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"Noelle, honey," Nathan says. "Can you do me a favor and grab him a bag of ice? I don't want him looking like a wreck in front of all his shithead friends."
I nod and dart into the kitchen.
When I come back with an ice pack, Danny is standing and brushing off his pants. Nathan has moved towards the door and is holding it open, a clear invitation for Danny to leave.
"Here," I say, thrusting the ice pack at him.
He takes it and mutters his thanks.
"Do it." Nathan barks, and Danny looks cowed. It might be the hardest thing he's ever done, but slowly, Danny starts to apologize to me.
"I'm sorry for showing up here," he says. "For harassing you. For...for not treating you well. And I'm sorry for not believing you when you broke up with me."
I can barely contain my shock. He sounds genuine.
"You're forgiven," I say softly. "Thank you."
"Yeah." Danny looks away, his face bright red, and he starts heading towards the door. He pauses, swallowing hard, and for a terrible second, I think he might cry. He doesn't look back at either of us, but he says, "Merry fucking Christmas, Dad."
"Merry Christmas, son." Nathan closes the door behind him and locks it, and we're finally alone.
The silence stretches for a few long seconds, and finally, Nathan lets out a long sigh. "Jesus, that was a lot."
"I'm so sorry," I say, my words coming a million miles per hour. I've never felt worse about anything in my entire life. I feel like I've torn a family apart. "Nathan, please take me back to the dorm, maybe this was a mistake and–"
"Don't finish that sentence," Nathan warns, his voice low and dangerous. "You are not a mistake, and nothing that happened here was wrong. In fact, I'm pretty fucking sure I owe you an apology."
"Why would you need to apologize?" I shake my head. "You did nothing wrong. You...you defended me. Not just physically, but making him say he was sorry..."
There's a lump in my throat, and I have to swallow past it. Looking at this man, who was only able to pull a pair of sweatpants on after his shower, still breathing just a little heavier from the fight, fills me with such a powerful affection that I don't know what to do with myself.
Oh. Oh. I know what's happening. I thought it was just me who was falling so hard, but… "Nathan, this is more than just attraction, isn't it?"
His eyes go wide. "What do you mean?"
"I mean..." I swallow hard. It's terrifying to put myself out there, especially when my whole life has been a string of disappointments. But he's been honest with me, and I need to do the same. "This doesn't feel like it was just a one-time thing."
"I hope not." Nathan smiles. "It feels like a beginning."
"Yeah." My cheeks are burning, but it's a good kind of heat, like sitting by a fireplace on a snowy night. "It really does."
"Come here." Nathan opens his arms, and I don't even have to think twice.
He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight, and for the first time in my life, I feel safe. Cared for. Protected. Loved.
"It's not just me, then?" I ask, my voice muffled in his chest.
"Of course not." Nathan chuckles. "Why would it just be you? You're...fuck, you're incredible. Everything about you."
My stomach is full of butterflies. "So what do we do now?"
Nathan kisses the top of my head. "Let's start simple. How about a nice long bath?"
"A bath and some coffee?"
His smile turns mischievous, and he strokes one knuckle down my cheek. "Ask me the right way."
I blush, knowing exactly what he wants. It feels a lot harder to say here in the bright daylight, even more scandalous...but I sort of love it.
