Chapter Twenty-Two
chapter twenty-two
NATE
Everything was going well until it wasn’t. Paige was having a good time—until she wasn’t.
One minute, I was horsing around with my niece and nephew in the pool while Paige was talking and laughing with Carol, and the next, Paige was distraught. I don’t know what changed, but whatever it was, it has Paige pushing me away.
She avoided me the rest of the trip, feigning headaches and exhaustion. And since I didn’t want to upset her, I let her get away with it. But now, we’re pulling up to her house, and I’m going to find out what the hell is going on.
Without asking if she’s up for company, I grab her luggage and mine and follow her into her house. She’s quiet as she turns off the alarm and then flicks the lights on.
I think I’m going to have to pry whatever is wrong from her, but then she turns around and says, “We need to talk,” and my stomach drops because those words coming from her can’t be good.
She gestures for me to sit on the couch, and then she sits across from me on the love seat, solidifying I’m not going to like whatever she’s about to say.
“Your family is wonderful,” she says with a small frown that contradicts her words.
“They are,” I agree. “And they really like you.”
“I like them too,” she says, her voice a bit wobbly. “And I’m glad they’re going to be a part of our baby’s life.”
“Of course they will be,” I say, unsure where the hell this is going.
“And I think it’s good that you guys are close because…” She takes a deep breath like she needs to hype herself up to say the next words, and I hold my breath, knowing it’s going to be bad. “I think…no, I know it will be best if we figure out how to co-parent long-distance.”
I let her words ruminate in my brain for several seconds so I can make sure I’m calm when I ask her what the fuck she’s talking about. Because from what she just said, I’m getting the impression that she just broke up with me. Only we’re not together, so I’m assuming she’s trying to make it clear that we’re never going to be together, and she just decided for me that I’m going to take my ass back to Dallas and co-parent with her from there while she remains here.
And that’s not fucking happening.
“And why is that?” I ask.
“Because we both know?— ”
“Whoa,” I cut her off. “Don’t put words or thoughts into my head. We both don’t know shit. You know what you think you know, and I know what I fucking know. So, try that again, but this time, only speak for yourself.”
She widens her eyes, taken aback by my harsh words, but I don’t care. Nobody has the right to tell me what I want, even her.
“Fine,” she says. “I want you to go back to Dallas. I don’t want to be the reason you lose your job and your family and your entire life over there. Your family needs you, and I don’t want to be the person who pulls you into a different direction.”
“You don’t get to decide that,” I say. “You made the decision not to move to Dallas. You made it clear this is where your home is. Your job, your friends, your house. It’s here in Rosemary, and I respect that, so I’ve made the decision to make it my home as well. I want to be with you. I love you, fell in love with you in London, and it’s only grown since then. But I can’t make you want to be with me.
“Regardless, Rosemary will be my home because it’s where you and our baby will be living. So, if you’re pushing me away, thinking it’s going to send me back to Dallas, you can think again. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Paige says with tears in her eyes. “If you quit your job at Bradford, how will you pay your bills?”
“I have plenty of savings, and I’ll find another job. Hell, maybe Kingston has a position for me.” I smirk. “I heard they’re a good company to work for.”
“That’s not funny,” Paige chides. “I’m being serious, and you’re?—”
“Also being dead serious.” I get up and move from the couch to the love seat next to her. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess. While I appreciate you thinking you’re looking out for me by pushing me away so I’ll go back to Dallas, it’s not happening. I already spoke to my dad and brothers. I’m going to be working remotely while I show Dustin the ropes.”
“He doesn’t want to be CEO,” she points out.
“Why do you say that?”
I know Dustin isn’t keen on the idea, but I don’t know when he would’ve told Paige that.
“Because he likes finance,” she mumbles, looking down.
“We’ll handle it.”
“Which wouldn’t be necessary if you stayed in Dallas.”
“It’s not happening,” I say, trying to keep my tone even.
Paige is hormonal and emotional, and everything she’s saying is coming from a good place. She met my family and likes them, and she doesn’t want me to lose them to be with her. And if I were to guess, it has something to do with her insecurities. She can’t make me her priority because she did that with her ex and he hurt her. She’s been hurt by her dad. She lost her mom. Paige is scared. She can’t move to Dallas and risk having her heart broken again, so I’m going to have to show her that her heart is safe with me.
“Everything will work out,” I tell her, framing the sides of her face. “You just have to let me in.”
“I think you’re making a big mistake,” she whispers. “And if you want to move here, I can’t stop you, but I’m not asking you to, and I don’t want to be the reason.”
She lifts her chin stubbornly, and I swear I fall even harder for her. She thinks she’s pushing me away, but her caring this much about me walking away from my job and family only shows just how much she cares.
“That’s okay,” I tell her as I stand. “I have all the time in the world to convince you to be with me.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Except to my hotel because there’s no way Paige is going to let me spend the night here tonight. Not while she’s on a mission to push my ass back to Dallas.
“…if there are no other questions, I think that about wraps it up.” Paige grins at everyone in the conference room, waiting to see if anyone has anything to add, and when they don’t, she nods. “Okay, have a good weekend and rest up because we have a busy few months ahead of us.”
