25. Nathan
NATHAN
Nathan spent an hour on his phone after Octavia fell asleep, looking at available properties. Many were within his price range but outside his ability to justify. Six bedrooms, even if his whole family came up, was excessive for a place he’d spend very little time at. Even if Octavia’s family came.
He stopped scrolling to look down at her.
Her hair was fanned out around her head, she’d practically fallen asleep the minute after he’d pulled back his mouth from between her legs.
She’d no doubt be apologizing profusely in the morning, but he knew she was drained from the day she had, followed by three orgasms before bed.
Just over a month ago she’d been a quick hookup in a hotel, and now he was looking at a property for both of them to spend time at. He’d been a bachelor for so long it felt almost foreign to consider someone else’s wants and needs for a living situation.
He’d wondered early on how long she’d keep her townhouse for before he could convince her to move in with him. Not just stay with him a few times a week.
Nathan genuinely thought Scottie couldn’t even write a code to find a woman on the entire internet more perfect for him than Octavia.
He sent a quick email off to a realtor one of his teammates recommended about looking at some properties when they were up for the break before sliding under the sheets and pulling Octavia into him.
She hummed in her sleep, snuggling into his chest as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. Fucking perfection.
“You can come see him whenever he wants you to, Mom, but I’m not giving you a key to my place.”
“Nathan, you act as if I’ll abuse the privilege.” His mom scoffed.
“I know you will. Do you think your offspring don’t talk?”
She sighed on the other end of the line. “Oh I walked into a situation one time. I learned my lesson.”
The situation had been his naked brother-in-law carrying a can of whipped cream back to the bedroom followed by his sister yelling she was ready to be covered in all his cream.
Scottie and Nathan had both been unsure whether it was more funny or disturbing knowing such intimate details about their sister.
In the end they’d decided to just not talk about it.
“Mom, I’m not giving you a key and that’s the end of it. I love you but you have to let Scottie decide when he wants you to come and when he doesn’t. Hit by a bus or not, he’s a grown ass man, and he can tell you if and when he’s good with you coming over.”
Octavia stood leaning against the bathroom door brushing her teeth and watching Nathan as he tried to reason with his mother. Conversations like this were far more tolerable when she was his view.
“Listen, Mom, I’ve gotta go. Call Scottie if you want to keep going around in circles. I love you. Bye.” He hung up before she could argue with him, earning a shocked look from Octavia.
“Did you just hang up on your mother?” she asked around a mouthful of toothpaste.
“Sure did.”
“Nathan, you shouldn’t hang up on your mom.”
He tossed his phone onto the bed and gathered her in his arms. “Not even if she’s being exceptionally annoying?” She shook her head. “Not even if she’s talking shit about my girlfriend?”
She leaned away to spit and rinse, catching his eye in the mirror before turning back to him. She slipped her hand around the back of his neck, guiding him down to her.
“Not even then.” She purred against his lips.
She let him draw her closer, his hands automatically wandering greedily down to her ass before she giggled, reluctantly spinning away from his touch.
“I’ve gotta get to work.” Her murmured words hit his lips, doing nothing to convince him to release her.
“You should quit,” he said against her neck.
“I’d love to,” she breathed, her head falling back, giving him better access.
“Quit and move in with me,” he said it without realizing, but then he felt her freeze and he knew in that moment he’d fucked up, ruined the moment.
She wiggled out of his grip and backed away, daintily wiping the corners of her mouth. “I have to go to work,” she said again, all the flirtatiousness gone from her.
“Octa—” She held up her hand to halt his words.
“Later,” she said, brushing by him to where her suit was hanging on the closet door.
He wanted to stay and watch her get dressed, but he had a feeling now was not the time to watch her undress, so he excused himself.
She came out into the kitchen ten minutes later. “I’m going to take the subway today I think,” she said without looking at him.
God he wanted to argue with her. Convince her to let him drive her, pull her to him and kiss away his mistake. But he knew that his efforts from earlier in their relationship wouldn’t serve him the same way today as they had in the past.
“Alright.” He busied his hands by wiping the already clean counter. “Have a good day.”
“You too,” she said, finally looking back and offering a ghost of a smile before she walked out the door.
A shiver ran across Nathan’s skin as he stood in his silent home, as if Octavia pulled all the warmth out along with her.
He had never wished to be on a long road trip as much as he wished for one right now.