A frown comes back to my face and I fist my hands on my lap. “Nate, what—”
“Look, I know,” he interrupts, finally turning the key to start the car, shaking his head slightly. “But the guys from the precinct are going to be at Tipsy Turtle. Including Raphael and his… His wife. I don’t want him to try and talk to you there, it would only cause trouble. Meredith is a Lawyer, and you’ll see her at the precinct. If she knows Raphael and you had a thing, she’ll make your life a living hell.” He pauses and exits the parking spot carefully. “So I promise I’ll stop. After tonight. We’re getting the red wristbands, bonus points to poke Jack. Raph will leave you alone if he thinks you’re with me, and Meredith won’t consider you a threat.”
I groan in frustration and let the back of my head hit the headrest. “That’s a dumb idea.”
“It’s not. You’re obviously trying to avoid Raph and he clearly doesn’t get the message. If he thinks you’re with me, he’ll know you’ve moved on and want nothing to do with him. Meredith won’t think you’re out for her man. Jack will either finally get mad, or won’t do anything, and in that case, I’ll give up my little crusade.”
That peaks my interest. I don’t like Nate trying to make Jack angry on purpose. I think it doesn’t help Jack make things right. Well, I don’t think, I know. I’m sure. It’s an obvious obstacle to fixing their relationship.
I sigh and roll my eyes. “Just tonight? And we’re not pretending to do anything, just getting the red wristbands?”
There’s a bit of silence before he answers. “Right. Nothing. Just the red wristbands and we stick together.”
That actually seems like a harmless plan. If Jack asks, I’ll tell him it’s just to push Raph away. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea.
“And then you promise you’ll stop giving Jack shit and really let himtry to fix things up?”
He gives me a quick glance and nods once before focusing back on the road.
Good. That’s good. He’s doing this to help me get rid of Raph and annoy Jackone last time. Then it all goes back to normal. Jack and Nate being friends again. Me being free to do whatever I want without them meddling. Jack—hopefully—giving Ikram a chance, Evie finding her person for the night, and all will be perfect. A happy and healthier Jack in a long awaited romantic relationship. Evie falling in love with a man or woman for a week before getting bored and falling in love all over again with another. Me, free of Nate and Jack’s meddling and able to do whatever I want without them lurking over my shoulder. And Nate… Well, he can do whatever and whoever he wants.
We park in front of the bar and he stops the car. He turns around, fumbles with stuff on the backseat and picks up a dark button down shirt that he brings upfront.
And then I gape, my eyes wide, as he takes off his tee-shirt.
Alright. My memories are not giving him justice. Or is he looking even better now? Are my eyes also betraying—
“You’re drooling,baby. You really gotta act like you’re used to seeing me like this.”
I want to wipe that stupid smirk off with a handful of sand.
“Don’t call me baby. That’s weird.”
“You’ve got to get used to it. Make it at least a little bit believable when Raph gets here.”
“Baby is a stupid pet name,” I mumble.
“I’ll try to come up with something better, then. But it suits you. You’re tiny, cute, and a little fussy.”
I gasp. “I amnotfussy. Nor tiny, for that matter.”
He smirks, sliding his arms in his shirtsleeves. “Not complaining about the cute, that’s at least one out of three.”
I roll my eyes and exit the car just as he starts buttoning the shirt, and I’m sure I hear him laugh when I slam the door behind me.
15
HOLY FUCK
Jack: Are you guys lost?
Nate: Maybe we were having sex.
Nate: In the backseat of my car.
Jack: Ah. Ah.
Jack: Hilarious.
