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“And how’d you figure that one out?”
“I love you. That’s how. I miss you and I want you home.”
“I’m not dealing with this.” I sigh, this time managing to push past him. “Go away.”
He clears his throat and announces. “I’m going to London tomorrow.”
I freeze, only two feet from the safety of the bakery. “And?”
“My father is signing everything over.”
“That’s nice.” Gulp. Don’t ask. Please don’t ask.
“I’d like to know why.” He cocks his head, a curious look on his face.
“Do you remember when you said to me that you’d protect me from certain things, no matter what?” He nods, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Do you remember when I said I’d do the same?” He nods again, waiting for me to continue. “This is one of those times. You don’t need to know.”
“That’s unfair.”
“Is it?” I snarl. “Is it really unfair?”
“If this is a way to punish me…”
“It’s not.” I step into the hallway and turn back towards him. “Trust me when I say you don’t want to know.”
He blinks, a look of relief on his face. “You still care about me.”
“Or maybe I’m just being spiteful.”
“Which means you care.”
“Honestly Nathan.” I shake my head slowly, willing my tears away. “I don’t care about anything right now, especially not you or your stupid brother.”
“Okay.” He bites down on his lip as his fingers wrap around my bicep. He gives it a squeeze and frowns, a pained look on his face. “You’ve lost weight.”
“I’ve been under a lot of stress. What do you want?”
“I’ll make you a deal,” he says quietly, his thumb stroking the top side of my arm. I wish he’d let me go. I cross my arms and wait for him to continue. “Let me take you to dinner on Friday. We’ll talk. Properly. About my brother, my parents, everything.”
“Go on.” I prompt, pushing his hand away.
“And I’d like to take you to the doctor to get a pregnancy test.”
My eyes bug out of my head at his words. He’s serious. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
“No, Guinevere, I’m not.” His almost chocolate brown eyes bore into me, determination in their depths. “I have a right to know.”
“You mean like I had a right to know that you were trying to get me pregnant?” I snap, my hands going to my hips.
His eyes darken and his body tenses. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Well, whatever it was like,” I wave my hand flippantly, not wanting to go over that argument right now, “I got my period two days ago.”
The disappointment that comes over him is powerful; he doesn’t try to hide it. “Right.”
“Sorry,” I find myself saying, though I’m not entirely sure why. “What’s this deal you wanted to make?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter. It’s over right?”
What? “Isn’t that the conclusion we already drew?”
He nods, his tongue tasting his lower lip. “It’s pointless trying.” He holds out the flowers once more. “Take them.”
“I don’t want them.”
“Fine,” he bites out, turning sharply and throwing them onto the road. His hands go to his hair before lacing behind the back of his head. “Nothing I say or do is going to change your mind, is it?”
My face probably says it all. I know he gets his answer because his eyes glass over and he shakes his head in defeat. “I’m not going to give up, Gwen. Living without you, it’s…” His hands drop to his sides before he takes a step towards me. “I don’t know what to do, Gwen. I’ve never felt this way before.” His hands grip my shoulders and pull me towards him. “I don’t know how to cope; I can’t eat; I can’t sleep.” When his forehead presses against mine, my hands automatically go to his chest to push him away, but his hold on my arms stops that. “Tell me what to do to make this better.”
“Time’s a great healer,” I breathe, trying to push him away again.
“Time… you need time?”
That’s not what I meant! “No. I meant…”
“Gwen, I know you’re in the middle of a crisis, but we’d really like to lock up now,” Elle calls from the doorway.
“I have to go.” I finally manage to peel his hands off me. He takes a step back and stares as I walk backwards towards the door. “Just go home, Nathan.”
“I am home,” he mutters, looking up to the sky as my dying heart lets out a few thuds of pain.
“Elle can you give me a ride home?” I ask as soon as she closes the door behind me.
“Sure.” She smiles kindly, glancing at Nathan out of the window. “He’s gone.”
Fingers crossed he stays gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
The train journey was hell. Three hours and three changes. That’s just madness. And I got stuck beside a person who reeked of ageing body odour and urine. I took my chances and stood beside the exit for the rest of the journey.
