"Why don't you just take your friend Gael?" I asked. "I'm sure that's much more his thing than mine."
The lightheartedness in Nathan's blue eyes faded. I immediately regretted asking. I was beginning to see, despite his laid back attitude, Nathan had the odd sore spot or two I wanted to avoid poking, his mom and Gael being the most obvious.
"He's probably busy," Nathan said, faking an easy tone I could see right through.
"With recording and stuff?" I asked.
"No. Well, yeah," he amended. "We are pretty busy getting ready for the new album and doing one-off concerts and things. Gael's just—" The corners of Nathan's lips twitched downward in a frown. "He's always with his new girlfriend."
And then I got it. "Are you feeling left out?" I asked quietly.
Nathan shrugged carelessly. "Whatever. It's fine. Jessie's good for him. They're just still in that honeymoon phase. I get it. They need some time alone. I don't want to be a third wheel."
My heart went out to the poor guy. I bet it sucked to have your friend ditch you for a girl.
Maybe that was why he'd been sitting alone in the hospital. Maybe that was why he'd invited me out to zorb-whatever.
Nathan was lonely.
