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Shit, I forgot to close it. I rush past him. “Just burned something. Was trying to air out the apartment.”
As I work the window closed, I kick myself for that shitty fucking lie. You can’t even smell anything burnt in here.
When I manage to get the window closed again, I turn around, and my heartbeat rages.
Nate is right in front of me, cornering me in the kitchen. “It’s good to see you.” He reaches out and touches my arm. “I’ve missed you.”
I rip my arm away from his hand. Knee-jerk reaction. Ever since the altercation with Oliver Worthington, I’ve been very jittery.
Not to mention I don’t want Nate to touch me again. Ever. “What do you want, Nate?”
“I just wanted to see you.” He looks wounded.
That’s how he roped me in so many times during our relationship. Those puppy dog eyes.
And fine, I know Nate would never hurt me like that.
He shoves his hands into his pockets. “I’ve missed you so much. You… You won’t talk to me, what am I supposed to do?”
I stare at him. “We’re broken up.”
“I know, but I’m here in New York, aren’t I? I came out here to…to…”
Eve though he doesn’t say it, I can still hear it.To get you back.
His eyes are so intent on mine. “You know how much I hate New York.”
I can’t do this. Can’t let him think there’s a chance when Iknowwe will never be together again. I need him to understand it once and for all.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Yeah, well, I love it.”
Nate shakes his head. “It’s… Sure, it’s a great city. But you know, my family is here and…” He sighs. “I came out here despite how I feel about all of that shit. For you.”
A throbbing starts at the base of my sternum.
So many emotions want to bubble out, emotions I’ve been able to pack away because I haven’t needed to interact with Nate. Emotions I’ve been able to utilize for other things. Like pining for Nate’s Dad.
Now that I know Edwin… I’m not sure how much I trust Nate’s version of events.
Edwin may be brooding and standoffish and, sure, maybe not the best dad.
But a villain? Hardly.
“Nate, I always respected you needing distance from your family. In fact, I loved what a free spirit you were and how you didn’t feel indebted to anyone or anything.” I look Nate hard in the eye. “But then you took my family from me. The only family I had.”
Nate’s puppyish eyes slowly turn as the cogs work in his brain. They darken with confusion, and then… “That’s not fair.”
I lift my chin. “I think it is.”
His lips I once thought were so beautiful and pillowy coil. “You can’t blame me for your–”
“Don’t you dare.” I’m mesmerized by how cool I am.
While Nate’s anger brews, I only seem to get calmer. And colder.
Nate shakes his head. “I love you. I wanted to be your family.”
“You ruined too much for that.”
