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She narrowed her eyes at him. Nathan Rondeau. One surprise after another. “I’d rather you not.”
“Then I won’t,” he said, and the entire dreaded conversation was dropped without question. “Let me get you to class.”
Once again, Tully was indebted to Nathan, and she didn’t totally mind his hand on the middle of her back the whole way to class.
twenty-six
nathan
Nathan couldn’t stop thinking about the newest revelation about Tully as he pushed a boiled carrot around his lunch tray.
He wasn’t sure why it never crossed his mind as a possibility. Couples broke up all the time because of cheating. Tully never confirmed it after the parking lot incident, but the way Tricia had been frustratingly keen on causing a scene helped Nathan put some of the missing pieces together.
Now, he was punching himself for not telling Tricia to back off. In his defense, however, he had been so taken aback by the revelation that his entire mind had gone blank when he finally saw the bigger picture.
Because that’s what Tully was—one giant puzzle he was trying to figure out bit by bit, and this was probably the biggest piece yet.
The reason she hated her sister so much.
It wasn’t some feud, or because of Jolie’s interference, it was much more. It made so much sense. Every part of it.
It was an entertaining puzzle, but this piece gave him a sinking feeling he wasn’t able to get over through his classes. It lingered when he sat at the lunch table with his friends, and it lingered when he couldn’t touch his food as he waited for Tully to show up.
Cheaters. There was almost nothing he hated more. The perpetrators on both ends of it.
Tully appeared then, and he felt a pinch in his chest. Pity. He was familiar with the feeling because this wasn’t the first time it had happened to him.
Tully warily walked towards the table with a lunch tray. The others didn’t notice her, but Nathan did. He half expected her to change her mind and backpedal, but she kept walking. Everyone perked up when she slid her tray next to him where he had saved her an empty spot with his milk carton.
They all exchanged short greetings. He tried to catch her eye, but she didn’t accept it. Maybe he was just overthinking it, but it felt like she was purposefully avoiding him.
He pretended to focus on his food.
The conversations that passed between the friend group were simple. Kimmy carried most of the conversation. Tricia remained moody and silent, while Tommy responded occasionally but seemed uncharacteristically distracted by something else.
As the lunch went on and Nathan relaxed with each minute, he realized how tense he had been. He held his plastic fork a little too hard, ate a little too slow. He was worried that the talk about Tully and Erik would be brought up again and make them all uncomfortable, but halfway through it felt like they had cleared away from it.
By the time he fully relaxed, he noticed Tully was more engaged with his friends now. She smiled politely, softly, and chatted with Kimmy about something he’d missed. Now he could eat the last of his peaches without worry.
Or so he thought.
“Okay,” Tommy put his hands on the table like he had something important to announce. Everyone—including Tricia—paused to see what he was so eager to say. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around this. Yoursisterstole your boyfriend?”
Nathan never wanted to slap anyone more than he wanted to slap Tommy right then. No wonder he’d been so quiet.
Tully jerked, sputtering a cough as she choked on her drink. Nathan patted her back and glared at Tommy.
“Shut up, Tommy,” Kimmy ground out through clenched teeth. Tommy jumped and hissed in pain like he’d been kicked under the table.
“What? It just feels like a movie scene,” Tommy defended himself. “I’m just surprised, okay? Joliet always seemed nice.”
“Clearly, she’s not as nice as she looks,” Nathan said. “She’s a bitch.”
Kimmy didn’t correct him, giving a subtle nod of agreement. Tommy did too.
Tricia, however, didn’t take that well. She was Nathan’s friend, but she idolized Joliet. “Oh come on. You guys are acting like Tulsa’s relationship with Nathan was innocent.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Tricia?” Nathan’s patience with her evaporated like water in a cup on a hot day. He’d remained a loyal friend because of their long friendship, but that was quickly wasting away.
