Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“She’s just enjoying her life.”
“It’s sickening to see. Why would she hide that though?”
He shrugs, thinking on it for a moment before saying something that makes way too much sense. “Maybe she’s worried, with everything that’s happened to you these past twelve months, that seeing her happy will make you feel like your life isn’t.” He cringes. “I didn’t explain that right.”
“I know what you mean. You’re right I think. I thought she’d been working way too many hours recently. I feel bad that she’s had to tiptoe around me. Am I really that depressive?”
“No, but she is your mum and she obviously cares about how you feel.”
“Maybe.” I say around a yawn and snuggle into my seat. “Thanks for driving all of this way to see me, Nathan. I’ve had fun, despite the arguing.”
He smiles softly, his hand tightening on mine for a second. “Good.”
“What’s going on with your store? I thought it was ready to go?”
He tenses and shifts, quickly removing his hand from mine to change gear. “It is. I’ve just not been as enthusiastic about it as of late.”
“Why?” I know my tone is snippy, but I don’t care. I remember how happy he was organising the store for opening. I’d never seen him so invested in anything before.
“I’d say the answer to that is obvious.” He snaps right back. “You were one of the main reasons I was opening it in the first place.”
Blink. “That’s just stupid. It made you happy.”
“You made me happy.”
“And you’re emotionally incapable of receiving joy from anything else?”
“When your heart is broken because you’ve lost the only thing you’ve ever loved, then yes. It’s actually extremely difficult to find joy in anything other than the bottom of a bottle of bourbon.” He bites out and we both fall silent, both of us holding our breath.
“Nathan…”
“Don’t.” He pleads, his tone not angry or snappy but pleading.
I quickly close my mouth and stare ahead, my heart pounding at this revelation. He’s never said he loves me, never. Now what do I do?
When we arrive home, Nathan climbs out and walks around to my side. I wait for him to open my door for me; it’s a habit. He holds out his hand. I take it and slide from my seat, before facing him, trying to understand him by the way he’s holding his body. He’s very tense but is giving nothing away.
“I’ll be back with Dillan the day after tomorrow.” He says after a few very long seconds and closes the door. “Sleep well.”
I rush to the front door before I say something stupid, although I’m not entirely sure what words are sitting on the end of my tongue. I just know I shouldn’t say them. Pulling it open, I race inside and lean against it when it closes behind me. My body refuses to move from this spot until I hear his car disappear into the distance.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out expecting it to be Nathan. It’s not, it’s Eric.
Eric: Breakfast tomorrow?
Should I? No I shouldn’t.
Gwen: Sure :)
But I say yes and I have no idea why.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Good morning,” I say to my mum, avoiding her eyes so she doesn’t see my discomfort over knowing she still makes out with guys like a teen in public places.
“You’re up early.” She remarks with a smile as her eyes scan me up and down. “You look nice too.”
“I’m going out for breakfast with Eric.” I tell her as I pour a glass of water and sip it slowly. “Was work okay last night?”
“Same old.” Vague answer.
“Cool.” We both stare at each other, nodding our heads slightly.
The knock at the door breaks our awkward silence. “That’ll be Eric.”
“Yep.” I dart into the hall and pull open the door. There he stands, looking handsome and happy. “Hi.”
“Well hello there.” He grins and swoops in for a hug. The contact shocks me. I’m not sure what to do with it, so I place my hands on his shoulders as my feet dangle a few inches from the ground. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” I mutter, my stupid cheeks heating again. Stupid body responses. “Where are we going?”
“McDonald’s.” He says with a straight face only inches from mine. “I’m kidding. There’s a breakfast café on the high street that I love. I thought we could go there.”
“I need my feet on the ground if I’m to go anywhere,” I laugh and he immediately drops me with an embarrassed smile. “You’re so light, I forgot I had you.”
“Dork.” I jest as he leads me to his car. I climb in myself and wait for him to start the engine and back out of the driveway before starting conversation. “So, how have you been since I saw you yesterday?”
“I had a dream last night.”
“Do I want to know about it?”