I exhale. “Thanks, Br?—”
“I told her, Nate,” Bri adds quickly. “She just didn’t listen.”
She’s at my desk before I’m done assuring Bri she did nothing wrong.
Meeting my gaze, she props a hip on my desk. Her green eyes are darker, and it’s… unpleasant. She crosses her arms, leaning in. I take a step back, and her eyes shift, but I don’t give in.I’m done being dumb.
“Hey, Nate,” she says, voice low. She slides onto my desk, her skirt hitching above her mid-thigh.
I cough into my fist and keep my eyes firmly on hers. “Hey. What do you need, Tess?”
She tilts her head, eyes narrowing. “Jeez, you don’t sound happy to see me.”
“I told you last night I couldn’t do lunch. So yeah, I’m a little confused why you’re here.”
“Yikes, Nate, are you still sick?” Her hand shoots toward my face, but I catch her wrist and set it next to my sketch pad.
“I’m fine,” I state. “I already said, though, no lunch today. I’ve got work.”
She exhales through her nose, almost a laugh. “How about tomorrow?”
“I told you I’d reach out.”
She taps her fingers on her crossed arms, a break in her composure. “It’s your girlfriend, isn’t it?” The words come out too contained to be nonchalant. “I told her we’ve been having lunch dates, and now?—”
“Wow, Tess. We havenotbeen having lunch dates.”
“We go out to eat every day, Nate.”
“Three times. And that’s very different fromdating.” I throw back at her.
“So I’m right?” She presses. “Your girlfriend doesn’t want us hanging out, and now you’re just, what? Dropping me?”
“Look, I’m not going to discuss Robyn with you. I said I’ll reach out when I have time, and I meant it.”
She laughs bitterly. “Really, Nate? Out of everybody, I didn’t think you’d drop me for some girl you’ve been with for five minutes.”
“What the fuck, Tessa?” My voice is low, dangerous. “First of all, Robyn and I have been together over two and a half years—very much not five minutes. Second, this ismy call. And if it has anything to do with making sure I’m happy with the person I love, I’d expect one of my closest friends to actually support that.”
Her chin lifts, a crack of something defiant. “Since when am I not your best friend?”
I stare at her, tilting my chin. “Since Robyn’s my best friend.”
Her eyes shine. “I expected more from you, Nate.”
“Well,” I mutter, “I expected more fromyou.”And myself.
She pushes off my desk and storms out, the click of her heels sharp against the polished floor. There’s clarity climbing up my spine, sharp and undeniable. I’m not sad at all that she left. I pull out my cell to text Robyn. Not a single message or photo from her.Fuck.I can fix this. I put boundaries in place. We’ll be all right in no time. My fingers fly over the keyboard.
Me:Hey, I’d like to meet at your place tonight. Can I let myself in and cook?
Thumbs-up.
I deserve that.
CHAPTER 9
The Storm
