Nathan’s eyes finally come to mine. “Don’t lie Guinevere; it doesn’t suit you.”
“And finally he looks at me.” I sigh and release my hold on him. He doesn’t release me though and I’m unsure as to why. “Why are you angry with me?”
“I’m not angry with you.” He snaps quite loudly. “I’m angry with myself.”
“For?”
He takes a step back and runs his fingers through his hair. “For deluding myself.”
“Deluding yourself?”
“Into thinking…” He lets out a breath and steps into my space, his body only an inch from mine. “Into thinking you felt even a fraction of what I hoped you did.” My eyes widen of their own accord and my body goes slack, giving him the perfect opportunity to move me out of the way. He climbs into the car and shuts the door. After rolling the window down he grips the steering wheel with both hands and stares straight ahead. “That’s my mistake.”
I don’t say anything. What can I say? I’m officially baffled.
“Nathan.” I call softly as he starts the engine.
“Guys like me never win.” Guys like him? He puts the car in gear. “It’s high time I realised that.” He finally reverses away.
Why do I feel guilty? Does… does Nathan… no. He’s just… But... None of this makes sense.
I’m in denial. Everything Nathan did whilst I lived with him, everything all pointed to one conclusion. He even asked me to marry him! At first I thought it was out of some strange duty to the fiancée and child his brother left behind. He wants me. Or he did.
Does he still? His actions just now really point to the answer yes.
I head back inside, my mind no longer accepting of my date. I can lie to myself all I want, but that’s what this is. It’s a date. No longer do I even want to entertain the idea of seeing another man. What’s worse is Caleb isn’t the only reason behind my sudden change of heart. Nathan seems to be the most prominent one right now. I really don’t want to hurt him. The thought of it is abhorrent to me.
So even as I sit beside Eric and laugh at the things he says as we share a bag of popcorn, I decide today is the last I’m going to see of him. Tomorrow I’m going to see Nathan and resolve this mess right away.
Eric leaves late with promises to call. I have to admit he’s a lot of fun to be around and I’m glad he didn’t try to kiss me at the end.
My mum just left for work, so I have the house to myself.
I’m about to call Nathan so I can talk to him about earlier when I hear the door open and close. My body tenses and my mind instantly goes on alert. Who could it be?
Feet pound up the stairs and I don’t have time to reach for the lamp to defend myself before the door is swinging open. My heart hits my throat before falling out of my arse and jumping out of the nearest window. My brain follows it as I stare mindlessly at an infuriated looking Nathan.
“Umm… hi?” I say this questioningly and cross my legs on the bed. “Is there a reason you’re barging in on me like this?”
His chest heaves as he takes in my room with watchful eyes. “No.” Then it dawns on me and my cheeks heat at the same time as my anger rises.
“Were you checking to see if…” I let my words trail off as Nathan steps into the room and starts rummaging through my closet. What the fuck is wrong with him? “Umm… what are you doing?”
“Put this on.” He barks and throws a thigh length black dress at me. “And these.” A pair of kitten heel black pumps land at my feet.
“Why?”
He glares at me. I almost forgot how scary that was, “Because I’m bored. I want to use you as my personal Barbie doll.” Did he just roll his eyes at me? “I want to take you somewhere.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m bored.” Oh, so that part was true at least.
“Fine.” I don’t argue; there’s no point.
“Shower. Wash his stink off you.” He snarls and slams the door behind him. I hear his footsteps pound on each stair as if punishing it for his bad mood. Gulp.
I think maybe I made him mad.
CHAPTER SIX
“You look stunning.” Nathan says with admiring eyes that make me feel a tad uncomfortable and also slightly heated. “Let’s go.”
I shouldn’t go with him after the way he’s been talking to me and treating me, but I remind myself over and over that as angry as I want to be with him for being an arsehole towards me, I want to understand him more. For that to happen he needs to let me in. He deserves to have somebody at least try. So I take a calming breath.
“Where?” I ask and allow him to lead me to the car.
“You’ll see.” His cryptic response annoys my curiosity to no end.
I change the subject, knowing that asking him again will only result in a similar answer meaning the same thing. “I have to admit, I’m not happy about you giving up your Dillan time. It’s not like you get much of it.”
He nods. “Yes, well, needs must.” What kind of a response is that? “Come, I’m certain you’ll enjoy yourself.”
“What’s with the sudden one eighty? You hated me and now you don’t?” I don’t want to push him into doing another one eighty, but I need to know why he’s suddenly changed his mind.
“I never hated you, Guinevere.” He sighs and helps me into the car. Yep, he’s definitely a gentleman. “Music? The radio is yours to enjoy.”
“Seriously?” I grin a grin of disbelief. “I never get control of the radio.”
“That’s because your taste in music is appalling.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the top forty. I respond haughtily and turn on the beats.
“Just promise me something.” His teasing tone piques my interest and I nod for him to continue. “Don’t sing; my ears can’t handle the pain.”
My mouth falls open. I slap his arm and turn away from him, feigning offense. This only makes him laugh harder. I’ve missed the sound. “Meanie.”
“You’re good to look at and your voice is very… gentle and soothing. Until you sing that is.”
“Caleb used to say I’d fit in perfectly with a group of very sick cats.”
“I’m sure they’d accept you into their choir if they were to have one.” He jests and places his leather clad hand on my knee.
“When have you ever heard me sing anyway?” It’s not like I was in a sing song kind of mood during the time I lived with him.
He shrugs. “After Dillan was born you started humming and singing. It was wonderful for a while as it showed that you were happy again, to a certain extent at least.”
“Oh.” I shift my knee to the side so his hand slides onto the seat and stare out of the window. “I miss my little man.”
Nathan moves his hand away and rubs it against his own thigh for a moment.
We’re driving for twenty minutes before we pull up outside of a large building I don’t recognize. It looks to be like some kind of Chinese restaurant, very fancy and it definitely holds the typical Chinese restaurant theme.