Alex's expression goes cold. "That's assault. I can have paperwork filed by tomorrow if you want a restraining order."
"I'm going to kill him," Camilla says flatly. "I'm actually going to kill him. Alex will you represent me at the trial?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Alex says.
"Wait, was Nate there?" Marcus leans forward.
“He came back from the store, saw Wes grabbing me, and..." I pause, remembering.
"What did he do?" Camilla demands.
“He told him if he didm’t let go of me, he’d be spending the next year learning how to write with the opposite hand.”
"Holy shit," Marcus whispers.
"The hottest thing I've ever heard," Alex finishes. "I'm sorry, but it is."
“I’ve seen Nate angry before,” I admit. "But that …was something else entirely. But yeah. Kind of hot."
"Kind of?" Marcus raises an eyebrow. "Nora, the man threatened violence on your behalf and physically intervened. He’s defiantly the main character for book number four.”
"So what happened after?" Camilla asks.
"Wes left." I trail off, remembering how Nate had turned to me, all that hardness melting into pure concern.
"And Nate?" Camilla prompts.
"Asked if I was okay. Checked my arm. Made me breakfast."
“Made you breakfast!?” Marcus and Alex say in unison.
Alex just shakes his head. "And you're here instead of at his place because...?"
"Stop," I hiss, glancing around.
“You're in love with him. He's clearly in love with you. Wes is gone. What's complicated about this situation anymore?” Camilla asks.
"I just ended an engagement. This whole movie thing is up in the air. I don't even know who I am without?—"
"Without someone else defining you?" Marcus finishes gently. "Maybe that's exactly why you need to figure it out before jumping into anything with Nate."
Alex sets down his drink. "As someone who's known you for approximately six days, I feel uniquely qualified to say: you seem to know exactly who you are. You're just scared to be her because she's messier than the version Wes wanted."
The observation lands with unexpected weight.
“Thanks Alex.” I mutter with a smile.
Camilla nods. "As much as I want to see you two together, Marcus and Alex have a point. You need to be whole on your own first."
"Since when did my love life become a group project?"
"Since you made terrible decisions and needed intervention," Marcus says cheerfully.
"Fair."
Camilla presses another drink into my hand. "New rule. No more talk about Wes or complicated feelings. Tonight we celebrate."
"To protective streaks," Marcus says, raising his glass.
