Chapter 28
chapter twenty-eight
Unfortunately, the first thing I do is pretty boring.
I’m exhausted from running all the way home. Nate is too. And the second everything is cleared up, we both long for a comfortable bed.
Both of us are out the second our heads hit the pillows.
Travel and subsequently spilling our feelings must have been exhausting, because even when light filters through the windows the next day, I still feel like I’ve been hit by a train.
The sun is at an angle that tells me it’s late. Way later than usual.
I blindly reach for my phone and check the screen.
It’s noon.
“Fuck,” I say. I’m tempted to go back to sleep, but Quinn’s party is in five hours, and I need to remember how to exist.
“Berry, I love you, but this is not the time to be a morning person.” Nate is blindly reaching around and presses a hand to my face as if he can silence me as an alarm clock. I’m tired and grumpy, but the action makes me laugh.
“It’s not morning. It’s noon. ”
He groans. “Dammit. Why are vacations so exhausting?”
“You can’t forget the emotional crash outs my ex started,” I say as I slowly sit up and take stock of my body. “God, I need a shower. And coffee.”
“I can help with both of those. Once I remember how to function.” He rubs a hand over his face, then slowly gets up. “I’ll get the water started for your shower. And then coffee.”
“You’re so hot right now,” I mutter. “Love you.”
The words are so new that he jumps when I say them, but then he grins at me. “Love you too.”
I’m an odd mix of uncomfortable yet grateful to have him when I finally drag myself out of bed. The second I step into the hot steam of my own shower, I feel like I can breathe. My body is sore and needs relaxation.
When I’m done, I feel more human. I throw on comfortable clothes before going to meet Nate in the kitchen. He’s putting together some kind of meal from my meager food stores, and I wind my arms around his middle.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey,” he says back, leaning into me. “Feel better?”
“Now I do.”
“As much as I hate to pull away, I’m making you food and I can’t do that with you being my backpack.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not a backpack.”
“You’re about the size of one.”
I poke him right in the ribs, feeling ridiculously proud of myself when he yelps and tries to get away from me. I’m tempted to torture him for longer, but I give him space.
“So, you never told me why you were in the rain,” he says as he starts to boil water. “And I should probably know before I’m in the same room as Rob.”
“Oh, that .” I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, that was partially me. ”
“You were at his place before that.”
“You checked my location, didn’t you?”
“I did. You were there for a while.”
“Only because my phone died. And he wasn’t even supposed to take me there anyway. I wanted to come here. He thought a nice dinner would convince me to give him another chance. I didn’t even go inside.”
“Thank God,” Nate says. His shoulders are tense, but he takes a breath and releases them. “Sorry, I still don’t like the guy.”
“Neither do I. But I promise I wasn’t there long. I actually used the last bit of my battery life to go after you. At your place.”
He pauses. “You did?”
“Yep. I, uh, may have thought you were ignoring me up until your neighbor told me you hadn’t come home yet. Nice lady, actually.” I let out a laugh. “But it all worked out.”
Nate doesn’t find it funny. “You thought I ignored you.”
“Yeah. Part of it was Rob. He said he’d never seen you so mad, and with how it sounded, I’d have it coming.”
“Maisie, no .” He puts the container of oats down and turns to me. “I would never ignore you, even if I was pissed.”
“But—”
“No. You need to hear this.” He only continues when my mouth shuts. “Maisie, I’m with you always. Even when I’m angry. Even if you mess up. I’m never going to ignore you.”
My eyes water, but I slowly nod. “I hear you.”
“Good. Now let me cook for you.”
I’m not used to this level of care. I had a part of it before, but this is next-level.
I love it. So much so that I have to go get my phone and distract myself or else I’ll start crying again. I should probably let the people who care about me know I’m home safe.
My parents are the first on the list. After I message them, a text from Quinn comes through.
Quinn
I heard that Rob surprised you at the airport yesterday. Are you coming with him or is Nate still your plus-one?
Maisie
Nate’s joining me.
Quinn
Good.
“If it’s Rob, I’m insisting you block him.” Nate’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I shake my head.
“That was Quinn. She was making sure you’re still coming. I don’t think Rob’ll be reaching out any time soon.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s like a roach. He never gives up.” He sets a bowl of hot oatmeal in front of me.
“He can do whatever he wants. I’m not changing my mind.”
Nate smiles. “It’s nice to see you like this. I was worried I was losing you when you were with Rob.”
“You’re not. Never.”
“Good.”
