best behavior in the coming days, buddy. We need you to distract everyone." I ruffle his hair. An indistinct sound is the response that I get. "I'll take that as an agreement."

My feet tread along like a soldier in mud, prolonging every second. I do want to see my parents. Of course, I do. Even if there is friction between my dad and me.

Seeing their grandson is the ultimate light in the past year. What I'm not eager to experience is Summer on eggshells and our nerves of indecision. We don't want them to know as much as we want them to know. Summer and I have no clue what their reaction will be, but even we know that my parents hearing of the possibility is better if it comes from us directly.

Still, how we present this is an unknown.

For a second today, I thought of visiting Zac's grave again, but it was only a millisecond, and I was watching Bo today. I don't think even Summer takes him to his dad's grave. And it's not my place to decide that.

Pulling up my phone, I see that time is not on my side. No more procrastination. I have to face everyone.

I stroke the back of my hand across Bo's cheek once. "You're about to get a lot of attention. A saving grace really. The truth is, I'm scared. Your mom thinks they will judge her, but it's probably me who will face their wrath."

But I can't break. Summer and my brother are counting on me to make it all okay.

Opening the front door, I hear the tail end of a conversation about what my mom will cook for Thanksgiving. Dropping the bag of groceries on the floor by the bottom of the stairs, I hold Nephew in my other arm. I take a few strides into the living room .

Then it happens.

My parents have smiles of happiness with a hint of sadness when their heads turn.

Summer's eyes catch with mine as she sits on the edge of the sofa arm. She must have been facing the brunt of chit-chat for who knows how long.

"There is my little bear." My mom's arms are already outstretched to take over as she stands. She looks a bit more refreshed than a few months ago. No longer frail, she must be returning to her bi-weekly trip to the salon for her nails and hair, and she's back to wearing slacks and turtlenecks with jewelry.

"Here he is." I grin and rub Bo's stomach, right before my mom snatches him out of my arms.

My father joins my mother to look down at their grandson. "Already turning into a little gentleman." Dad is just the same, stoic and wearing a polo shirt. His steely demeanor means that I've never quite figured out what he's been going through since Zac died.

My mom glances up and has a warm smile on her face. "Don't you just turn into a puddle of goo every time you see this little guy," she asks me with eyes bright.

I swipe my hand behind my neck. "Well, I'm still standing, so I guess not a puddle."

"You're just getting way too big." She's already rocking him side to side on her hip.

My eyes shift to my father who has taken a step back. His eyes have a glint in them, and as per usual, he is hard to read, but our eyes meet for a chilly recognition.

The moment is broken when Summer clears her throat. "How was the grocery store?"

"Fine. Bo loves it," I tell everyone. "Which reminds me, I should get the bag of stuff into the fridge. "

"I'll help." Summer sounds way too eager, but my parents don't seem to bat a lash. They are completely in the Bo zone.

Summer and I make the quickest exit in history, and I swipe up the bag on that journey. When we're in the kitchen, I set the bag on the counter and begin to unpack. Summer helps but bubbles a laugh as she holds up a box of oatmeal.

"Don't see any items that need the fridge." Her brows rise, as she's well aware that she called me out.

"Trust me, I debated if pre-chilled wine was the way to go but decided against it. Can't have them thinking that we need a shortcut to downing some alcohol percentage."

The soft smile on Summer's face puts me at ease, and she turns to rest her back against the counter and crosses her arms. "They haven't cried yet," she mentions delicately.

On the opposite side of her, I mirror her pose. "That's good."

"Your parents only asked about the Dizzy Duck and how it's funny that I trust you to take Bo alone somewhere. More in a joking way."

My nose lifts up. "Maybe this won't be as emotional as we thought." I sound hopeful.

Summer quirks her lips out, and it's clear she doesn't quite believe me. "At some point a reminder will hit them of who is missing at Thanksgiving dinner."

I don't like hearing that realization, so I widen my eyes and survey the kitchen, deciding a snack plate for the room is in order. "You already got them drinks, right?" Avoidance of the upcoming holiday weekend is where I seem to be heading. "Maybe some cheese and crackers? I think we have olives somewhere," I jabber away as I search for crackers.

"Sure. I think they will only stay a little longer then grab dinner themselves somewhere. They must be tired from their trip. "

A long sigh leaves me as I break the seal on a canister of nuts that I found in the cupboard, completely giving up on crackers. "Summer…"

She subtly touches my wrist from behind. "Nash."

"Why does it feel like the next few days are going to be hard, and it might have nothing to do with us?"

There is a brief silence. "It's the holidays. Life events or not, holidays do funny things to families."

"True." We stand in silence as I finish a plate of snacks with a bowl of nuts in the middle. I hold it up, ready to serve. "Let's get back in there."

