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When his eyes come to mine and then his lips, the envy in me dies completely. “Because it’d be entirely inappropriate. I just didn’t want to reject her for fear of insulting or upsetting her. That would have been unnecessarily mean.” He’s right. As much as I’d have loved him to toss her to the ground and laugh in her face, that would have been evil. He handled it quite well, now that I think about it. “Here. Dispose of it yourself if you don’t believe me.” I wait for him to place the number in my lap and my love for him rises tenfold. How I ever doubted this man for a second is beyond me.
I climb across the console and smother his mouth and face with kisses until he laughs and pushes me off him. “I love you.”
He grins and winks at me. “I love you more.”
“Why didn’t you introduce me though? Or tell her who I was to Caleb and what Dillan is to you?”
“And prolong the conversation further? To satisfy the curious mind of someone who means nothing to us?”
“Okay, stop being clever.” I fold my arms across my chest, annoyed with myself for being so petulant. Nathan is so logical; he never acts on emotion. Everything he does is so well thought out.
“You’re upset?”
“No.” I shake my head and rest my head on his shoulder, ignoring the way the arm rest between us digs awkwardly into my ribs. “I’m just playing.”
“Good.” He squeezes my thigh. “Shall we go and see this movie or not?”
“Why are you still talking? Drive already.”
“Yes, boss,” he chuckles and finally switches the engine on. “To the cinema!”
“Aye aye, SpongeBob.”
His eyes roll. I love it when he rolls his eyes at me.
The movie was a lot funnier than anticipated. So funny even Nathan laughed out loud at some parts. He was too distracted by the movie to care about my popcorn binge too, always a bonus.
I know that we have to head back now but I don’t want this night to end. I’ve needed this break. Together we have needed this break.
As we step out of the cinema into the cold air, Nathan winds his arm around my shoulders and nods at a passing man. He’s always so polite.
“I hope the kids slept okay,” I say softly.
“They’ll be fine.”
“You sound so sure.”
“Because Jeanine knows what she’s doing.” He shakes his head and stops us by the carpark. “I might have to go away for a few days on the thirteenth.”
I feel as though he’s been building up to this moment. “Where to?”
“Essex.”
I blink a long blink. “Essex?”
“Yeah, to open a new store.”
“That’ll only take a few days?” This is more of a probing question. I know how long it takes to find and open a new store. I just want more information on this sudden venture.
“No but I can come and go. For now I just want to find a decent location for a new store.”
I frown. “You sound like you’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“I have. I know you’ve been busy so I didn’t want to bother you.”
My hand rests against his chest. “You never bother me.”
“Did I say bother?” He turns and wraps me in strong arms. “I meant burden.”
My eyes roll much like his did earlier. “You’re an idiot if you think anything in your life could possibly burden me.”
“Still…” He rests his forehead against mine. “So you’re okay with it?”
“I’ll miss you but I’m okay with it. Though I won’t be able to get time off work any time soon.”
“I know. I’m going to take Emily and Jeanine said she’ll watch Dillan.”
“You can handle that?”
He scowls. “Can I handle my daughter?”
I see that I’ve insulted him and now I feel bad. “I didn’t mean that. I just meant with you being busy and all…”
“I knew what you meant.” He pulls away from me and rubs his eyes. “Let’s go. I’m exhausted.”
I want to argue to stay a little longer. I know we have to be back but I’ve missed this alone time with him. I love my kids, I wouldn’t trade them for the world, but I love my partner too and sometimes it’s okay to want alone time. I hope. Right?
“So how long have you been thinking about opening another store?” I knew it was a possibility but I’m worried he’s biting off more than he can chew. It’s only the second year. His jewellery is doing so well, but don’t all new things in the beginning? I don’t know. I shouldn’t be judging; I should be cheering him on. “Can we afford it?”
“We can now that you’re working and the insurance money for the house is just sitting there.” He shrugs and my temper spikes.
“We’re building a new house with that house money, remember?”