Both of us settle into silence only to eat. After getting back into town and subsequently skipping dinner, both of us are starving. It’s only when I’ve finished my food and my coffee that I feel like I can talk again.
“Quinn’s party. You are going, right?”
“Of course I am. It’ll be ... fun .”
“It’ll be something,” I admit. “I want it to go well, and considering how things went with Rob, I’m worried.”
“Did you mention anything about him just now?”
“In passing. She was asking if we were back together after his little surprise. I said we weren’t.”
“I bet it’ll be a big deal when we tell her about us.” He laughs as he finishes off his coffee.
I pause at the thought. He’s right. This will definitely be big news.
“Berry?” he asks. “Please don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”
“No!” I say immediately. “Not about us. Just about the party.”
“We could skip it.”
“I want to see her,” I reply with a shake of my head. “But it’s her birthday. And it’s already drama filled because I dumped her brother. I just don’t want anything else to happen. Either with us or her family.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“What if we kept the news about us quiet until after the party? Not because I’m ashamed or anything,” I rush to say, “but because of how her family might act, and the fact that it’s her day.”
“I can see the reasoning, but I’m not very excited about even pretending to only be your friend.”
“Me either,” I say. “But she’s put a lot of work into this. And I’ve already done enough to her by dumping Rob.”
“Technically, Rob did enough to you .”
“Fair, but I don’t wanna add anything.”
He considers it before sighing. “Fine. But you have to get me more coffee.”
“Gladly.”
“And we tell her right after?”
“Right after,” I agree. “Be right back with coffee.”
I get him his drink and refill my own before I sit back down. He accepts it gratefully and gets through half of it before he speaks again.
“We also have to tell your parents.” He says it quietly, and I tilt my head at him.
“Why do you sound worried? You get along with them just fine.”
“Yeah, when I’m your friend. Judy’ll be shocked, but I’m not worried about her. Jeff, on the other hand ...” He trails off and shudders.
“My dad isn’t going to do anything.”
“You weren’t there when he grilled Rob.”
“What? Seriously?”
“I didn’t even like Rob, and I thought it was too far.”
I frown and try to imagine my dad intensely asking Rob questions. I can see it, but he’s always taken a hands-off approach to me.
“How much do I not know?”
“He asked me not to tell you. He wants you to be your own person, but he’s also fiercely protective of you. I’m just not excited for that to be turned around on me.”
“Nate, if my dad tries anything with you, then he’s dealing with me .” I shake my head. “The last thing I’m letting him do is make you uncomfortable because he’s trying to protect me.”
A slow smile spreads on his face. “Protective of me, berry?”
“Yes.” I say it immediately. “I love my dad, but he doesn’t get to flip a switch because I date someone. I’ll be watching him.”
“I like it when you get all defensive.”
“Get used to it. Because you’re my boyfriend now.”
He laughs and looks down at his cup. “Hearing that still feels like a dream.”
“It does to me too,” I reply as I grab his hand. “And no matter how people react, we’ve got this. Together.”
Three hours later, I’m staring at a pile of wedding decor that I’m determined to get out of my house.
As much as I’d love to completely change who I am, my house is a mess, and I need to get it somewhat in order. After the caffeine hits my system, the urge to get my life together is strong.
I can tell Nate doesn’t have the same urge, but he helps me anyway .
“My wedding dress can be donated. Or do you think I should give it back to Andrea?”
“What could she possibly do with it?”
I shrug. “Maybe she can get her money back. I don’t really care what she does with it, though, I just need it out of here.”
Looking at it now, I’m glad I didn’t wear it. It’s a full turtleneck and covered in beads. It’s not my style at all. There’s so much about that relationship that wasn’t me.
“I’ll ask her at the party tonight,” Nate says. “And if she says no, can we burn it?”
“As tempting as that is, no. And I’ll ask. It’s my mess to clean up.”
“Fine, but I’ll be there for backup.”
“I might need it against Andrea,” I mutter. “If she doesn’t want it, I’ll donate it.”
“Who could use this thing?” he grimaces.
“What if I really liked the dress? I did have some of a say in choosing it.”
He winces. “I know I said I would support you through anything, but this is pushing it. When you showed it to me, I almost told you to dump him right then.”
I roll my eyes. “Then what should I get next time?”
“There’ll be a next time, huh?” He leans in. “Are you putting me through you marrying someone else again ?”
“Not someone else.” I tilt my head at him. “Are you gonna tell me your opinion, or do I need to guess?”