'Postgrad,' Dad repeated, thinking this over. 'Smart fella, then.' He grinned cheekily at me. 'He's definitely interested in you, sweetheart. Do you like him?'
Something unpleasant squeezed my stomach as I considered my dad's observations. Benjamin had indeed seemed interested. He'd left his date to come talk to me. Did that mean … if I saw him again … what would happen?
And … Jesus effing Christ …
… what did I want to happen?
Nate.
I shrugged again, struggling to breathe through the sudden tightness in my chest. 'I don't really know him.'
My legs felt heavy as I walked up the concrete stairs to my door. Luckily I'd gotten through dinner by pestering Hannah with questions and laughing while she held her own against Cole's teasing.
However, as soon as I was on my own, walking toward my apartment, the headache that had been dying to make itself known sprang to life between my eyes. I rubbed my sinuses, wishing my brain wasn't all mushy and messed up right now.
Lines were being blurred, and other lines were actually being crossed. There were a whole lot of lines and none of them were of a solid consistency.
Mothereffing lessons.
With a huge sigh I let myself into my apartment and came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Nate leaning against my couch, his arms crossed over his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles.
God, he was beautiful.
He didn't even have to say a word and my heart was pounding.
I shut the door behind me, leaned against it, and turned the lock. Our eyes met across the room and clung. 'New lesson?' The words came out all husky and needful.
Nate straightened up to his full height. 'Tonight's lesson: Use your initiative.'
Without saying a word I shrugged out of my jacket and began to undress.
Nate's eyes smoldered as he prowled toward me. 'Good initiative.'
15
The Lumineers were singing to me. Usually that was a good thing, but the previous evening had been pretty physical and I wanted my Saturday lie-in.
Nate's warm body was pressed against my side as I lay on my stomach, my face buried in my pillow. I felt him shift against me as my ringtone woke him up.
'Babe,' he said, rubbing my back lightly, 'your phone.'
I mumbled incoherently into my pillow.
The delicious heat of him up my left side disappeared and I grumbled a little more. He rolled back into me, kissed my shoulder, and deposited the phone on the pillow near my ear. Wincing at how loud it was, I lifted my head and fumbled for it. 'Hey,' I answered sleepily, not even checking the caller ID.
Joss's husky voice replied, 'Hey, you. How's it going?'
More alert now, I leaned up on my elbow, enjoying the feel of Nate's fingers stroking my spine. 'Joss, it's good to hear from you. How are you? How was the honeymoon?'
'It was great. You know Braden.' She gave a low, intimate laugh. 'It was fun.'
I shot a look at Nate, who was lying there watching me, all sexy and stubbly. I finally got what that low, intimate laugh meant. 'Was it beautiful?'
'Stunning. I recommend Hawaii to all. If it weren't for the weirdos I sort of, might, kind of care about, I would never have come home. Speaking of, Ellie and Adam are house-hunting and are looking at a property on my street. Els said she wanted to check it out again, so I'm going with her this afternoon. We thought we'd come back to my place afterwards for a few drinks. I know Jo can't make it because she's working, but I hoped you'd want to hang out with us.'
'I'll be there. What time?'
'Noon.'
I frowned. 'Uh, what time is it now?'
'Quarter – ' Nate began to answer, but I cut him off immediately, slapping my hand over his mouth. I glared at him as I felt his lips curve beneath my palm. His eyes danced with mirth.
'What was that?' Joss asked curiously.
The last thing I needed was my friends finding out about my situation with Nate – because the last thing I needed was a concerned lecture. 'The radio. My alarm.'
'Well, then, I guess I don't need to tell you it's nine forty-five. That's a weird time to set your alarm.'
'It's a Saturday,' I answered quickly, flustered. 'I sleep in a little on a Saturday and, uh, you know, nine thirty seems too early but ten seems too late so … ' My hand tightened over Nate's mouth as he laughed harder at my lame rambling.
'So you're weird,' Joss finished for me. 'I already knew that. See you soon.' She hung up and I immediately took my hand off Nate's mouth, fisted it, and punched him in the arm.
'Dude, are you trying to get us caught?'
His laughter died down on a huff as he rubbed his arm. 'I could give a shit.'
'Liar.' I shoved him playfully. 'If I don't want to be subjected to the concerned "ooh do you think that's a good idea?" crap, then I know you certainly don't.'