Back To Country (Country Love #4)(37)

"Tina," I whisper. Turning, I grab Blair's arms. "You answered the door. The woman  –  did she seem upset? What did she say?"

She bites her lower lip. "Not at first but the more we talked she started looking a little annoyed?"

I shake her a little. "Blair. What did you say to her?" She looks around then back at me. She places her hands on my arms and when I look down, anger fills me instantly. I look back at her and snarl. "Why are you wearing the ring I gave you?" She opens her mouth but nothin' comes out. "What did you say to her, Blair?" I yell, shakin' her again, my anger gettin' the better of me. "Tell me!"

Tears form in her eyes as she reaches up and cups my face. "All I ever wanted was you, Nash. We're good together. We belong together." I shake my head not wantin' to hear what she's sayin'. I can't believe it. Can't believe her. "Don't you see? Our Pa's were friends. We grew up together. We were always meant to be together, Nash."



 "No." I shake my head more.

"Nash," she whispers searchin' my eyes.

"NO!" I shake her again, causin' tears to fall down her face. "Did you tell her we're together? Did you say what you just told me?" She purses her lips, the guilt pourin' from her. "Bart."

"Yes, Nash?" Bart walks over to my side.

"Get Luis. Take Blair to the airport in her rental car, have Luis follow you in his truck. She's leavin'." Pullin' my phone from my pocket, I try to call Tina. It goes straight to voicemail. I send her a text, quickly, my fingers flyin' over the keys.

"Right away." Bart walks over and grabs her arm.

"No! Nash! We're meant to be together! Forever! I love you!" She screams as Bart tugs her from the kitchen. I look up in time to see her bein' pushed through the doorway.

I turn to Manuel, my breathin' so heavy, my anger changin' to worry immediately. Runnin' my fingers through my hair, I look into his eyes not knowin' what to say, or what to do. He limps over to me, holdin' his head up high, and pats my shoulder. "Go, Mijo. Find her." I turn and start to walk when I feel his hand on my shoulder. "When you find her, she'll be upset, confused. But fight for her. Make her understand. Don't let her go."

"I have no intention of lettin' her go." I give him a nod.

I get into my truck and speed down the drive. What she must think. I push on the gas, causin' gravel to spew, hittin' my truck with familiar pings. She's gotta be so upset. I hate that! Hate that once again Blair did somethin' to fuck up my life. Only this time  –  this time she upset the woman I love. I hit the steerin' wheel with my fist in anger. I have to get to her apartment, explain things. Fuck! I hope she'll believe me. She has to! The drive feels endless, hatin' that it takes so long to get into town. If Blair hadn't shown up, just a short time from now we'd be movin' Tina into my house. We'd really get to start our life together. My house would finally become a home. Our home.

"God, why?" I say out loud, watchin' the town come into view. "Why is everythin' tryin' to keep us apart?" I know in my heart she's the woman for me. I feel it in my soul. We're meant to be together. Why do things keep comin' between us?



       
         
       
        





"Sometimes the best things in life are meant to be fought for. You have to know what you want, feel it in your gut, and do whatever it takes to get it."





 Pa's words come back at me with a force. He taught me that life isn't always fair, that you have to work hard and never ever back down. He told me, so many times, that life is a struggle but I can set my mind to do anythin'. He made me the man I am today.

I pull behind her shop, not seein' her car there. Dammit! I get out of my truck and run into the alley and up the stairs. "TINA!" I scream as I beat on her door. "Tina! Let me explain!" I keep poundin' with my fist. I'm breathin' heavy, some from the exertion and some from worry and fear. I rest my forehead against the door. "Tina. Please let me in." No sounds come from inside. I raise my head and pound a few more times. Now what do I do? My eyes widen. Sadie.

I run back down the stairs and get into my truck and try to call Tina. Straight to voicemail. So, I text her. Not waitin', I pull out of the small lot. The long drive back is makin' me more and more anxious. I look down at the gas gauge. I'll need to get gas soon. I hit the Bluetooth on my steerin' wheel and call Prie.

"Nash?" Surprisingly, Trevor answers. "What's up, man? Everythin' okay?"

"Oh. Uh  –  hey, Trev. I...." What do I tell him? "Was hopin' maybe Tina was over there?"

He yawns. "Tina? Nope. She's not here. Prie's asleep. Want me to wake her and ask her if she knows where Tina is?" Fuck! I woke him.