"Yeah, I already hear Bo getting fussy."

"My parents have that effect on people." I snort a laugh.

Arriving back in the living room, my parents are sitting on the couch, praising Bo for merely blowing a bubble. "I could just eat you up, yum, yum, yum." My mother is on the overboard train, but it causes Summer to grin wryly.

"Thought we could use a snack that's not the baby," I announce and set the plate down on the coffee table.

"A good idea. Perhaps you and I can have lunch tomorrow at the Dizzy Duck?" my father suggests. "I want to see what's been done with the place since I handed over the reins." Instantly my head retreats in surprise that he wants lunch alone with me, and that humors him. "What? Thought we avoid one another the next few days?"

I don't blink, and my entire body is uncertain, but it's an olive branch that's more the size of a twig, and I will explore that. "You didn't suggest golf, so that's already a bonus." I adjust my neck. "Sure, we can meet tomorrow."

The room grows eerily quiet, and my mother notices. "Sounds like tomorrow is all set for you two. I can watch Bo, and Summer can have a bit of a rest."

"Oh, that's okay. Nash has carried a lot of the weight around here, so I'm actually all rested up," Summer informs everyone, and she seems to notice that my mother glances sidelong at my father. They have a secret language.

"That's wonderful. Then Summer and I can grab coffee and head to the grocery store for our Thanksgiving list." My mother's smile feels sincere enough. "It will be the last holiday in the house. The realtor mentioned that there is an interested family, and they will likely put in an offer after the holiday weekend."

Somewhere inside of me, I find that disappointing. Memories swept away, but then my eyes move to Summer, and I'm reminded of them all over again, except this time new memories trickle in.

"Sounds like we all have plans for tomorrow," my father announces.

That odd chill swirls in the room again as we all exchange glances.

Summer reaches out to collect Bo. "You know, I think I'm going to get his dinner ready. I try to get him in bed by seven."

"Okay, dear." My mother smiles.

"I'll do bath time later," I say just like it's our usual day.

Lines form on my father's forehead from my readiness to help. I dial it down to the fact that me with a child is a far cry from my reckless nights as a hockey player. "Well, sounds like you both have a busy hour or two, so we'll leave you and see both of you tomorrow."

"Good night." Summer smiles.

It's a quick round of goodbyes and hugs for Summer and Bo before the air clears, and then it's back to being Summer, Bo, and me. The three of us.

The unusual emotion that flows through me causes me to wonder if I stopped breathing, which isn't even logical .

"I'm not sure what I was assuming the welcome would be. I guess I have only seen your parents a few times since the funeral." Summer lifts a shoulder. "They probably need a night to let it all sink in that they're back in Lake Spark."

I study Summer for a good long beat, and I don't want to burst her bubble as she seems to believe her words.

But I don't.

My hands splay out. "So that's the Dizzy Duck in present day," I say after the end of our tour and walk toward a table in the corner by the double windows for lunch.

There wasn't much to show since my dad was here a few months ago. Still, his attachment to this place will never vanish, and that's understandable.

"Well, now it's time to check out the menu," he tells me as he sits down, and the smile on his face isn't a lie.

Joining him by sitting across from him at the table, I'm feeling more confident that this might be a bearable lunch. "Seasonal specials, right? Maybe I can ask the chef if he can make a few of the upcoming holiday courses that will start next week after Thanksgiving. We were waiting for the decorations to come up."

"Nah, it's okay. I'm sure it will just be chicken roulade with cranberry compote."

It causes me to chuckle. "A classic, eh."

My father's mouth curves a tick into a grin. "Something like that."

He thanks the waiter for dropping off our drinks that we ordered on the way in. My brows furrow slightly on his choice of whiskey, considering it's 11:50am, but then again, I ordered an IPA beer with a solid 9.57% alcohol .

He takes a long sip then sets the glass down and slides it off to the side. "How is she?"

Here we go. I haven't even finished pouring my beer bottle into a chilled glass yet.

"Summer is doing well. Just focusing on Bo and returning to life in a healthy, natural way."

He hums a sound. "That's good. That's good," he repeats then taps his fingers on the tablecloth.

His mind is somewhere else. He's my dad, and over the years I've been qualified to understand his body language.

My eyes dip down as I debate how to break the ice, but I decide to take a hammer to it. "Just say what you've been trying to."

He smirks because he knows I've just read him like a book. "Your mom and I have different views on this situation."

"Situation?"

"The fact that Zac wanted you to move in for a little bit. Your mother would like nothing more than for you to stay with Summer. It's better than some other man stepping in."

I sigh and slouch back into my seat. "What if she didn't need a man at all? Why is everyone fixated on the idea that Summer needs a superhero?"

