Everything Worth Fighting For

by Street, K.

  An awkward silence fell between us. The only sounds we heard were the hum of the lights and the catering crew cleaning in the distance behind us.

  “I guess—” we spoke simultaneously, “Macy—”

  Nash chuckled. “You first.”

  “I was just going to say that I’d better get going.”

  “I’ll walk with you.”

  An escort wasn’t necessary. My car was parked barely fifteen feet away, and there was plenty of light illuminating the darkness. I didn’t point that out because there was a part of me that wanted to hang on to tonight for just a little longer.

  “All right,” I said and took a step.

  We walked the short stretch without talking, and when we made it to my vehicle, I reached into my wristlet and took out my keys.

  With my back to the door, I faced Nash.

  Desire burned bright in his eyes, and my stomach flipped the same way it always had anytime he was near.

  He was close. So close that I could feel the warmth of his body heat.

  A light breeze blew an errant strand of hair across my face.

  Nash reached out to tuck it behind my ear. Rough knuckles grazed my cheeks. His touch lingered longer than necessary, like he didn’t want to break the connection.

  The air between us became charged, and I swore, the pounding of my heart grew louder with every beat. For a split second, I allowed myself to lean into him, enjoying the way his hands felt on me. I silently wished for time to stand still because I wanted to commit every single part of tonight to memory.

  The way his hair was perfectly mussed, like he had been raking his fingers through it all night long. How delicious his strong hands had felt on my skin. The way he looked at me like I was the only person he saw.

  “Macy …” He raised his other hand and cupped my face between his palms.

  His lips hovered over mine.

  My body ached for him. So much so that I considered letting him kiss me despite my head screaming with all the reasons I shouldn’t.

  If his lips touched mine, I knew I’d end up in his bed tonight. I forced myself to focus on the hurt he had inflicted. Pain he had caused that he didn’t even know about.

  I shook my head. “Nash, please.” I grabbed his wrists. “I can’t do this.”

  “Why?” He dropped his forehead to mine.

  “Because I just can’t,” I whispered.

  I flattened my palms on his chest and lightly pushed against the hard wall of muscle in an attempt to put space between us.

  Nash stepped back, and his hands went to his hair, tugging at the roots. He turned on his heels, and for a second, I thought he’d leave, but I should’ve known better.

  Nash was still Nash after all. He was almost as stubborn as I was, and he wouldn’t go down without putting up one hell of a fight.

  “We were kids, Macy. Don’t you think it’s time we laid the past to rest?” He shook his head and stared at the ground before meeting my eyes. “Why can’t you just let it go?”

  The thing he didn’t understand was, I’d been trying to let it go. For years, I had struggled to put that night behind me. It proved impossible. There were things you never got over regardless of how hard you tried.

  “Nash …” His name died on my lips. I couldn’t do this. Not here. Not now. “I have to go.”

  “That is what you do best.”

  His comment pissed me off, but I was too close to falling apart to go another round with him. Without bothering to respond, I opened my car door.

  “Macy?”

  My movements halted, but I didn’t turn around to face him.

  “You either forgive me or you don’t, but I can’t apologize anymore.”

  Nash couldn’t see the tears rolling down my cheeks.

  I didn’t spare him another glance as I got into my car, closed the door, and drove away from the past I wasn’t ready to face.

  3

  Nash

  The shop had closed three hours ago, and since I’d started inventing shit to do, it was time to call it a night. With my keys in hand, I locked up and was on my way to the car when my cell started to ring. Macy’s name lit up the screen. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since the wedding.

  “Hey,” I answered, not expecting a response because I figured she had butt-dialed me.

  “Nash, uh … it’s Macy.”

  “I know.”

  “Right. I wouldn’t have called you, but Mama J is at the quilting-bee thing and my parents left for one of their RV trips and I didn’t know whom else to call,” she rambled.

  “So, you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel,” I half-joked.

  “I’m sorry. It didn’t sound as awful in my head.”

  “It’s fine.” I pulled open my car door and climbed inside. “What’s up?”

  She hesitated for a second. “I sort of need a favor.”

  I heard in her voice how much she hated asking me for help and knew she was probably cringing, too. “All you have to do is ask. I’m not going to bite … at least, not unless you want me to.”

  She laughed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

  But you love me.

  The words I had said to her a million times in a different life were on the tip of my tongue. Bitterness coated my mouth because, of all the things Macy felt toward me, she’d made it clear that love wasn’t one of them.

  Instead, I said, “So I’ve been told.” I put the key in the ignition and started the engine. “What kind of favor?”

  “It’s Shayne.”

  Concern for my niece overrode every other thought. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s staying with me this weekend. She’s running a fever, complaining that her stomach hurts, and I don’t have anything suitable to give her to bring the fever down. Do you mind running to the drugstore and picking up some Sprite or ginger ale and Children’s Tylenol? I’d go, but I don’t want to drag her out.”

  Poor Monkey.

  I loved that kid, and there wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for her, including a run to the twenty-four-hour drugstore.

  “Sure. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Thanks, Nash.”

  “See you in a bit.” I ended the call and tossed my phone on the seat.

