35. Nathan
NATHAN
Scottie
Mom just left. Said she’s coming back tomorrow.
I bet you’re thrilled!
Honestly, your place is fucking boring, I welcome her company.
You’re welcome to go home.
Nathan huffed a laugh as he settled back into the lumpy bus seat.
Day seven on the road but it felt like he’d been gone for weeks at this point.
Especially after having a full week with Octavia.
He just wanted to be home and he didn’t care which address home was, as long as she was there and it was just the two of them.
Scottie was an easy enough houseguest, he had the not wanting help thing in common with Octavia.
The two would probably hit it off immediately over their annoyance of how Nathan was a hoverer, always ready to step in and help.
It wasn’t because he didn’t think they were capable, he just figured if he could, he should.
I’d rather our mother be snooping around your place than mine.
Nathan scowled down at his phone. He’d had to find things at Scottie’s place a few times.
His brother was a neat freak. Anyone who had been in Nathan’s place would assume the same of him, but he just didn’t have much stuff and he wasn’t home all that often.
Scottie was a collector and while that could possibly lead to being called a hoarder, he displayed his prized possessions as if they were in a museum.
Things behind glass with special lighting and labels.
Their mom would have to do some next level snooping to find things he didn’t want displayed.
Nathan wouldn’t be surprised if there were hidden compartments around the place.
Nothing to find in mine.
He fired back with a smirk, thinking that would be the end of the conversation. Except then Scottie was attaching an image and it was of a blue lacy bra that he certainly recognized as the one he’d taken off of Octavia in the living room three nights before their trip.
“Fuck,” he muttered, dropping his head back against the seat and earning a look of interest from a couple of his teammates who weren’t asleep.
You experimenting with ladies underwear, brother?
Nathan groaned.
You cannot tell Octavia that Mom found that.
Why not? I think it would be pretty fucking funny.
Dude, I never ask you for anything. Please do not bring this up.
Nathan watched the three little dots appear and disappear. He could only begin to imagine what nonsense his brother was trying to come up with.
Hard to bring it up when I haven’t met her yet.
Soon.
Life is short, when is soon?
Sometime after we get back.
Well, the sooner the better. I’d like to meet her before I find any other lingerie or see the two of you in a tabloid.
That got his attention. Were there pictures of him and Octavia in fucking tabloids?
What fucking tabloid?
His face felt like it was on fire. Not because he was embarrassed but because he was angry. The thought of someone taking their picture without him knowing was enraging. Well, no, the thought of someone taking her picture was. He was used to it, but Octavia hadn’t signed up for that shit.
None. I’ve been keeping an eye out for things. With me living in your place it seems like a good time to make introductions. Have mom and Em over for dinner and get it over with all at once.
Truth be told, Nathan would love to do that. He had talked about her, but he wanted Octavia to be part of every facet of his life. The sooner they got the whole meet-the-family thing over with, the better.
Well, clear your schedule and I’ll see what I can do.
Hardy har har.
Nathan would ask Octavia if she’d be interested in meeting his family on their usual call, suddenly grateful that the game had been earlier than usual which meant it wasn’t too late for her.