Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
And it felt like my heart was breaking, just a little bit. What was going on with him? We were having what I thought was a perfect evening.
“Did you guys see they have a guy drawing portraits near the back?” Nathan offered. “He’s doing couples’ portraits, if you wanted to get one of those.”
“I’m surprised you would suggest that,” Shawn said, kicking away a pebble on the ground.
Nathan looked guilty somehow, and now my mind was feeling like it was going to explode.
“Okay, what is going on between you two?” I finally said, throwing my hands up. “Because usually you guys would be racing to see who could get the silliest portrait drawing done, and right now I feel like I’m trying not to cringe witnessing some sort of legal proceedings.”
“It’s nothing,” Shawn said, reaching out to hold my hand. “Nathan’s right. Let’s go check out the portraits.”
“No,” Nathan said, reaching out a hand to get us to wait. “I think what’s really happening is that I owe Shawn an apology. A big one, actually.”
Shawn was chewing his lower lip. He squeezed my hand a little tighter, and I could tell he was nervous. “I think so, too,” he said softly.
I never thought I’d be witnessing a serious discussion between siblings while the sound of polka music filled the air, droves of kids were walking by laughing, and a bronze deer statue was behind me, but in Jade River, there was a first time for everything.
“Rush, I didn’t say anything to you, but…” Nathan started to say. “The other day, when you guys told me you were dating, I took Shawn aside and I warned him.”
I furrowed my brow. “Warned him about what?” Nathan’s guilty look made a little more sense now. As did my rising urge to punch him—but I was at least going to let him talk first. “About me?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I told him that you don’t know how to be in a committed relationship.”
Nathan may as well have just slapped me with a cold hand. It was shocking that he would even think of doing something like that, even with my past reputation. Even with the fact that I knew he was protective of his brother.
I had known that Nathan might not react well to the news. I just never thought he’d do it behind my back.
“I see,” I said, shifting on my feet and biting down on my tongue. My mind felt like it was riding on a carousel of nothing but bad thoughts: Fuck this. My best friend should have my back, no matter what. He betrayed me.
And the worst thought of all: Nathan knows me better than anyone. What if he’s right?
Shawn gave my hand another squeeze, bringing me halfway back down to Earth for a second.
“I shouldn’t have said it,” Nathan told me, his gaze pleading. “You have to understand that I’ve seen my brother go through hell. For so long, he’s wanted something stable. And for years, all you’ve told me is that stability is the last thing you want. That you’d get bored of it and cheat and be the heartbreaker you’ve always been.”
I let out a long breath. “I did say things like that, in the past,” I admitted.
But that person felt like he was a lightyear away from me now. I couldn’t even remember what it felt like to be me six months ago, let alone years ago.
So much had changed since I’d stepped foot back here in Jade River.
And I liked the new me better, to be honest.
Nathan shook his head. “It wasn’t my place to say it,” he said. “I love you both so much it hurts. I was just scared. Scared that Shawn would get hurt, and really, really fucking scared that anything would ever threaten our friendship, Rush.”
The anger in my heart dissipated like ice thawing in spring. It still hurt to hear all of this, but I knew Nathan was being genuine with me. Because he always was.
“I can understand that,” I told him reluctantly.
“Is now a bad time to ask if either of you want a margarita?” Shawn asked softly, dropping his hand from mine and inching over toward the food trucks. His timing melted my heart, even if I immediately missed his touch. “Because I did notice that they were squeezing the limes fresh, and I could definitely leave you two to chat and bring back a nice round of much-needed drinks for all of us.”
Nathan puffed out a laugh. Shawn’s attempt to lighten the mood was like a breath of fresh air when I’d been in desperate need of some oxygen.
“I think that would be awesome in just a second,” Nathan said. “But you needed to be here for this too, Shawn. You both deserved an apology from me.”
“I’m really trying this time, Nathan,” I said, my throat going a little tight out of nowhere. “I know it’ll take time to build that trust, but I’m going to do it.”