  I hated that Shayne was sick, but not going straight home felt like a reprieve. Night after night, I came home to an empty house, and I hated it. I wanted a family, and every time I thought of the future, it was Macy’s face I saw. It had always been her, and despite everything, that hadn’t changed. Not for me anyway. When she’d called tonight, I had known I was the last name on the list, but at least I was on it.

  By the time I got to Macy’s, it was nearly ten. My arms were loaded down with bags as I made my way to the front door and knocked.

  “Come in,” I heard from the other side.

  I twisted the knob and walked inside to find Macy holding a sleeping Shayne on her lap.

  “Hey,” I whispered. “She feeling any better?”

  “Not really.” Macy nodded to the bags in my hand, the corners of her mouth tipped up. “Did you buy out the whole store?”

  “I wanted to make sure she had whatever she needed,” I admitted as my eyes scanned the room.

  I tried to remember the last time I had been inside Macy’s house. When my gaze landed on the solid wood entertainment center, it came back to me. Tucker and I had installed that monstrosity for Macy at least a year ago.

  Has it really been that long?

  “You can set that stuff in the kitchen if you want.” Macy’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  “Sure.” I carried the bags into the kitchen and placed them on the counter. Then, I went back into the living room.

  Macy angled her head to look at me. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

  “Anytime.” I leaned into Macy’s personal space to lightly kiss Shayne’s forehead.

  A barely audible gasp came from Macy, making me aware that I still affected her.


  Shayne whimpered in her sleep.

  Macy gently swayed side to side and hummed softly, doing her best to soothe Shayne.

  My chest tightened at the sight. Even though Macy looked tired and worry lined her eyes, I had never seen her look more beautiful than she was at this second.

  I took a seat on the sofa, leaving a little space between us. The couch creaked under my weight, causing Shayne’s eyes to flutter open.

  “Uncle Nash.” She yawned.

  I stroked Shayne’s rosy cheek. “Hey, Monkey. Did you eat too many bananas?”

  She didn’t even crack a smile before her eyes drifted closed again.

  “The kid is definitely sick. She always laughs at my jokes.”

  “Yeah”—Macy laughed—“because she pities you.”

  “Is that so?” Without thought, I tugged a stray piece of Macy’s hair.

  My eyes caught the laughter in hers, and we held each other’s gaze. For a few silent seconds, the past seemed to disappear. Then, awkwardness crept in, and she looked away.

  I broke the silence that settled between us. “What else can I do?”

  “Nothing.” She shook her head.

  Macy was stubborn to a fault, and I knew it killed her to ask for help, especially from me.

  “I think we’re good. I just need to switch the laundry to the dryer.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Really, Nash, you don’t have to do that.”

  “It’s not rocket science. I’m capable of doing laundry. I’ll be right back,” I said, not giving her a chance to argue.

  I made my way through the kitchen and into the laundry room. I opened the lid to the washer and tossed the damp clothes along with Shayne’s tiny stuffed pig, Wilbur, and a fabric sheet into the dryer. Then, I started it.

  “You okay?” I asked Macy when I sat back down on the couch.

  “This is all just a little weird, isn’t it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You … being here … in my space.”

  “It doesn’t have to be weird.”

  “Right.” She toyed with a thread on the end of her shirt.

  I leaned forward, braced my forearms on my knees, and cocked my head to look at her. “How’ve you been?”

  “Fine. How about you?”

  “All right, I guess.”

  For a little while, we made small talk about work and the weather.

  Eventually, Macy said, “I need to use the bathroom, but I hate to disturb her.”

  “I’ve got her.”

  Shayne whimpered as I pulled her onto my lap.

  “Shh. It’s all right, Monkey.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Macy stood and made her way down the hall.

  A few minutes passed, and then Shayne began to stir.

  Her small hands went to her belly. “My tummy hurts.”

  I hated that she was in pain, and I wished I could trade places with her.

  Shayne was the closest thing I had to a kid of my own.

  Tucker had been a mess after he lost his wife, Dani. Truth be told, we all were.

  Tucker, Griffin, Dani, Macy, and I had all grown up together. Griffin, his older brother, was in the military and killed in the line of duty. Then, we lost Dani. If it hadn’t been for Shayne … I’m not sure any of us would have made it.

  “I’m sorry your belly hurts, baby doll. Are you thirsty?”

  Shayne lifted her head off my chest, made a choking sound, and threw up on me. It wasn’t much but enough that I needed to lose the shirt, and she needed to be cleaned up.

  Macy came back into the living room, looking exhausted. “Should we take her to the doctor? Maybe we should call Mama J.”

  “Mace, she probably has a twenty-four-hour bug. If she isn’t any better in the morning, we’ll take her in.”

  Shayne started to cry. “I w-want my daddy.”

  I stared into her small, sweet face. Her lower lip quivered, and a fat tear rolled down her cheek. She was so pitiful; it was enough to bring me to my knees.

  “I know, baby girl.”

  Macy scrunched her nose. “Is it in her hair?”

  “Yep. She’s going to need a quick bath.”

