Page 169 of Small Town Firsts
I nod, feeling microscopically small.
“I really thought I was doing the right thing. I see now that I was wrong and incredibly misguided. I was scared Alden would get in trouble, among other things.”
Alden speaks up. “What other things?” I shake my head, not wanting to answer. “No, c’mon, Natalie. Cards on the table: what other things?”
“Things like Mia,” I whisper.
At her name, Alden’s gaze turns hard and dark. “Mia. Got it.”
He seems angry about this, which baffles me. “You guys had started dating and I didn’t want to come between y’all.”
He lets out a low, humorless laugh. “Thanks, Nat. So much. Really appreciate it.”
I’m not sure where this particular brand of hostility is coming from, and I don’t appreciate it. “How many times do I have to say sorry? I know I was wrong, and I have apologized countless times—and yes, I knowsorrydoesn’t make it all better! But, I refuse to be your emotional punching bag. You may not remember that night, but youwerea willing participant like it or not. Not to mention, the age I am now, is basically how old you were then! I messed up. I’m owning it and trying like hell to make it right. Either accept my apology or don’t, the choice is yours. But this shit? It’s not going to happen.”
My words shut him up. They shut everyone up.
Mom is the first to break the silence. “Obviously y’all have a lot to talk about. Nat, why don’t you walk your father and I out?”
“Yeah, sure.”
The three of us stand and exit the office. I can feel the eyes of seemingly everyone on me, and it makes me squirm. I’m a fairly private person, and now every employee on shift and patron knows my business.How mortifying.
I walk my parents all the way to their vehicle. The air around us is thick and tense.
My mom steps to me and wraps me in her arms, pressing a kiss to my temple. “It will be okay. Everyone makes mistakes, kiddo, but I have to say, you may have taken the cake.”Leave it to mom to attempt to joke at a time like this.
She squeezes me one last time and gets into the car. Leaving just me and my dad. My very angry, surly dad. “I’m disappointed in you, Nat Bug. Real disappointed.” He turns and gets into the driver’s seat, not even looking at me, much less giving me a hug.
Guilt and sorrow churn in my gut as I head back into the café. I was prepared for today to be hard, but my family’s presence only served to further complicate our already difficult situation.
As I approach the office, still-raised voices greet my ears.
Great.
I linger, not wanting to interrupt. I’m in the process of turning to walk away when my brother’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Here’s the thing, Alden. Even if you were hammered, you wouldn’t have made a play for my sister unless you were already thinking of her like that when you were sober. I know you, brother, and that’s just who you are.”
It wasn’t my intention to eavesdrop, yet here I am, waiting. In all honesty, I feel like a dog with a treat on her nose, waiting to be told to “Get it!” Only, Alden’s reply is myitand I’m downright salivating for it.
“You really are like a brother to me, so I’m gonna shoot straight here and not give you any bullshit. Yes, your sister caught my eye on more than one occasion. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment my feelings for her changed—I just know that one day she went from honorary sister to something more. I swear though, I neverknowinglyacted on it. Age difference aside, I’d never betray you like that.”
I suck in a sharp breath at Alden’s confession.He had feelings for me?
CHAPTER 23
ALDEN
I feelit’s on me to be honest with Nate about being into his sister back then. But vague is the way to go. He doesn’t need to know the extent of my— mostly former—infatuation.
He doesn’t need to know that when she turned sixteen and sprouted breasts that I could hardly tear my eyes away, as sick as that is. And he absolutely doesn’t need to know that every time I…took matters into my own hands…it was her I fantasized about.
Nope. No way in fucking hell. I’m keeping that shit under lock and key. Hell, maybe in a fireproof safe.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Nate says, lifting a boulder off of my shoulders. Legit, I feel a hundred pounds lighter.
A knock sounds from the other side of my office door. Nate quickly stands. Awkwardly, I extend my hand toward him. But instead of a handshake, he pulls me in for a bro-hug. “I’m gonna get out of here and let you and Nat talk.”
“Sounds good.” He walks over to the door, but I stop him before he can pull it open and leave. “Hey, Nate, thanks.”
