eighteen
N ate waited until he was sure Madison had entered her house safely before he let his head fall back on the headrest. If someone asked him to pinpoint every thought and feeling he’d gone through tonight, he could tell with absolute certainty that there was no untangling that jumbled mess.
His cheek was still burning where her lips had touched him.
His skin felt branded by the gentle brush and Nate could happily stay in that moment where everything was warm and molten, like the thickest of hot chocolates.
Except his errant thoughts chose to ruin that moment as his mind was assaulted by the sharp sting of violence that was still brewing inside him.
He felt his face fall, his earlier concern becoming something hard and cutting as rage threatened to consume him at the mere thought of anyone hurting Madison.
The unwanted image of that asshole cornering Madison invaded his mind, making his blood boil at the thought.
He’d never felt such cold fury suffusing his veins, an almost single-minded determination to rip that bastard’s arm clean off, an almost burning need to make sure she was okay.
He’d done his best to keep himself in check in front of her but he’d never felt such panic and fury at the sight of that asshole laying his hands on her as she clearly tried to dislodge his grip.
Images of his father wielding his anger and strength against Nate’s mom who did everything to take the brunt of it and shield both him and his brother from the worst had sprung to mind and he’d felt like a little kid again.
He’d been moving before he even knew what he was doing, leaving the guys behind him.
He should have choked the air out of that piece of shit, and he probably would have if Mads hadn’t cut through his spiraling rage with her sweet voice.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, a few text messages coming in quick succession.
Liam : Are you okay, man?
Liam : Coop and I are still together if you wanna talk.
Liam : I can put you on speaker.
Nate sighed, his dark mood slightly dissipating. He pressed call.
“Hey, buddy. Are you okay?” Liam’s voice reached him, concern clear in his tone.
“More importantly, is the asshole still alive?” Coop’s unmistakable voice chimed in. Nate could hear the way his words were tight, like he was trying to lighten the situation but his worry was bleeding through what he was saying.
“I’m fine. And yes, the guy is still breathing, despite my attempt for the contrary.”
“Is Madison okay?” Liam asked.
“Yes, she looked fine. She’s a tough nut to crack, that’s for sure.” Nate could feel the pride tinging his words.
“Good, that’s good.”
“Hey, Nate.” It was Coop this time. “Tell us if you need anything, okay? We’re here for you. And for Madison.”
The bone-deep exhaustion of the day weighed him down, just as gratitude squeezed his chest.
“Thanks, Coop,” he croaked, his voice thick.
“And whenever you want to tell us where you got those bitchin’ dance moves we saw earlier, we’ll be here to listen.”
Nate’s bark of laughter was so abrupt he startled even himself.
“Oh, fuck off.”
“Why?” Cooper whined through the phone. “We want the details. No, we deserve the details. Were you body-snatched, is that it?”
There was a quiet scuffle heard through the line before it was Liam’s voice again.
“Forgive the idiot. What he meant to say was that you two looked good and that we’re happy for you.”
Nate’s throat tightened for a completely different reason.
“We’re friends.”
There was a slight pause of silence over the line.
“I don’t think so, buddy.”