  “I’ll go start the water.” Macy headed down the hall.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up.” I stood, and with her still in my arms, I made my way back to the bathroom.

  While Macy bathed Shayne, I stripped out of my shirt and threw it into the wash along with Shayne’s pajamas. After I got cleaned up a bit at the kitchen sink, I grabbed Wilbur from the dryer and folded the laundry.

  Back in the living room, I took off my shoes and set them near the front door. Macy didn’t know it yet, but I wasn’t going home tonight.

  4

  Macy

  After Shayne’s bath, I put her in one of my T-shirts and laid her in my king-size bed. I was too worried to let her sleep alone in the guest room, and if she needed me, I’d be right next to her. Shayne fell asleep in no time at all.

  I brushed my teeth and changed into my pajamas. Then, I feathered a kiss on Shayne’s forehead before crossing the room. In the doorway, I turned back to peek at her one last time before going to tell Nash good-bye.

  Since Tucker and Camryn’s wedding, I’d been constantly thinking about him. As much as I hated to admit it, he still affected me, and being in the same space as him only made the magnetic pull that much stronger.

  Awareness prickled my flesh, and I didn’t have to see Nash to know he was behind me. The heat of his body was at my back, stoking the embers that had been burning within the nucleus of my every cell since I danced with him several nights ago.

  “That didn’t take long,” Nash muttered.

  I turned my head to the side to see his stare fixed on Shayne as she lay, sleeping. While he stared at her, I took in his shirtless torso. Nash’s broad chest was sprinkled with the perfect amount of hair, just a shade darker than the dirty-blond that covered his head. His well-defined abs pulled my eyes downward. My mouth went dry as my gaze landed on the sexy trail of hair that started at his belly button and followed to where it disappeared below the waistband of his jeans.

  Damn.

  “Macy?”

  “Hmm?” I asked, not lifting my eyes.

  “You’re staring.”

  Shit.

  Heat bloomed across my cheeks, as I knew I had been caught. My eyes traveled a slow journey back up his torso before finally meeting his gaze.

  Need flared between us, and I could swear the temperature had risen by ten degrees.

  The intense yearning for his touch became too much, and I forced myself to look away. I glanced toward the bed and fixated on the bottom drawer of one of the white nightstands that flanked each side of the headboard.

  My stomach drew into a knot.

  I knew I needed to tell him, but tonight wasn’t the time to push those words past my lips.

  I pulled in a calming breath. “Thank you for your help tonight. It’s late; you should probably go.” I tried my best not to sound like I was rushing him out the door.

  Without acknowledging my comment, he held out Wilbur.

  I’d been too busy ogling him earlier to notice Shayne’s security object was in his hand. My fingers wrapped around the small, plush toy as I took it from Nash.

  “Meet me in the kitchen,” he said and moved from the doorway of my room.

  “Nash.”

  “Kitchen, Mace.”

  Shit.

  From his tone, I knew fighting him on this would be futile.

  Exhaustion seeped into my bones. Tiredness that had more to do with holding on to the pain of the past and fighting my desire for the man walking away from me and less to do with taking care of my sick niece.

  I had been avoiding him since the wedding because I knew this was coming. Had I not needed help with taking care of Shayne tonight, I’d still be dodging him. Any other time, I would have dug my heels in, but I didn’t want to wake up Shayne, s
o I gave in to his demand.

  After I tucked Shayne’s pig in beside her, I left the door open, so I could hear if she got up. Unsure of how much longer I could resist temptation, I reluctantly made my way to the kitchen.

  As he was propped against the counter, arms crossed, gaze straight ahead, Nash’s presence took up the entire room.

  I leaned with my back against the counter that butted up to the refrigerator and folded my arms, mimicking his stance.

  He shifted his green eyes to my blue ones. “We have to talk.”

  “We can stand here and talk until we’re blue in the face, but it isn’t going to change anything.”

  “You’re so sure about that, aren’t you?” There was an edge to his tone.

  “We can’t rewrite the past.”

  He looked to the ceiling and then back at me. “Don’t you think I know that? Do you have any idea how many damn times I wished that were possible? I would give anything to go back and change it.”

  He isn’t the only one.

  “Me, too,” I agreed. “More than you know.”

  The visual of his hands all over Becca had not faded over the years. Neither had the words he’d spoken.

  That was the thing about a memory. It was a snapshot of life, a moment that distance or experience could never change. Years later, we didn’t view it through a different lens. We saw it as we were then. Felt the hurt just as deep, no matter how much time had elapsed. Hindsight be damned.

  “Hurting you will always be my biggest regret.” The sincerity of his words matched the truth in his eyes.

  Both made my heart sting, and emotions I wasn’t ready to deal with surfaced.

  “Why tonight, Nash? Why are we having this conversation now?”

  He closed the distance between us and came to a stop only inches away. “Isn’t it obvious? You can’t run from it.”

  I opened my mouth to argue but quickly shut it.

  “You think I don’t notice that, if we’re in the same room and someone walks out, leaving us alone together, you rush to follow?”

  He reached out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was turning into a habit.

  “When was the last time it was just the two of us in the same space for more than three minutes?”