"Uh, no thanks. Sorry I woke ya. Don't wake her."

He yawns again. "Okay, man. If you need me, let me know."

I end the call as I pull into Sadie's drive. If I woke him, then Sadie and Memphis are most likely asleep too. But I can't wait. I have to find Tina. Now. I try to call Tina again. Nothin'. Pullin' up by the front, I get out quickly and run up their porch steps. I send Tina another text. I hope I don't wake up the kids. I knock, not seein' any lights on inside. Maybe I should've tried to call first. I knock again and am surprised when the door opens.

"Nash?" Memphis is standin' before me wearing a t-shirt and sleep pants. "Everythin' all right?"

"Yeah, uh. Sorry, if I woke ya." 

"C'mon in." I walk inside, noticin' the lights comin' from their kitchen. "Sadie and I were just havin' some hot chocolate before we turn in. Wanna cup?"

I follow behind me. "No, thank ya." We walk into the kitchen and Sadie's eyes widen when she sees me and smiles.

"Nash! What a nice surprise." She stands and walks over to me, and Memphis goes over to the counter. She grasps my arms and kisses my cheek. She moves back, her smile leavin' pretty quickly. "Nash. What's wrong? You're really pale. Are you getting sick?"

"I just...." I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. "Have you heard from Tina?"



 "Come here. Sit." Sadie guides me over to a chair as Memphis sets down a cup in front of me on the table. "Now, what's all this about Tina? I talked to her earlier today. She was all excited about moving in with you tomorrow. Couldn't stop talking about it." Fuck! I need to find her! "I have to tell you." She lays her hand on my arm. "I'm so happy that you all are together. It's a match made from heaven. You all are perfect for each other." My brows lower and I run my fingers through my hair again. "Nash. What's wrong? You're scaring me."

I stand, pushin' back the chair with force, and start pacin'. "My ex-girlfriend showed up earlier tonight. Had no idea she was comin'. Her pa passed away. He was a longtime friend of our family. She was pretty upset. Tina showed up, surprisin' me with dinner. Guess Blair answered the door." I stop and notice the worried look on Sadie's face. "Guess she hasn't changed over the years. She had on the engagement ring I'd given her when we were datin' in college." Sadie's hand flew up and covered her mouth with a gasp. "Yeah. I had no idea of their conversation until Tina had left." I walk over and sit down, leanin' my arms on the table. "Sadie. She's not at her apartment. Not answerin' her phone. I had hoped she was here. Where would she go?"

Sadie stands, puttin' her hand on my shoulder. "Let me go get my phone and try to call her," she offers. She gives my shoulder a pat and then leaves the room. I bury my face in my hands, my insides shakin' and my heart heavy.

"Took me and Sadie quite a while before we got together." I look up as Memphis starts talkin'. He smiles. "She was a wild thing, thinkin' she knew what was what. That's the first thing that attracted me to her. She had spunk and a ton of sass." He chuckles, his eyes lightin' up. "But she had some growin' up to do and things tried to get in our way. Didn't think we'd ever be together." My brows raise. Even though I've heard this story a million times, I never thought of it this way. Sounds a lot like me and Tina. "Seems like every time things were good, other things would get in the way." He smiles again and clears his throat. "We went through a lot together. Fought through it. At first, I wondered what the hell I was gettin' into. Didn't really know her but the more we hung out, the more I wanted to know. Figured out she was someone I wanted. But it wasn't just that. Found out I needed her just as much as she needed me."

I swallow hard. "Things are just so fucked up, Memphis."

He turns serious. "Might seem that way. Thing is, I learned the hard way that if it's somethin' you really want, feel like you can't live without, well, ya just gotta fight for it."



       
         
       
        

"Pa used to say the same thing." I smile at the memory.

"Smart man your pa." He winks. "Now Tina  –  she comes from money but doesn't want anythin' to do with it. She's a smart gal." He rubs his bearded chin. "Not sure how she turned out so well, comin' from parents like hers." He leans forward. "From what I've learned, she's had a pretty rough life. Not like us, comin' from the land, workin' hard and payin' our dues. Nope. She came from a family that gave her no love, no attention. I couldn't imagine growin' up like that. Seems she finally found that with you." His brows raise, and my heart pounds against my chest. "Now, if it was me, I'd go find her and let her know just how much she was loved. That nothin' will stand in your way of makin' sure she knows that. That you'd fight to keep it." I nod, knowin' this was always my plan.