***

Dressed in my pajamas, I relax on the sofa with a mug of herbal tea and the television remote. After a day like today I need some time to myself. Just me, my pajamas, and Netflix. But, of course, just as I get comfortable, my moment of peace is interrupted by an unexpected knock on the front door. Rolling my eyes, I groan in protest, feeling the day’s earlier football match in every one of my aching muscles as I hobble through to the hallway, stopping to open the door. When I see Nash standing on my porch, my eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Hey,” is all I can say, stepping aside and holding the door open for him in silent invitation.

With his head bowed, Nash walks inside, coming to stop awkwardly in the small entry.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, closing the door to stop the night breeze from blowing inside.

“I just wanted to stop by and apologize for today,” he starts, meeting my eyes with an apologetic look. “Anna’s fine, and I didn’t want you feeling bad. I shouldn’t have yelled at you the way I did.”

I immediately feel bad because what happened earlier hadn’t actually crossed my mind since I’d returned home from Harley’s. I mean, it’s not like I maimed her or anything.

“Anna feels real bad for what happened today. How she acted,” he continues. “She doesn’t want things to be awkward between the two of you, and she’s spoken to her friends and told them to back off, too.”

I nod, looking down to my sock-covered feet so he can’t see me roll my eyes. Yes, I’m relieved Anna’s okay, but I really couldn’t care less what she or her bitchy bridesmaids think of me.

“She wants to do dinner tomorrow night,” Nash says, pulling me from my thoughts. “Just the four of us.”

I look up again, my eyes wide.

“Sure.” I shrug, managing a smile. “Sounds like fun,” I lie.

“We’re still on for the wedding cake testing tomorrow, right?”

I catch sight of his grin, his blue eyes dancing beneath the dim light of the hallway lamp. His gaze is so all-consuming, it’s easy to become lost within it.

“Of course.” I nod, snapping myself from my musings. “I baked the samples this morning. I just have to put the final touches on the frosting. I’ll have everything ready by midday.”

Nash’s shoulders seem to sag in relief, and he steps forward, closing the distance between us, rendering me absolutely breathless when he wraps one of his arms around me, pulling me close. “You know I love you, right, Murph?” he whispers, his lips brushing against my temple.

I nod as my eyelashes flutter, my eyes closing as I breathe him in, basking in his embrace and the sentiment behind his words. And, in that moment, I’m almost certain I feel something pass between us, something unexpected, something I haven’t felt in a long time.

Without so much as another word, he presses a kiss to the top of my head before turning and walking back outside through the door, leaving me breathless and unsteady on my feet as I grip the doorjamb in the hope that it will keep me from falling into a heap on the floor. I watch, waiting for him to get into his rental car, waving as he slowly pulls away from the curb before I close the door. Resting back against the wood, I can’t hide the smug grin pulling at my lips as I consider what just happened. He still loves me.