I roll my eyes. “What do youthinkis going on? We’re dating, Nash.”
He just stares at me for a second, his arms crossing over his chest. “I don’t like him.”
“You don’tknowhim,” I shoot back, scoffing.
“Nash,” Paisley says, stepping in. “Leave it.”
“I need to go. Move,” I snap, trying hard to keep a lid on my frustration.
He reluctantly steps aside, but just as I reach the front door, his voice stops me cold.
“Seb said he saw you two arguing at Eden a few days before the bachelorette. He heard Ben mention a wife. Is he married, Ashlyn?”
My hand freezes on the doorknob. Of course Seb said something. And if Nash knows, then there’s a good chance my other brothers do too. My stomach turns at the thought.
“I don’t owe you an explanation, Nash,” I say, turning back to face him.
His eyes widen. “Jesus. He is. He’s got a kid too, right? Are you ready to be a mom?”
“You know nothing.”
He shrugs. “Then enlighten me.”
I don’t know why I’m even contemplating entertaining him, but I do, if only to shut him up.
“Ben’s daughter is eighteen,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s not like I’m about to be making formula or changing diapers. And even if I were, that’s my choice to make, not yours.”
“Eighteen!” He whips his head toward Paisley, who’s now standing behind him in the entryway. “Did you know about all this?”
I glance at Paisley, guilt tugging at me. I close my eyes, swallowing down the urge to snap again. “I’m leaving. Thanks for listening, Paisley. I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Ash,” she says gently.
I walk out, leaving them in the middle of another argument I never wanted to start. I know Paisley’s on my side, but I hate that I might be the reason they’re clashing again. It’s happened before, and I swore it wouldn’t happen again.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ben
“Where are you going?” Laney asks from the sofa when I walk into the living room. The TV’s blaring some terrible reality show, and I can barely hear her over the noise.
“Can you turn that down?” I gesture at the TV, waiting as she lowers the volume with the remote. “I’ve got a date with Ash. Have you seen my keys?”
She scrunches her face. “Oh. You haven’t mentioned her in a while. So, you’re still seeing her, then?”
I dig through the sofa cushions for my keys and grab them when I spot them.
“Yeah, I’m still seeing her. She’s just been dealing with a lot lately.”
She rolls her eyes. “I hope you got her parents' permission to take her out. Does she have a curfew?”
“Laney,” I warn, not in the mood.
“I’m just saying what everyone else is probably thinking.”
I sigh. “No one except you is thinking that. Ashlyn is an adult.”
She laughs, but it’s void of any humor. “She’s seven years older than me, Dad.”
