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He frowns thoughtfully. “Maybe he’s waiting for you to take initiative?”
His point is an excellent one. “I’ll try to be bold.”
“You can do this. You’re the best cook I know, which is fortunate for me because I love food and I get to keep you.”
He’s too sweet.
We step into the little deli shop and a sweet, peppery scent lingers in the air. As we peruse the many fresh items of food, I hear a high pitched, feminine voice squawk, “Nathan?”
Nathan tenses beside me. “Hey, Millie.”
“Millie?” I ask, one brow raised as the woman behind the counter comes around and envelopes him in a hug that is far too familiar.
Her pretty, silvery blonde hair is tied back into a bun and hidden beneath a hair net. She’s wearing far too much makeup.
“I didn’t know you worked here,” he states, still making no effort to introduce me after finally releasing her from an awkward one-armed embrace, the other arm remaining tense by his side.
“Yeah, I just started last month. It’s been,” she blows out a breath through her lips, “four years?”
“Hmm,” he agrees and clears his throat.
“What are you doing here? Are you busy? I finish soon; it’d be great to catch up.” Her eyes finally come to me standing close to his side. “Oh I’m sorry, are you waiting to be served?”
“We were just grabbing something quick to eat before hitting the cinema.” Nathan interjects and steps back so as to put some distance between them.
“Oh, I apologise. I didn’t realise you were together. Perhaps we can catch up another time?” She moves back around the counter and I’m grateful for the space between them. I’m not liking the chemistry flowing here; it’s too familiar. “I was so sorry to hear about Caleb.”
“A tragedy,” Nathan responds as my heart flutters with mourning.
“Do you see much of his kid? He left one behind didn’t he?”
“Actually…” I start but Nathan cuts me off as if I hadn’t even started to speak. “Yes.” He looks at me. “Do you know what you want?”
“Just a chicken salad wrap,” I bite out, feeling frustrated at his ignorance. I doubt I’ll eat it all as I’m not particularly hungry.
“So how long have you two been together?”
“Just over two years,” I respond. “We’re engaged.”
“How lovely.” Her words seem flippant and disinterested. “How’s your mother?”
“Fine.” Nathan takes my hand in his. “I’ll have the same as Gwen.”
“Sure.” The other girl behind the counter sets about making it as Millie handles the payments.
“It’s so great to see you again,” Millie sighs, looking lovingly at Nathan. Yes… fucking lovingly. Her eyes are big, blue and round. She looks like Bambi. I feel almost threatened. I’ve never been in a position with Nathan where I’ve felt threatened.
“Yes.” Nathan gives my hand a squeeze as his lips touch my temple. “We’re on a schedule though…”
“You always were punctual,” she giggles and places one wrapped wrap into a plastic carrier bag. “Oh!” She quickly scribbles something onto a piece of torn receipt. When she hands it to my fiancé and I see that it’s her number, I turn a mixture of red with anger and green with envy. Especially when he folds the stupid thing and pockets it. “Call me and we’ll get together. It’d be nice to catch up.”
“Sure,” Nathan responds and takes the bag that she holds out. “See you later.”
See you later?
Maybe I’m being irrational but can I kill her?
Nathan’s hand leaves mine and presses against the small of my back as he leads me from the store.
“Well, how nice of you to introduce me,” I snarl the second we cross the street.
He seems surprised. “To who?”
He’s kidding? “To Millie.”
“Oh, sorry, I was just… in shock.” He frowns and his hand goes to the breast pocket of his jacket where her phone number is. “It’s been a long time since I saw her. She looks different.”
She looks different? “Okay, you’re going to need to start explaining or I’m going to grow increasingly paranoid. Who was she?”
“An old friend.” He presses the button on his keys and the car unlocks. I climb into the passenger seat before pressing him by asking, “An old friend?”
“Yes, she used to hang around on the park near my parents’ house when we were kids.” He smiles wistfully. “Back when Caleb was having good days and I wasn’t forced to stay with…” His sentence trails off but I know what he’s referring to. “She’s the first girl I… umm.”
“Fancied?” My heart tingles with envy even more powerfully than before.
“Had sex with.” He finishes honestly as though speaking to me about the weather.
My entire body stills with panic and alarm bells blare in my head. “Are you going to call her?”
“No.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses the knuckles.
The envy in my heart dies a little. “Why not?”
