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“I know. Trust me, I understand your frustration, but it’s ok. I don’t want you to worry. Your brother and I will continue to stay at your aunt’s house. Your father has no idea where we are. We’re safe.”
“This is all my fault.” I look down to the ground in shame. This all could have been avoided if I had just had Nick call the police instead of insisting on taking care of things myself. “I should be with you two while he’s still out there.” I feel my eyes watering and do everything I can to hold back the tears.
“Nate, the only person to blame is your father,” she says very seriously. “And I don’t want you to be with us. I want you to be here at school making a life for yourself and having fun with your girlfriend.”
A tear manages to escape from my eye, and I wipe it away as quickly as I can, but she’s already seen it. Her eyes mist over, and her slender arms quickly wrap around my torso.
“I love you, Nate,” she says into my chest, her voice muffled. “Everything will be ok. You’ll see.”
“I love you too, mom.”
She squeezes me before letting go. We both turn when we hear a horn and see Natalie and Nick’s faces inside the car. On the ride back to Natalie’s apartment, Natalie and I sit quietly in the back seat holding hands, while I try not to let the thought of my father ruin the success of tonight’s dinner.
After Nick pulls up in front of Natalie’s building, I step out of the car with her.
“I’ll be right back. I’m just going to walk Natalie up to her floor, and then I’ll take you guys to your hotel,” I say.
“Ok. Natalie, once again, it was very lovely meeting you, and I hope we see more of each other soon.” My mom steps out of the car and hugs Natalie for the second time tonight.
“I’d like that a lot,” Natalie responds as she parts from my mom’s embrace.
A few minutes later, Natalie and I step off the elevator. After she opens the door to her apartment, she unexpectedly pulls me inside with her, wrapping her arms around my neck and standing on her tiptoes to reach my lips with a soft brush from her own. Her eyes, filled with desire, connect with mine right before she presses her lips down hard and hungry.
Goddamn.
I tug her body firmly against mine, letting her feel all ofmeas my hands travel down her waist. But just as my hands grip her voluptuous ass, causing me to forget all about the fact that my mom and brother are in the car waiting for me, she breaks the kiss and moves her lips over to my ear where she whispers, “Hurry back.”
As she pushes me out into the hallway, she smiles playfully and winks right before closing the door, leaving me standing here trying to catch my breath.
Did I also mention I’m hard as fuck?
Great.
Twenty-Seven
NATALIE
I LEAN BACK AGAINST the door and proudly smile as I picture the look on Nathan’s face right before shutting the door on him.
He definitely wasn’t expecting that.
Pushing myself off the door, I walk into my bedroom and change into an old baggy T-shirt and a pair of pink fuzzy socks before throwing my hair into a messy bun. I walk into the kitchen, pour myself a heaping glass of wine, and then plop myself down on the couch before bringing a soft throw blanket over my legs.
Nathan’s mom was lovelier than I could have imagined, and thinking about how nervous I’d been all week to meet her only feels silly now. She’s kind with a warm disposition and clearly loves both of her children a lot. It’s hard to envision a woman as lovely as her spending years of abuse at the hands of her estranged husband — someone she once loved. I can only imagine how strong she had to be during those times, not just for herself but also for her sons, which breaks my heart.
I let out a deep breath and lie down on the sofa, moving my head onto one of the pillows until I’m comfortable.
I try closing my eyes, but per usual, something is gnawing at me, causing my chest to tighten.
Brian.
When Nathan’s mom asked about his birthday plans, I instinctively panicked, thinking that it would be at Brian’s house like it has been every year. I had quickly thought of a million excuses as to why I wouldn’t be able to go. Food poisoning. Migraine. Cramps. But hearing that it wasn’t going to be at Brian’s house and that Brian wouldn’t even be there this year considerably relieved me. Maybe Nathan and I would actually be able to enjoy his birthday … together.
Ugh, Natalie, you can’t put this off any longer. You said you were going to tell Nathan the truth tonight, and that’s exactly what you are going to do. No more secrets.
I put one of my hands behind my head as I stare at the ceiling. I’m going to do it. I will tell him everything, no matter what might happen between us. And I will tell him as soon as he gets back here before I let anything change my mind.
Because I can’t continue holding onto this secret for much longer. Sometimes it feels so suffocating. Almostparalyzing. And I want to know what it feels like to breathe again without fearing Brian. I want to know that there will be a day when my body won’t shut down whenever it hears his name. I want to know I can sleep without worrying he’ll haunt me in my dreams.
