I lie back on the couch and cross my ankles.
“Is it all right if I stay over tonight?” I ask Nate while staring up at the ceiling.
“You’ve practically been living here all summer.” He laughs. “I don’t think you even need to ask anymore.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I let out a deep sigh.
He pauses the game and turns to face me. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Dad just came home early from work and he and Mum were going at each other.”
“What about?”
“Who knows? What do they ever fight about?”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Nah,” I sigh.
Nate turns back to the TV and resumes his game.
“You know you can come here whenever you want, right? Mum thinks of you as her own anyway,” Nate says quietly.
“Thanks, man.”
We sit in silence for a bit longer as Nate continues on with his game.
“You won’t be there forever, you know that right?” Nate says. “Soon we’ll be off to college, living and partying together and until then, you can stay here as much as you want.”
“What? You’re not going to college and moving in with Susie Hayes?” I chuckle.
“Shut up, man. The only time I’ll ever live with someone besides you will be when I’m married.”
“Married? Man, I’m never getting married. I don’t want to end up like them.”
Nate nods in understanding. “Want a turn?” He holds out the controller.
Men. Such strange creatures. I don’t think I will ever understand their way of thinking. I knew exactly what Saxon was doing, coming on me like that and rubbing it all over me. He may as well have peed on my leg.
He is so confusing. All the images and thoughts I’d had of him, things he says, the stuff he does, it’s all so conflicting, and I wonder sometimes if I still don’t really know the true Saxon.
After he’d dressed me slowly, we carefully headed to the closest bathroom to clean up. He sent me in the ladies’, telling me he would meet me outside. I know I’ve been lingering longer than I should, but I don’t think I can face him until I’ve somewhat gathered myself together.
I watch as various women enter the bathroom, do their business, wash their hands, and reapply their lipstick. I’m still here, looking vacantly at myself in the mirror and stalling.
Running my fingers through my hair, I try to give it a quick comb through and have it resemble something similar to how it looked before. I reapply my pink lipstick and decide to deal with this mess head on.
Leaving the bathroom I find Saxon waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks so casual and relaxed, so much younger and carefree with no tie and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
When he turns my way and our eyes meet he instantly straightens and heads towards me, his face lit up with the sweetest smile. My heart melts, and I give him a small smile.
Reaching down and grabbing my hand he pulls me down the hallway. Making our way into the club, Saxon calls over his shoulder, “We’re leaving.”
“What?” I pull his hand to bring him to a stop. He turns to look at me, his face falling as he studies me. “I can’t leave. What will the girls think if we leave together? My God, what are they already thinking?” My heart races and I try pulling my hand from Saxon’s hold but his grip only tightens.
“I don’t give a fuck what they’re thinking.”
“Well I do,” I shout. His face hardens and my stomach tightens in guilt. “I’m sorry, it’s just that it’s girls’ night and it’s not over yet. I don’t want to be rude.”
Even though I can’t hear it I can see Saxon releasing a deep sigh as he drops his head. “Brooke, it’s late. I’m sure the girls are heading home shortly. The club closes up soon anyway. Tell them you’re sick or something and I’m taking you home.”
“Are you taking me home?”
He nods solemnly. “Yes, Brooke, I’ll drop you home. Alone.” I hate how he can read me so well and reading me means hurting his feelings, but he knows how I feel. I’ve never hidden my feelings from him. We can’t forget what this relationship is based on and why it works.
I nod and he takes that as my agreement as he turns and continues pulling me through the crowd and up the stairs to my group of friends. We head towards the table and find Rachel, Harper, and the guy she was dancing with sitting there.
Harper has a small smirk on her face while Rachel’s face is laced in confusion, and I know she must have a million questions she wants to ask me. She looks down at our entwined fingers and her eyes widen. I quickly try and pull my fingers out of Saxon’s, but he just tightens his grip again.