Page 99 of Nash
Candace doesn't flinch. Her hand finds Malachi's arm and stays there. Sloane reaches under the table, and Knox's fingers lace through hers without looking down. Maggie shifts closer to James, her shoulder pressing against his. Frankie's jaw tightens, her arms crossing over her chest. Amelia's eyes are wide, but she straightens on the couch and lifts her chin.
Darla shifts in her chair, pressing her hand against the side of her belly. Her face tightens for a three-count, then relaxes. East's head swivels toward her.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Braxton Hicks. I've been having them all week."
"That didn't look like nothing."
"East. I'm fine. Focus."
He turns back to the table. His knee starts bouncing again.
When Malachi finishes, Maggie moves to the kitchen. Coffee appears. Plates of food materialize. Ruby squeezes my hand and crosses the room to help, already reaching for the stack of plates on the counter.
I follow her. My hand closes around her wrist before she picks up the first plate.
"Sit down," I say. Low. Just for her.
"I'm just helping Maggie—"
"Maggie has it. Sit down."
"Nash, I can carry a plate."
"I know you can." I take the plate from her hand and set it back on the counter. "But you just sat through your father telling you that people threatened to kill you when you were nineteen. You're not serving anyone right now."
Her mouth opens. The argument forms behind her eyes, the instinct to move, to carry, to make sure everyone else is comfortable before she lets herself feel anything. I watch her fight it.
"Please," I say. Quieter. My thumb traces the inside of her wrist where I'm still holding it. "Let me."
Her jaw works. She looks at the plates on the counter, at Maggie already moving, at the room full of people she wants to take care of. Then she looks at me.
"Fine," she says. "But I want the good plate. The one without the chip."
My hand finds the small of her back, and I walk her to the couch. She sits. Walking to the kitchen and back takes me thirty seconds. A plate, coffee with two sugars and a splash of cream. She takes both from my hands when I sit beside her.
She stares at the plate. At the coffee. At me. Her eyes are bright.
"Stop looking at me like that," she says. "I'm going to cry again, and my mascara can't take another hit today."
I press my lips to her temple. She exhales.
Raine watches from the kitchen doorway. James brings her a cup of coffee without being asked, and she takes it with both hands, her eyes moving around the room. Candace pulls Malachi's head down to whisper something. Knox and Sloane argue quietly over the laptop. East hovers over Darla while she swats at him. Kyle tells Amelia something that makes her cover her mouth with her hand. Rider tunes his guitar in the corner.
Lawrence stands beside his wife. He watches the same thing she's watching. His hand finds hers.
"This is who protects our daughter," Raine murmurs to Lawrence.
He squeezes her hand.
Maggie sets a plate on the arm of the couch beside me. She doesn't say a word. Just sets it there and walks back to the kitchen. Ruby looks at the plate. Looks at me. Nudges it closer with her elbow.
"Eat."
"I'm good."
"You just made me sit down and brought me a plate and coffee. Your jaw is doing the thing that means you're clenching your teeth. Eat, Nash."
