I internally cringe, my stomach sinking, but he carries on speaking.
“I’m blown away. Shit, Vi, you’re fucking amazing, seriously.”
My mouth drops open from his praise as my pulse races and my heart pounds in my chest.
“Thank you,” I reply quietly, suddenly feeling fucking vulnerable.
“You’ll nail your audition tomorrow. I know it.”
Chewing my lip, I hope he’s right. I want it so badly I practically taste it.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m never wrong… shit… sorry, Vi. I have a call coming through.”
“Yeah, of course, I’ll catch you later.”
“Bye,” he says before ending the call.
Making my way to my bathroom, I decide a deep bubble bath and an early night is what I need to be rested for tomorrow. Okay, and maybe an orgasm won’t hurt. I still have a few toys I got myself when I went shopping with Char, and I have to say, going by what she bought, I’m even more impressed by her choice of Ethan.
Even if every time Char is mentioned around my parents they manage to make it about Max, I’m glad she’s not privy to it. I know it would hurt her. And it’s not that they’re not happy for her. When they see her moving on with her life, they see all the milestones they’ll never get with Max. It must hurt, of course, it would, but sometimes I want to scream at them to just let his memory rest in peace.
Rummaging through my bottom drawer, I find my waterproof bullet and take it back to the bathroom and notice my phone has lit up.
Muscles: I didn’t get the chance to apologise for my outburst earlier. I’m sorry. Break a leg tomorrow x
For some reason, his message makes my insides warm and my pulse race.
Me: Thank you x
I don’t know what else to say; I guess there’s a lot more to Nathan than maybe I’ve given him credit for.
ChapterSeven
NATHAN
I watch intermittently as Henry and Olly spar while scheduling some of Henry’s social media content. A deep laugh catches my attention, and I see Ethan pulling Meg in for a quick hug. It’s so weird to see them so at ease with one another, especially after everything that's happened. But damn, it’s good to have him back in the gym, even though he’s no longer fighting. This was always our thing; him, Henry, and me.
Meg waves him off with a smile as he makes his way over.
“Hey, man.” He holds out his fist, and I connect it with mine.
My phone begins to vibrate, followed by the ringtone, and I press the side of the phone, sending it to voicemail. She’ll leave me a message like she always does if I don’t answer.
“Are you shitting me?” Ethan asks. “She’s still calling you?”
Rubbing my jaw, I consider lying to him, but what would be the point?
“Yep, calling and texting at all hours.”
He shakes his head. “She’s got a bloody cheek, even more so considering.”
“It’s complicated.”
Ethan tilts his head to the side. “No shit, Sherlock, she’s married. That definitely constitutes as complicated.”
My jaw ticks because I know he’s right, but still.
