Unknown: How long do you intend to hide in the washroom? Food is getting cold.
Prudence: Then eat.
Unknown: I have manners. I’m waiting for you to come back to start.
Prudence: If you had manners, you wouldn’t be pressing me and complaining.
Unknown: I said manners, not patience.
I roll my eyes. What a jerk.
I take a few deep breaths, staring at my reflection and going over the facts in my head again to clear my mind.
1 – Except for what happened in college, I have no reason to be mad at Nate. We were not friends, but we were always cordial. There’s no bad blood.
2 – He helped me out a couple of times and that got him in trouble with my brother, and just for that, he gets a few brownie points—I kinda feel guilty about that still to be honest.
3 – If what he says is right, he was not the heartbreaker I thought he was in college. After all, he shouldn’t be blamed for people’s expectations.
4 – He’s obviously trying to patch things up with Jack, whether it’s because he secretly loves him or not. But it’s not a reason to let him invade and meddle with my personal life either.
Alright. I’m good. The look I’ve seen on his face was in my head and I can focus on the facts. I don’t know why I’ve been “glaring” at him or felt awkward about being alone with him, but I have no reasons to. I’m not nineteen anymore, and I’ve learned to look after myself and speak my mind. Jack has changed too, and there are no reasons for Nate to be stuck in the past.
So, I’m going to take a long breath of this sweater—so good—and then I’m going to get out of this restroom, walk back to the table, eat my food while it’s not too cold, and talk to him like a reasonable and rational adult human being.
Because, unlike what Jack says, I amnotirrational.
Then why do I want to kick Nate in the shins for the smug look on his face as soon as I sit back down in front of him? Does he have cameras in the bathroom? Does he know I’ve been smelling his sweater like a lunatic?
Deep breaths.
“So,” I start, cutting a small piece of pie from my plate, “now that we’re out of the imminent death by rain, will you please explain what the hell you meant by… when you said my brother gave you the go ahead to… You know?”
I’m a rational adult human being. Adult being the key word here. Why can’t I say it?
“To?” he asks, raising an eyebrow, the corner of his lips tilting upwards slightly. “You’re going to have to be more specific, I’m afraid.”
“Come on, you know what I’m talking about.”
Fuck. F-u-c-k. Come on, I can say it. I’m not a child. I even had a one night stand not that long ago, I—
“Please, enlighten me.”
My face feels like all my blood has moved there. Ifeelpurple with embarrassment.So much for speaking my mind and being rational.
“When you said you were mad at Jack. For being out of his mind and giving you his blessing,” I say, stilling my spine and willing the flush to leave my damn face.
He smirks then—that arrogant ass—and leans forwards, invading my space and I force myself not to back away. “Oh, you mean when I mentioned that your previously overprotecting brother said it was okay if I fucked you in my car?”
Here. That word.Why couldn’t I say it? And why am I blushing even more now thathesaid it?
Come one Prue, pull your shit together. You’re not a child. You’re 27, nearly 28. You had sex before, it’s nothing new.
“Yes. That,” I say, clearing my throat.
“What about it?”
“What about it?” I frown. “Well, can you just explain how the hell did that conversation occur? I mean, you guys had a fight about assumption on this particular subject 9 years ago, so why the hell did—”
