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Nate looks into my eyes. “I hope, though, since you’re still working at the club, that we can be friends?” There’s a hesitant tilt to his voice.
I smile. “Will you be around the club?”
Nate shrugs. “I’m talking about maybe taking up a position there with my dad.Maybe.”
My stomach twists at the mention of his father. I don’t even have to hear Edwin’s name to feel thrown back into emotional chaos.
“That’s great, Nate. I mean, if you’re happy.”
He nods. His eyes travel to the doorway. When I look over my shoulder, his nurse is walking down the hall, carrying something from another room.
Does he like her? When he catches me looking, he snaps right back to me. “Yes, I’m happy. As happy as I can be for being in this chair.”
“Yeah, you’re going to have to tell me all about that right now so I stop worrying.”
Nate laughs. “Okay, okay.”
Nate explains his injury to me. The moment it happened, waking up in the hospital, the whole plan for his recovery that was laid out by his physical therapist, Laney, who turns out is Mason’s ex.
“Everyone’s been really supportive. Really great. I have visitors all the time. My surfing buddies, Seth and Mason, Jack and Abigail.” Then Nathansmiles big. “You.”
I flush. “You’re giving me more credit for this visit than I deserve.”
He grins. “Well, you should come back. If we’re going to be friends.”
I nod. “Yeah. Friends.”
It might take some time. But I don’t want to throw away the years Nate and I had. He was good to me. At least for what he was capable of at the time. We were young.
Fine, we were younger. However, I’ve grown up so much since my dad passed away.
I didn’t think Nate was capable of growing up like that. But I think he just did.
Nate clears his throat. “Um, I do have to ask, though–”
My heart plummets. “Nate, let’s not–”
“I think it’s only fair since I walked in on you kissing my dad that I get to ask you a question or two.”
I’m surprised by how well-humored he is about the whole thing. Meanwhile, I feel like death thinking about the prospect of talking about Edwin.
“Fine. I guess it’s only fair.”
Nate leans on his elbow.
I still can’t get used to him in this chair. My greatest hope is that it will be gone before I know it.
“So, how did that happen?”
“Nate–”
“I just…I mean, you knew about my dad. You knew how little I thought of him and the way he treated women and–”
“I didn’t know he was your dad at first!” I sigh. “Before we were introduced. It’s complicated.”
Nate stares at me.
I’m expecting a slew of questions, jabs, and jokes at my expense.
