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Exquisite.
Carefully leaning forward, I place Dillan back in his chair and turn towards Nathan, tilting my head to the side so my neck is exposed to him. He strokes the delicate skin on the opposite side of my neck to where he’s kissing, with his glove free hand.
This should feel weird, I mean… it’s Nathan. But it doesn’t, not in the slightest.
He pulls back an inch, his pupils dilated and his cheeks slightly flushed with a tinge of pink. I move my hand up to caress his face and marvel at the heat coming from him.
I stare at him for a few seconds, my breath coming out of me in pants. His is the same and it gives me a thrill knowing that I’m doing that to him.
“I brought pizza!” My mum shouts as the front door swings open.
“Bloody hell,” Nathan sighs and we separate quickly.
Mum walks in and places two pizza boxes on the coffee table in the centre of the room. She smiles at me, but that soon fades when she sees Nathan. “Sorry, I didn’t realise we’d have company.”
“Yeah, I was going to call.” I chew on my lower lip for a moment. “Dillan’s poorly. Nathan picked him up from nursery for me.”
My mum nods and shrugs a little. “There’s plenty. How’s Dillan now?”
I look at him resting in his vibrating chair and smile when his big, round eyes come to me. “I gave him some gripe water and his stomach has settled. He’s a bit snotty though. I’ll take him to the doctor tomorrow.”
“How’s Eric?” She pointedly asks, giving me one of those looks that only Mums can give you.
My mouth falls open. She just ratted me out! Of course Nathan already knows, but she doesn’t know that. “I don’t know. How’s my new step daddy?” Two can play at that game.
Her mouth falls open and her eyes narrow in horror. “You know?”
“That you still make out in public like a hormonal teen saying goodbye to her boyfriend at a bus stop? Yeah, we know.”
Her eyes go to Nathan, who quickly pretends to start looking for something in his jacket pockets.
Letting out a sigh, she runs her fingers through her hair and a dreamy smile touches her face, “He’s lovely. You’ll like him Gwen.”
“Don’t get pregnant,” I order, earning me a scowl.
Nathan chuckles beside me but stops when my mum turns her scowl his way. He starts searching through his pockets again.
Sigh.
For some reason, this action from him reminds me of how young he is. He always holds himself so confidently, so proudly. I forget that he’s only twenty five. I think… hell, I don’t even know when his birthday is.
We eat pizza in an uncomfortable silence. It would be comical if there wasn’t so much tension in the air, although I do almost laugh when Nathan eats his slices with a knife and fork. After I stare at him for a few seconds, he gives me the most adorable look and says, “What?”
This makes me laugh.
I clean away the empty boxes as Mum and Nathan wash their hands.
Then I make us drinks and again, we drink them in an uncomfortable silence. All that can be heard is our slurping every few seconds.
I’m wondering what to tell my mum. I told her I’d chosen Eric and now I’ve got to tell her I’ve chosen Nathan, but haven’t yet told Eric. I was actually hoping I wouldn’t have to say anything to her and she’d just get the message after a while of seeing me with Nathan but not Eric. This won’t be the case, I can tell by the looks she’s giving me every so often. She wants me to explain and I don’t blame her.
“You’re staying here?” Mum breaks the silence as I’m rocking Dillan side to side on my knees.
I close my eyes briefly, keeping my head down. Maybe they won’t see me.
“If I have your permission to do so,” Nathan politely says. I don’t look at him; I’m too busy clapping Dillan’s hands together and making him smile.
“That’s fine. Gwen will make up the couch?” Why’s this worded as a question and not a statement?
Then Nathan says something that makes me squeeze my eyes shut and mentally start punching him in the back of the head. “No, I’ll be staying with my girlfriend, Gwen.” There’s that damn label…
It falls eerily silent again.
“Anybody want dessert?” I jump up, startling Dillan who I immediately hand to Nathan. “I have jam roly-poly I can heat up.” I look at Mum. “Do we have custard?”
“I feel like I’m missing something.” My mum’s words make me freeze on the spot.
“Nope, it’s exactly like he said.” I smile. It’s forced and completely fake. “Pudding?”
“Maybe you should explain.”
“Or not.”
“Gwen.” I hate that tone.
“Yes?” I try for sweet, but she only gives me that look again. Sigh. “Isn’t it obvious?”
