Going to get my phone, I check to see if I have any texts. There's a few from April, and Giada sent me a cute puppy video, but that's it. Nothing from Nate.
A text dings and I quickly look down at my phone. Here's another one! OMG isn't he cute?
It's Giada, sending me another dog video. She loves dogs, especially those little tiny ones that fit in a purse.
Wait—wasn't Giada supposed to be out with Brad tonight? I check her earlier text. It was sent at eight. Did they even go on a date? If they did, it was really short.
I text her back. Aren't you supposed to be out with Brad?
Didn't work out, she texts back.
What happened?
Nothing. So I left. I think he has a girlfriend.
I call her.
She knows it's me and answers, "Hey, did you see the video of the dancing chihuahua?"
"Yeah. Adorable. So why do you think Brad has a girlfriend?"
"Because he didn't look at me. Not to sound full of myself, but guys usually can't take their eyes off me. But Brad barely noticed me. He was all distracted by whatever was going on around us, and he kept looking at his phone."
"Maybe he was checking the time."
"Or checking for texts from his girlfriend."
"Brad doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Then I don't know what his problem was. Maybe he sees me more as a friend."
"That's probably it."
"How was your night out with Nate?"
"How'd you know about that?"
"Brad told me during drinks. We didn't even make it to dinner. I told him just to take me home."
"What else did he tell you?"
"Not much. He talked a little about his family."
"What'd he say about Nate and me? Did he call it a date?"
"No. Why? Is that what it was? Are you dating Nate?"
"No. I'm not even sure he's talking to me anymore."
"Why? What happened?"
I tell her the story, then make her promise not to tell anyone. Gossip spreads fast at the pool and I don't want everyone there knowing, although they might figure it out on their own if Nate gives me the silent treatment at work.
"I wouldn't worry about it," Giada says. "He'll get over it."
"I'm not so sure about that. Nate doesn't get over stuff easily."
"He just needs time. The same thing happened to me my junior year of college, except I'd actually been dating the guy a few months. He was a senior, and the day after graduation he told me how much he loved me and then gave me a ring."
"He proposed?"
"Yeah. I was shocked. Up until then I thought we were just casually dating. I had no idea he was planning a future with me."
"So what'd you do?"
"Told him I didn't feel the same way. He was hurt and didn't talk to me for a few weeks, but then one day he called to tell me he got a job and we were back to being friends. So just give Nate some time."
"It's just hard because I'm so used to talking to him or texting him and now I feel like I can't. He won't even talk to Brad."
"He's just upset. Right now he just wants to be left alone. That's totally normal, especially for a guy."
"Maybe you're right. I just need to give him some time."
She yawns. "I'm really tired. Those kids wore me out."
A daycare reserved the pool today and it was nonstop chaos for the entire hour they were there.
"I'll let you get some sleep. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, bye."
I hope Giada is right and things with Nate will go back to normal in a day or two. Even if it takes a week, it's better than having him never talk to me again.
Chapter Eleven
Nate
When I go in the kitchen to get breakfast, Brad's sitting at the counter, eating his usual scrambled egg whites and toast.
"Hey, man, how's it going?"
"Not great," I mutter. "How about you? How was your date last night?" I grab a mug and fill it with coffee.
"Didn't work out. Went for drinks and decided to skip dinner."
"How could you not like Giada? She's great."
"She is, but we're better as friends."
"Friends." I huff. "You really think guys and girls can be friends?"
"Sure. I've had plenty of friends who are girls."
I sit next to him, stirring my coffee. "And you never felt anything more? You never had feelings for any of them?"
"No." He gets up and takes his plate to the sink.
"Lucky bastard," I mutter.
He stands across from me. "Listen, Nate, I know what this is about. I talked to Riley last night and—"
"You talked to Riley?" I slam my mug down, spilling my coffee. "What the hell?"
"What? I'm not allowed to talk to her?"
"You can, but why'd you do it?"
"Because you came home pissed and I wanted to know what happened. Since you wouldn't tell me, I asked Riley."
"You called her?"
"Yeah, and then I went over there."
"Why would you go over there?"
"Because she was fucking upset. I don't know all the details of your little conversation last night, but whatever happened, Riley couldn't stop crying."
"She didn't tell you?"
"She said you told her you love her and when she told you she didn't feel the same way, you got pissed. Now she's scared you'll never talk to her again."
"Maybe I won't."
He reaches over and shoves my shoulder. "What the fuck's wrong with you? You'd end years of friendship because she doesn't want to date you? Seriously?"
"I'm not ending the friendship. But right now, I don't want to be around her."
"Then take a day or two to cool off, but not more than that. It's not fair to her. She didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry she turned you down, but you can't force someone to love you."
"You don't think I fucking know that?" I shake my head. "I'm going to my room. I don't feel like talking."
I storm down to my room and slam the door. I grab my laptop and start searching for jobs. Now that I know Riley doesn't want me, I want out of this town as fast as possible. Maybe I could even find something this summer. I'd rather stay and work at the pool, but not if means watching Riley date someone else.
"Nate?" my mom says, knocking on my door.
"I'm busy."
"I'll make it quick."
"What is it?"
She opens the door. "What's going on with you and Brad? It sounded like you two were fighting."
"We weren't fighting," I say, my eyes on my laptop.
"It sure seemed like it," she says, coming over to sit on my bed. "I heard raised voices."
"He was just annoying me. Telling me things I didn't want to hear."
"About Riley?"
My eyes flit to hers. "Who told you about Riley?"
"So this is about Riley. I was just guessing, knowing she's the only one who could make you this upset. What happened?"