“Nathan?”
I raise my eyes to hers and she smiles, her cheeks flush.
“It’s fine. Please eat,” she says, pointing to my plate.
“Yeah, okay. I’m just going to grab a t-shirt from my car.”
I pocket my keys and rush for the door and down the stairs, out into the cold afternoon air. The temperature helps to cool my skin and calm my arousal as I unlock my boot. I rummage through my workout bag and let out a relieved sigh, grateful to have a spare t-shirt. Pulling it over my head and down my body, I give myself a few seconds before returning.
We manage to eat in a reasonably comfortable silence, considering how that was inappropriate at best. Still, I can’t deny my physical attraction to her, and it’s obviously more than just physical. I enjoy her company. Somehow I feel more myself and grounded when we’re together.
Once we’re finished, I check on Jacob. He’s such an easy-going kid. I stack her plate on top of mine, carry them into the kitchen, and look around.
“Where’s your dishwasher?” I ask.
“Right here,” she says from behind me, pointing to herself.
Okay, that was cringe on my part. Check your fucking privilege, Nathan. What is it with me and my mouth?
“I’ve got it,” I say, clearing my throat and placing them in the sink before grabbing the washing-up liquid.
“Don’t be silly. You drove.”
I shake my head. “It’s just a couple of dishes.”
“I’ll dry then,” she says, grabbing the tea towel and nudging me with her thigh.
Leaning closer, I dip my head to whisper in her ear, causing her lips to part on a soft breath. “You’re not pissed at me, are you?”
A soft laugh escapes her. “No, that might have been a little more awkward for you than it was for me.”
I want to tell her it was a natural reaction to having her body so close to mine, but I don’t want to ruin a good thing either.
“So, we’re good?” I ask, leaning back.
“Of course.”
The weight I was feeling moments ago lifts.
* * *
After I drop Jacob back home, I meet Naomi at a local pub. The last thing I want to be is alone with her, not after everything.
I see her straight away. It’s hard not to when she stands out in a crowd. It’s what drew me to her the first time I met her.
“Hey,” she says, smiling, standing up. She kisses me on each cheek before sitting back down. It’s strange how I used to love how she smelt, and now her scent is an insult to my senses.
“You look better.” I make sure to not add any emotion to my words so she won’t take them the wrong way.
It doesn’t seem to matter, though, as she bites her lip and fingers her necklace before responding, “Because you’re here.”
I let out an audible sigh. “Listen, Naomi. You can’t keep doing this; why won’t you leave him?”
“Listen, can’t we both have a drink and talk about something else?”
Clenching my jaw, I raise my eyebrows. “No, because we have nothing to talk about. I’m sorry you’re going through this, but whatever you think this is”—I wave my hand between us—“it’s not happening.”
Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, right?
