His mother’s words came back to me and I smiled at him. “I’m a tough bitch, Nash. I’ve handled your shit so far, haven’t I?”
The intensity in his stare softened a little, allowing a small smile to flicker across his lips. “Yeah, you have.”
“You need to promise me one thing though. When you need help, you come to me. I’ll be here to talk or just to listen, whatever you need. Just don’t shut me out. We were friends first and I never want us to lose that.”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, Velvet.”
His honesty and vulnerability touched my heart and I couldn’t fault him for telling me the truth, even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “Fair enough. But you know how I feel.”
“I do,” he said, gruffly.
Silence descended as we both got lost in our thoughts. Nash hadn’t given me what I’d asked for, but I felt like he’d given me a whole lot more than he’d given anyone else for a long time. I could run with that; at least until we both worked out what this was going to be between us.
Chapter 17
Love’s Lookin’ Good On You ~ Lady Antebellum
Nash
“You sure you’re ready for this? My family can be a handful.”
Velvet stared at me in the way that says ‘you’re fuckin’ kidding aren’t you’. “Nash, you’re the biggest handful of all. I think I can cope with your family.”
I grinned. “Well get your ass inside then, woman.” I smacked her butt and followed her into the madhouse that was my mother’s home. Sunday night dinner would be interesting tonight.
Mum lit up at the sight of us. “Velvet, you made it!” I watched in fascination as they embraced. I’d never known Velvet to be so open with someone new in her life. She was very guarded and distrustful of everyone she met. You had to gain her trust and it was hard work most of the time.
“Thank you for having me,” Velvet said to mum, and handed her the cake she’d brought. “I had a good friend of mine make us a red velvet cake for dessert.”
Mum’s eyes shifted to me and she smiled before looking back at Velvet. “Thanks, sweetheart. The Walkers are big cake eaters.”
My mother was sold on Velvet, of that I was sure. And Velvet was just as sold on my mother. It warmed my cold heart. But fuck, heaven help me, the two women in my life getting on? Who knew what shit they’d try and pull on me.
Carla sauntered into the kitchen. “Did someone say cake?” She smiled at Velvet. “Hi, I’m Carla, Nash’s little sister, the one he still tries to mother.”
Velvet laughed. “Nash sure does have that protective streak in him, doesn’t he?”
Carla rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, you have no idea, Velvet! Now where’s this cake?”
“Generally comes after dinner, babe, not before,” I said, knowing full well that Carla wouldn’t hesitate to eat it before dinner.
“A girl makes her own rules in life. Right, Carla?” Velvet winked at my sister and I watched as another Walker woman fell under her spell.
I decided to leave them to it and headed into the living room where Jamison was catching up on the weekend sport. He eyed me as I took a seat. “Your woman with you?” he asked.
My mother had informed everyone I was bringing Velvet tonight, and somehow that had translated into her being my woman. “She’s not my woman, man.”
“What are you then? Cause you haven’t brought a woman home since Gabriella so this seems like something important.”
I scrubbed my face as I fought the churning in my gut at this conversation. “I don’t know where it’s going yet so let’s not put a fuckin’ label on it, okay.”
“Take my advice little brother; work it out as quick as you can because women don’t like to be kept waiting. Mum seems to like her so she can’t be too bad.”
I decided to be totally honest with him. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this. If I was, Velvet would be who I would choose, no doubts there.”
“Nash, it’s been ten years; you’re more than ready for this.”
“So I keep being told,” I muttered.