“What do you want, baby?” I try not to cringe at the murmured sweet tone of Nate’s voice. And the pet name that I asked him not to use but still makes butterflies erupt in my belly.
I cast a quick glance towards Raph who’s glaring at our backs, and roll my eyes. The nerves on that man… “A Scotch, please. Neat.”
I smile at the Barman, ignoring Raph’s drilling gaze on my back.
“I’ll get the same,” Nate says, and I shiver when I feel his nose rubbing softly on my shoulder.
The barman doesn’t react, and takes a look at our wrists before taking off to take care of our orders.
“He’s mad,” Nate whispers in my ear. “He’s trying to hide it so Meredith won’t pick up on it, but she’s not stupid. I think he’ll leave you alone, even just so she doesn’t ask too much about you.”
“Uh uh,” I nod, distracted by his closeness.
Why is he so close? Right. To make it ‘believable’. Still, it’s confusing all my senses. My skin feels too hot, and my head is spinning a little from hisintoxicating perfume. Should I rub my nose in graphite so he can wipe it again with his shirt? Or—
Oh no. No, no, no. What the fuck is wrong with me? Not going there. I can’t blame the alcohol, so let’s go with the brain issues again.
Facts: He’s Jack’s friend. Jack freaked out because he thought we were having sex behind his back. I don’t care that he changed, I’m not going there again. Get the memo stupid hormones. I won’t be responsible for a failure in Jack’s plan. He wants to reconnect, and he shall succeed. I don’t care that Nate’s hot. And confusing me with this weird act. Because that’s what it is. Anact. You get it, damn brain? An.Act.
“Has anyone told you how pretty you look today?” He breathes against the skin of my neck, and I nearly choke on air. If he pretends to hit on me, he should at least say it loud enough for people to hear.
“No. And what is wrong with you?” I whisper-yell, turning my face towards him, blushing when my cheek brushes his nose.
His chin is resting on my shoulder and a smug smile illuminates his face.
Ugh, stop being so damn handsome. Just turn it off. Bury your head in the mud or something.
He shrugs. “Nothing’s wrong with me. I just wanted to make sure you knew how beautiful you are.”
If I was drinking, I would probably have spit it through my nose all over the counter. Have I stepped into another universe?
“Seriously. You’re scaring me.”
Both his eyebrows lift up in surprise. “Why?”
I’m dreaming. There’s no way he just askedwhyhe’s scaring me.
“Why?” I repeat slowly.
“Why am I scaring you?” He asks again, confused.
“Because you’re acting weird. Why the hell would you tell me I look beautiful?”
“Because you do,” he answers, insisting on the last word. “Why are you surprised by me admitting it?”
“Because I’m—”
Because I’mnot. An old bookshelf, remember? And he’s not moving, his face resting comfortably on my shoulder, his stool slightly behind mine,and his hand still gripping mine and stroking it softly.
“I’m—” I pause, confused by the same confusion I see in his eyes. “I’m not.”
He rears back then, his brows pulling down in a frown. “What?”
“I’m not!”
“Why the hell would you think that?”
Why the—Is he kidding me? “Because of you, you stupid assface!” I whisper-yell, low enough so bystanders can’t hear, but the words make him flinch all the same. “I’ve just learned that the reason I got stood up so much in college was because of you and not because I was an ugly troll. It takes time to rebuild the kind of confidence I lost. So no, I don’t think I’m particularly beautiful, even though I know now that I’m not an actual monster. But you don’t get to come and tell me this kind of thing after you sneakily broke my mind for a whole year.” His lips are parted in shock, understanding flashing in his—damn him—beautiful azur eyes. “It hurts, doesn’t it? To realize your actions have consequences.”