He snickers at me. "Because your brother had the grand idea. In truth, maybe it makes a little sense. But only for a temporary moment. You'll be leaving Lake Spark eventually, even if you already are past the six-week deadline."

"I'm staying."

My father appears taken aback, as proven by a lack of quick response and his need for another sip of whiskey. "I hope that means you'll be taking more interest in the Dizzy Duck. "

"Not more than now."

"You're going to find your own place and stick around to be an uncle?" he prods for further details.

Confidence overtakes me, and I roll my shoulders back. "That's the right thing to do, and I want to. Bo is a cute little kid."

My dad's lips roll in as he contemplates. "You didn't answer the moving-out part. So, let's be clear. He's Zac's son and don't you forget that." His sharp tone has me narrowing down his thought path.

"I'm not moving out for now."

He nods subtly, only half believing my statement. "You and I haven't had the best of relationships in the past few years. It was your choice to create distance, and I can only imagine why. Now is as good a time as any to improve that, but I swear to the heavens that if you're waltzing in only to disrespect his memory, then we have no hope."

Leaning forward, I puff out a breath and rest my elbows on the table. "Cut to the chase. You don't mean Bo."

"Damn straight. Summer is vulnerable, and if you feel you need to take advantage of your late brother's wife and should something be happening that goes beyond living together, then so help me, a bridge between us just broke."

Anger swirls inside of me. Then again, what was I expecting? This isn't surprising. Eventually, he'll have to deal with it. There is no way they will break a relationship with Summer since that would entail not seeing their grandson.

Am I being selfish lately? Probably. But there is a reason. It will make sense. One day.

The waiter dropping off a breadbasket and a plate of butter shaped as a turkey doesn't seem to defuse this conversation as this stare-off is no different to the times he informed me that I should put in more effort to visit when I was playing hockey. A damn contradiction in this very moment.

"Shouldn't we just focus on tomorrow? It's Bo's first Thanksgiving and Mom's first holiday without Zac."

My father inhales a deep breath, taking a moment to calm himself. "You're right."

I have zero appetite right now. Plus, I'm wondering what Summer is facing at this very moment with my mom.

"Enjoy your lunch. It's best you and I take a breather." He nods at me, and my response is taking my knife and stabbing it straight through the butter turkey.

Summer and I stand in the shower, with the warm water spilling down our bodies.

"Really, your mom didn't bring anything up. She just seemed completely in her element with Bo, and she kept mentioning how she's happy that you're around," Summer assures me.

I grab the bottle of shampoo, even though soapsuds are already dripping down my body. "Tomorrow may not be so fun."

Summer takes the bottle from my hand and sets it back to the side. "In the end this is about Bo. We all need to put our differences aside."

"You're not the one they will be pissed off with when they find out we're together."

She snickers a sound, not impressed. "Right." Her T is tight. "I'm the damsel in distress." Summer is now annoyed because that's the last thing that she ever wants.

My fingertips touch her shoulders to calm her. "This is on me, and that's fine. "

Summer wants to protest, but she stops short. "One day at a time, Nash. Now relax. Tomorrow is tomorrow." She begins to slither down my body with a mischievous smirk until she is on her knees, her playful eyes watching my facial expressions. "Let me calm your nerves."

My instinctual reflex around this woman causes my hand to smooth her hair. "Fuck, Summer."

"In my mouth? Yes, please." She plants her hands on the frame of my hips then her tongue darts out to lick my tip.

"This is how this is going to go? I get to fuck your mouth before your pussy for who knows how many hours. We'll both arrive tomorrow tired." I hiss when her mouth wraps around me.

Summer's sound is muffled because her mouth is full of my cock. My head falls back and rests against the tiled wall, taking in every lick and suck. I swear in a moment I'm going to yank her up, flip her around, spank her ass, then plunge right into her. Playful Summer in the shower is a gift from the heavens.

Her lips bind tighter around me, dragging out every pump which only brings another groan out of my mouth. I thrust into her mouth a few more times, holding her head to guide her, and when I'm getting too damn close, I pull her off.

"On your feet, Summer," I direct.

Summer's sexy face agrees with that request. Turning her until her back is flat against the wall, I raise her arms up and around my neck.

"Tight around my waist, Summer." My order is met with Summer obeying by sliding her leg up with the power of her thigh, winding me closer to her body. With one hand on the wall overhead, my other quickly swipes her pussy a few times before I plummet into her, with our moans as one .

"I needed this," I whisper into her ear as the sound of water and our bodies slapping echoes in the bathroom.

"We needed one another it seems. And not just now. Yesterday and tomorrow, too."

My teeth scrape along the base of her neck.

If only she knew…