Page 31 of Want You

They’re beautiful, thank you x

You’re beautiful and you’re welcome.

“Someone’s getting some,” Sami said from the seat next to him.

“Shut up.” He chuckled, tucking his phone away and turning his attention back to the poker game he’d been roped into.

“Game girl?” Sami inquired.

“Game woman,” Nathan corrected him. “Raise.” He threw a five on the pile of cash in the middle of the table.

“She why you’ve been playing better?” Davis asked quietly, as if he’d been put up to asking the question and had no actual interest in being part of the conversation.

Nathan shrugged. “Maybe.”

In all honesty, he had no idea why his game had suddenly kicked up a notch. Ebbs and flows were always part of the game, but he wasn’t going to put that much pressure on a new relationship. Hockey and Octavia were separate. There was no point in conflating one with the other.

Nathan’s phone vibrated and he pulled it out while he waited for another teammate to make up their mind.

Emma

He’s playing video games with some kid.

I can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Why would it be a bad thing? He loves video games.

Because he keeps losing. His fingers aren’t fast enough to keep up.

That’s why he’s there, to work on getting those fingers to be fast enough.

Don’t worry so much.

He was hit by a bus, I’m going to worry about him.

Mom said he’s going to move in with her and I swear I saw him die a little.

No way, she’ll suffocate him.

He can move in with me for a bit. Concierge service would come in handy for him. May as well get my money’s worth.

You sure?

He hesitated. He and Octavia had finally agreed to start something real, was letting his brother move in a good move? They could always spend time at her place, hell, he’d splurge for a hotel room for them to meet up if it meant saving his brother’s remaining sanity from their mother.

Yes.

Alright, I’ll tell him.

Thanks.

“What’s so funny,” Sami asked, looking at Nathan’s phone before he slipped it back into his pocket.

“Nothing, just thought of something stupid.”

That something stupid? Trying to keep Octavia quiet if they fucked in his apartment with his brother there. Hell, trying to keep himself quiet would be enough of a challenge.

CHAPTER 16