Which makes him trouble. But Nathan usually is, for one reason or another. No big surprise there.
“Maybe I shouldn’t come to your parents’ house on Sunday.”She frets with her apron string, twisting it over her fingers. “I’ll say something wrong again, and they’ll figure it out. Then we’ll get all that drama you didn’t want in the first place.”
“I want you to come, Rose. I don’t care what anybody thinks.” Nothing I’m doing is to get Lucy off my back or to keep up appearances. I’d do all of this whether anyone thought we were dating or not.
She gazes up at me in the deepening dark, the tightness around her mouth growing softer the longer she stares. After a minute, her head bobs in a stout nod. “Do you want to go to the craft fair with me on Sunday?”
“Sure.” I should probably at least think for half a second before answering, but saying yes is becoming reflexive with Rose. Another problem I don’t feel much like fixing.
“Good. If we’re going to spend the evening with your family, we should probably practice first.”
She waves goodbye, walking quickly to her car parked in a space not far from mine. She drives off into the night, leaving my mind swirling with questions about what exactly she wants to practice.
text thread
Nathan: Skylight, huh?
Nathan: So she hasn’t been to your cabin
Reed: Not your business
Nathan: Sure, but she was quick to make it sound like she had been
Nathan: Almost like she was covering for something
Nathan: That’s weird
Nathan: Makes me want to gather clues and get sleuthing
Reed: It’s late
Reed: Say what you want to say so I can get some sleep
Nathan: Okay
Nathan: Are you living out one of Lucy’s romcom fantasies and fake dating Rose?
Reed: Is that something I’m likely to do?
Nathan: Nope
Nathan: But when those women brought it up last week, you looked like you didn’t know what they were talking about
Nathan: And Rose looked like she was going to be sick
Nathan: Right until you put your arm around her and said you were together
Nathan: So? Tell me I’m wrong
Reed: You’re wrong
Nathan: Naughty, naughty
Nathan: Lying about everything these days
Nathan: Why are you faking? Does she have a crappy ex you need to scare off?
Nathan: Does she have an inheritance she can only get if she’s got a grouchy boyfriend?
