She chucked her small suitcase into the bed of the truck, then climbed into the cab. “Sure, I come all this way, and you don’t even get outta the truck to help me load my suitcase in the back. Southern gentleman, my ass.”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t do it for Asher, so I don’t do it for you. You been gone too long to remember that rule you put in place?”
“I made that up when I was young and stupid…and didn’t know how damn heavy my bags could be.”
He grinned at her, hooked an arm around her neck, and tugged her closer to him. “It’s good to have you home, Nattie.”
“Ugh, I don’t wanna smell your pits, Nash, for fuck’s sake!” She shoved against his chest, twisting his nipple while she was at it, but she had a smile on her face too. They might’ve talked a few times a month, but it’d been too damn long since she’d been back home.
“I put on deodorant just for you.”
“Yeah, well, you might wanna use some more. You smell like a garbage truck.”
“Always so sweet to me. Careful or I’m not gonna wanna bring you back here.” He steered them onto the road, glancing over at her as she buckled her seat belt. “You sure you can only stay till Monday?”
“Um, yes. Completely, one hundred percent, without a shadow of a doubt certain.” She slid him a look out of the corner of her eye. “Forty-eight hours is my limit, and I’m stretching it to fifty, just for you.”
“C’mon, now, Havenbrook ain’t that bad.”
“Maybe for you. You didn’t grow up with the stigma of a last name like Haven or havin’ a daddy like mine.”
He snorted, amused at how easily she seemed to have forgotten. “Nope, but King didn’t serve me too well either.” He didn’t bother to comment on the lack of interest his old man had shown in his life. Between him and Nat, their fathers had both ends of the spectrum covered.
She shot him an apologetic look but didn’t say the words. Apologies weren’t Nat’s style, even when she was dead wrong.
Twisting around as much as the seat belt would allow, she tucked her leg up on the seat and faced him. “You about ready to tell me what’s up?”
“Soon. Did you let anyone know you were comin’?”
“No—which, by the way, my momma’s gonna kill me for. Obviously, I’m throwin’ you under the bus for that. I didn’t know why you needed me, so I didn’t wanna say anything.”
Then this was truly going to be a surprise, not just for Gran but for all the other Havens as well.
“Spill,” she said. “And while you’re at it, you can explain why Asher keeps textin’ me, askin’ for a minute-by-minute play of what’s goin’ on. Why isn’t he here too?”
“Because, while Gran loves Asher, she wasn’t all that interested in seein’ him for her birthday.”
Nat shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Rory’s throwin’ Gran a surprise party. Today.” He glanced at the clock. “Right now, actually.”
“What? Why didn’t anyone call me?”
He shot her a pointed look. “I believe someone tried. About two dozen times.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t anyone who I’dtalk tocall me?”
“You can’t pick and choose how you get the information, your highness. You’re bein’ a brat about this.”
“About what?”
“This stupid beef you have with Rory. We’re not kids anymore.”
“She tried to dictate my life, Nash. Like, a lot.”
“Of course she did. You’re the baby, and she’s eight years older than you. I bet she hasn’t tried in years.”
“That’s because I don’t answer her calls.” She held up her hand like she wanted to smack him upside the head. “Hello.”