She winks playfully, and everyone chuckles, knowing that while she’s half joking, she’s also serious. It’s been a busy week, but we’ve managed to finalize the Kingston-Bradford partnership. Contracts have been signed, and we’ve hammered out the details. Now starts the hard part for the marketing teams. It’s one thing to come up with the ideas, but it’s a whole other to put them into motion. This is the part where Carmine will take over, and his team will handle Bradford’s part from Dallas while Kingston’s team will handle theirs from here.
It’s also the time when I’d be heading back home, only I have no intention of leaving despite Paige completely shutting me out.
I’ve asked her to dinner every night this week, and she’s turned me down, giving me every excuse under the sun. But I’m not going to give up, and once she sees I’m not going anywhere, she’s going to give in.
“Hey, Paige,” I say once everyone has filed out. “Any plans this weekend?”
“Just catching up on some work and sleep,” she says cautiously. “You?”
“Same. Any chance I can convince you to go to dinner with me tonight or tomorrow night?”
“Sorry, I can’t,” she says, not even bothering to come up with an excuse.
“All right, well, I’ll be around if you change your mind.”
I give her arm a squeeze and then head out, trying to figure out a way to get her to spend some time with me since I’ll no longer have a reason to hang around the office after today.
I’m racking my brain with ideas when I spot Ana sauntering through the office, and a thought comes to me.
“Hey, Ana,” I say, rushing toward her.
“Hey,” she says with a forced smile that screams pity, telling me she knows that her best friend is freezing me out.
“Can we talk somewhere a bit more private?” I ask, not wanting anyone, including Paige, to overhear.
“Sure.”
She guides me over to her office, and once inside, she says, “So, how are you?”
“I’d be better if Paige stopped pushing me away,” I tell her, getting straight to my point.
“Yeah, I heard about that. She’s just scared. She’s been through a lot, and she’s trying to save herself from another heartbreak.”
“I get it. So, are you in favor of me sticking around, or are you Team Send Nate’s Ass Back to Dallas?”
Ana laughs. “I’m Team Paige.” I sigh, ready to give up until she adds, “which means I want her to be happy, and I think you could make her happy. The question is, are you willing to work for it?”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul. Even if she wasn’t pregnant, I’d be here. I sought her out before I knew she was carrying my baby. I love her. I fell in love with her in London, and I want a life with her. ”
“And you’re really going to give up your life in Dallas to be with her?”
“I’ve already let my family know. I’m working remotely while we figure it all out because I’m not going to leave them in a bind.”
“Of course not,” she agrees.
“I was hoping to convince Paige to live with me, but she’s not there yet, so I think I’m going to start looking for homes closer to her in Rosemary. The drive from Houston is rough, especially during rush hour.
“And I’ve had my assistant put together a résumé for me. I’m going to apply to several companies. It most likely won’t be the same position I have now, but I’m sure I’ll find somewhere I can put my degree and experience to use.”
“Wow, so you’re really serious about moving here?” Julian asks, strolling into his wife’s office. He gives her a quick kiss, then faces me.
“Yeah,” I tell them both. “I am. My family says I’m a cranky bastard when I’m not with her so…” I shrug. “The problem is, she doesn’t want to move to Dallas, but she also doesn’t want me to move to Rosemary.”
Julian laughs. “That’s a woman for you.”
Ana playfully smacks his chest and glares up at him, but he simply kisses the tip of her nose, completely unfazed.
“I want that.” I nod toward them. “I want the wife and kids and home, and I want it with Paige. I knew I wanted it the moment after she tripped and fell in front of my hotel and I carried her inside. I asked her if she was hurt, and she looked up at me and said, ‘Other than my pride, no.’
“I looked into her green eyes and knew I could fall for her. And I did. A few days in London, and I was a goner. I know that sounds crazy, but…”
“No, it doesn’t,” Ana says, her eyes glassy. “Julian and I fell fast and hard.”
She looks at her husband, who nods in agreement.
“Paige is reacting to her past,” Ana says. “She’s been burned so many times.”
“I know,” I tell her. “And I’m going to prove to her that I’m not them, that she can trust me with her heart and I’m not going to break it like those other assholes, but to do that, I need her to let me in. The problem is, the deal with Kingston is done, so I have no reason to be around her.”
“There’s a barbecue this weekend,” Julian says.
“Didn’t you have one last weekend?”
“We have a lot of kids and birthdays,” he says with a laugh. “It’s Fourth of July and Violet’s birthday. She’s Ryder and Kira’s daughter. I’m extending an invite to you. Bring a gift. She’s turning six, and she likes anything pink.”
He shoots me a wink, and I laugh.
“You got it. Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t hurt her,” Ana says, her tone serious. “She’s one of the best people I know, and she deserves to be happy. If there’s any chance you don’t mean everything you said, let her go. Co-parent and let her find someone who can love her.”
I get what she’s saying. I understand she has her friend’s back, and I’m glad that despite Paige not having any family, she has friends like these. But…
“That’s not even an option,” I tell her honestly. “Unless Paige flat-out says she doesn’t want me, I’ll be damned if I’m letting any other man love that woman. She’s mine.”