Page 35 of Falling Too Soon (Seasons of Love #1)

NATHAN

B randon had a shit-eating grin on his face as we entered the club.

Great, he was loving this a little too much.

I thought he’d be the safer option of my two brothers to come along with me, but I was beginning to rethink my choice.

Brandon was a workaholic and rarely went out to a club, but for me, he made an exception.

Let me rephrase: he did it, as he put it, for the wooing.

My brother, Brandon, a giant bear of a man with tattoos from chin to ankle, was a hopeful romantic.

Dylan was a player, and I was the relationship guy.

I knew if I invited Dylan, he would’ve bailed on me the moment he spotted his next conquest, whereas Brandon was in it for the plot.

He wanted me to get the girl, and he wanted to be the one to help.

I’d never hear the end of this from Dylan, though.

He thought this was the dumbest idea I’d ever had, even though it wasn’t my idea but Lexi’s.

When I sent that message to her, I didn’t know how or if she’d respond, but I was pleasantly surprised when I heard from her a couple of days later.

I explained that I really wanted to give things a go with her friend and asked if she thought Daphne could be open to it, though she had been shutting me out.

Lexi told me that Daphne had been miserable and moping around, probably missing me, but was too stubborn to admit it.

It surprised me that she confessed that, but I assumed she just had Daphne’s best interest at heart and wanted to help lift her friend’s sour mood.

Lexi gave me her address so I could send Daphne a few things to hopefully soften her toward me.

Then, when Lexi mentioned she had planned to go to this Halloween party and could probably coerce Daphne into going too, I decided I could “bump into her” there and shoot my shot again.

So there we were, walking into a Halloween party at a busy nightclub, me in a Scream mask and Brandon in a Jason mask.

We kind of phoned it in on the costume front, each wearing all black and our masks, but I wasn’t here for the costumes, the party, or anything else but to hopefully strike up a conversation with Daphne.

I was sure if I could get in front of her, things would progress naturally, just like they had in the cabin.

Brandon and I wedged ourselves into the closest bar and ordered a couple of drinks—a bourbon for me and a beer for him.

I turned, placing my back to the bar, lifted my mask to the top of my head, and took a long sip of my drink.

My gaze swept the perimeter of the dance floor, and I watched the door every time it opened to admit another partygoer.

I was halfway through my drink when they walked through the door.

Lexi had loosely told me what they’d be wearing so I could recognize them when they came in.

Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would have a thing for clowns, yet here I was, slack-jawed, eye-fucking the sexiest damn clown I had ever seen.

I would’ve spotted Daphne even if Lexi hadn’t told me they’d be dressed as clowns.

I would know that body anywhere. Her thick thighs and that juicy ass of hers were on full display, and all I wanted to do was hoist her over my shoulder and run out of there with her before anyone else got a look at her.

Instead, I lowered my mask and watched her.

She and Lexi made their way to the far side of the room to another bar. Several men who were obviously trying to buy them drinks immediately surrounded them. Lexi waved them off while Daphne was looking around, almost nervously. I kept my focus on her. Could she feel my eyes on her?

“Hey, is that them?” Brandon tipped his head in their direction as he nudged my side with his elbow.

He had laughed when I told him to be on the lookout for sexy clowns, but he wasn’t laughing now.

He looked as enthralled as I was, but his gaze was directed at Lexi.

Hmm. I’d have to circle back to that later because Daphne was now staring at me, staring at her from across the room.

Even through my mask, our eyes seemed to lock onto one another. It was as if she knew it was me.

“That’s her,” I said to my brother without taking my eyes off Daphne, and I pushed off the bar and made my way across the room. Daphne started toward me too, and we met in the middle of the now-busy dance floor.

“Are you following me?” she asked when we were about a foot apart, peering up at me with skeptical eyes and a stern look.

I lifted my mask with a smirk and she gasped, “Nathan? What are you doing here?” She looked completely surprised. I think she really thought I was someone who had followed her.

My smile was gone. “Someone was following you? What happened?” If she thought someone had followed her, what the hell was she doing confronting them?

“No, no, I thought I saw someone at the apartment, but I guess I imagined it.” She shook her head as if she were trying to shake off the memory. Then her beautiful, orbit-changing smile returned, and she directed it straight into my soul. “What are you doing here?”

“Come with me,” I said as I took her by the hand and guided her off the dance floor and into a quieter corner so we could talk. When I had her all to myself, I leaned in, my mouth inches from her ear. “I had to see you.”

She pulled away to look me in the eye. “How did you…ahh, fucking Lexi.” She shook her head and smiled.

“I thought it was weird how much effort she put into these costumes and how she insisted I come out tonight. You two are quite the team.” She leveled me with a fake look of displeasure, but I knew better.

She was happy to see me, and I hoped that we could pick things up where we left off, or at least start again .

“Don’t blame her. I’m not too proud to admit that I’ve been pretty desperate to see you, so I enlisted her help. I basically begged her.”

“I’m sure it took a lot of convincing,” she laughed. “Honestly, I’ve been a bit of a sad sack these past couple of weeks, but getting your special deliveries helped brighten my mood. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out to thank you.”

“I’m glad I could help your mood and there’s no need to thank me. I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you. I hope you don’t mind.” I winced.

“Not at all. I’ve been thinking a lot about you, too.” She nervously looked down at her feet. “I should’ve called or texted, but I’m still sorting out some things and didn’t want to drag you into my drama.” She stared down at her hands, not meeting my eyes.

I reached out and cupped her face in my hands and lifted her chin so she was gazing into my eyes, “Baby, you could drag me into anything, and I’d gladly follow.”

The smile she gave me was so bright and so genuine, and it brought me right back to our first meeting in the cabin.

Then she lifted onto her toes and kissed me on my cheek.

Not where I wanted it, but I’d take whatever she was willing to give.

A high-top table nearby opened up, so we grabbed it and then spent some time catching up.

We chatted as if no time had passed, the conversation flowing as easily as before.

“Shit, I wonder if Lexi is okay. I totally forgot I was supposed to be her wing woman tonight,” she said as she scanned the crowd .

“I wouldn’t worry about her. I asked Brandon to keep her company while we caught up.” And by the way Brandon had been checking her out before, I was sure it wasn’t going to be much of a burden.

“Your brother has no idea what he agreed to, my friend. Lexi is a lot,” she giggled and then pushed back in her chair. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to run to the bathroom.”

She practically bounced out of sight on her way to the back of the club, and I watched her every move with a grin plastered on my face. I was so fucked.