I lean back and rub my chin. Is this our heroine, or is this Natalie talking?
CHAPTER THIRTY
NATALIE
My heart has been uneasy since the moment the group mentioned going to the Black Alcove for drinks last weekend.
What if Griffin’s sister is working?
What if she says something to me?
Would she say something to me?
Plenty of time has passed since Griffin and I called off the engagement, but still, no one prepares you for this part. When you don’t just risk running into the ex but the ex’s family as well. Even though I’m not the one at fault, I have no doubt that they hold a grudge against me.
“Are you okay?” Tobias asks as I hesitate in the bathroom. I’ve been running my hands through my hair for at least five minutes to loosen my curls. At this rate, they’ll be flat before we even make it out of the house.
“I’m good.”
“As you would say, you forget that I know you.” He wraps his arms around my torso, kissing the side of my head and smiling at our reflection in the mirror.
“Do I ever tell you how beautiful you are? How amazing you are? How lucky I am?”
I press my lips together.
“You do, but I like hearing it.”
“Then I’ll do it more often. Now, what’s on your mind?”
I shift on my feet, looking away for a brief moment. When I finally bring my gaze back to his, I say, “Griffin’s sister works at The Black Alcove.”
He nods once. “Oh, I didn’t know that.”
“You’re not supposed to know that.”
“Well, I wish I had known before we made plans there.”
“We can’t pick a new favorite bar based on where my ex’s family works.”
“No, but we could have for one night.”
I blow out a breath. “No, no. I’ll be okay. This was bound to happen. I have to get used to the fact that I could run into them.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Do you want me to keep some distance?”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know. Because he was obsessed with the idea of us being more than friends, and now that we are, maybe it’ll trigger her.”
I try not to beam a giant smile.
“You could never keep your hands off me, and I never want you to. I’m allowed to be happy. I don’t want to keep us a secret from anyone. Ever.”
He smirks and then kisses my forehead. His hands go to my hips, lifting me onto the countertop. He nudges my legs apart and stands between them.
“So, you’d let me do this?” he asks, one hand sliding slowly up my inner thigh as he rests his forehead against mine.
Instantly, my breathing picks up, and I hold back a moan.
