Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“You won’t, it was one time. It’s okay, I promise you that I don’t think anything of it. It’s okay.”
He puts his arms around me and pulls me to him. I smile as he holds me, but after a while, an uneasiness fills me.
There’s an edge to his grip, and it feels like fear.
“Baby, what’s going on?” I whisper.
“Everything,” he whispers as he pulls away and his eyes search mine. “Everything’s changing.”
He’s anxious about me starting to date again, or maybe it’s just Samuel. I put my hand on his thigh to reassure him. “Nathe, we will never change.”
“Promise me.” He cups my face in his hand and dusts his thumb over my bottom lip as he stares at me. “Promise me that whatever happens in our life, we will always be close.”
I smile softly up at my beautiful man. “I promise.”
My face is cupped in his hand, his eyes hold mine, and then they slowly drift down to my lips.
My heart stops.
Is he going to kiss me?
We stare at each other in the airport bar, surrounded by people, and I have no idea what’s going on here.
Time stands still, and I lean closer.
“Do you want another one?” the bartender interrupts. We jump back from each other. My heart is racing, and I frown, totally dishevelled. I pick up my glass and drain it. “Yes, please.”
Nathan picks up his drink and drains his scotch. We sit in silence for a while as we stare straight ahead. I’m rattled.
He’s rattled.
I think we just had a moment.
Maybe, I imagined it.
We couldn’t have had a moment—that’s impossible.
I’m not the right sex for Nathan.
I go over the last few days in my head and if Nathan wasn’t the way he is, I would swear something is happening between us. The jealousy, the touching, the longing stares and the fights.
The bartender puts my drink in front of me, and I pick it up and take a huge gulp.
I look over at Nathan and fake a smile. Sadness creeps into my heart.
The sooner I start dating someone else, the better. I think I’m falling for my best friend.
And this can only end badly. A sense of dread fills me because I know that we could never be like that. No matter how much we care for each other, it just can’t be.
My best friend’s love is completely unobtainable.
Nathan stares down at his fingers on the bar, his face solemn, and I think he knows it, too.
* * *
The car pulls up out the front of the grand house. We are in Vermont at Nathan’s parents’ farm. We flew into New York and got onto a connecting flight. Now, it’s the middle of the night.
Nathan and I have been quiet, both lost in our own thoughts.
On the plane, I rested on his shoulder while he read his book but my eyes weren’t closed and I could see that he didn’t turn the page for the entire six hours.
What was he thinking about?
Maybe that’s why he was so upset that we crossed the line. Maybe he could sense something that I haven’t up until today.
Nathan gets our things out of the trunk of the rental car, and the front door of the house opens. His mom and dad come out to greet us.
“Eliza.” Phyllis smiles as she wraps me in her arms. “Oh, it’s so good to have you both home.”
“My turn, woman.” Neil laughs as he swats her away. Nathan’s father wraps me in his arms. “How’s my favorite girl?”
I giggle as he squeezes the life out of me.
“I’m right here, you know?” Nathan says dryly, holding out his hands.
“Oh, darling, so you are.” Phyllis laughs. “Come here.”
He hugs her with a big smile, and then he shakes his dad’s hand.
“Come in, come in.” Neil ushers us inside.
“Why are you two up so late?” Nathan asks.
“We were in bed but set the alarm,” Phyllis says.
Nathan rolls his eyes. “We can let ourselves in, Mom.”
“I know, darling. I just wanted to make sure you got in safe. I’ll let you get to bed now; you must be both exhausted.”
“We are, thank you.” He kisses his mom and shakes his dad’s hand again. “Good to be home. We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Bright and early for a walk, Lize?” his dad asks me.
“You got it. I brought my runners.”
I follow Nathan up the stairs and into our room. It’s gorgeous here—a huge property. It’s a beautiful house with rolling green hills all around. We always stay in the same room in the guest wing. It’s separate from the rest of the house. It has its own bathroom and a huge king bed with all the trimmings.
Nathan puts the suitcases down and rubs his hands over his thighs. His eyes rise to mine. He seems nervous.
“I’m going to go downstairs and make a cup of tea,” I say. “Do you want anything?”