Page 53 of Fireworks

My mind immediately went back to the day he watched over me when I had passed out at the pool. I had been so agitated by his presence, but his body still felt so good pressed up against mine, just like it did now. It was a feeling of security and brought peace knowing I was safely wrapped up in him.

“You’re not getting out of telling me what’s going on in that pretty little head, darlin’. I’m just going to let you sleep first.”

Damn. Hopefully he will forget by morning.

Rolling over, I was met with a void next to it instead of the muscular body that it had fallen asleep next to. Springing upright, my eyes scanned the room. Nothing. The sight of the bathroom door being open made my stomach turned on itself. He got what he needed; it shouldn’t surprise me he would disappear after. Rubbing my hand over my face, I thought of what he might tell everyone when he gets there without me. They’d believe whatever he said, they always did.

As I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, regret filling my body, the door swung open. Nate, with his baseball cap backwards, pushed his way into the room, closing the door behind himself with his foot. As he looked up at me, he placed a bag and a drink caddy down on the table.

“Good morning darlin’. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

I snapped back unintentionally.

“Well, with the amount of noise you’re making.”

The corners of his smile turned downward as he stopped midway between the table and the bed. Being nasty to him had come so naturally around him after so many years. It was like I couldn’t turn it off. Or maybe it was more of a coping mechanism. The same way it was easier all those years to hate him rather than let him destroy my heart.

Without letting him speak again, I grabbed my bag rushing into the bathroom to change for the day. Splashing my face with cold water, I looked back at my reflection. I could do this. Just because last night happened didn’t mean I should have any expectation of it happening again.

That wasn’t the guy Nate was. I’d see him with dozens of girls over the years. Maybe one or two would grace our presence more than once, but never more than twice. I had just lost my virginity to someone who collects partners’ names like a kid with baseball cards. Inhaling deeply, I mentally prepared myself before opening the door.

“I didn’t know if you preferred orange juice or coffee more these days, so I got you both. There are eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon, basically everything. It won’t taste as delicious as what your mom cooks, but it’ll do to get us through a few hours until I can find somewhere to sit down and eat.”

He smiled back at me while taking a sip of his drink. Was he going to just pretend everything was fine right now?

“I’m not hungry.”

It wasn’t a lie. My stomach was doing backflips at the thought of our car ride and then having to lie to everyone about how it went.

“Katie, you haven’t eaten since we left yesterday. Please, just sit down and at least have a piece of toast.”

The food didn’t look half bad. I grabbed a piece of toast and sat back down on the edge of the bed, pulling my phone out of my pocket. My mom had texted me they were boarding their flight and she would text me when they landed.

Ryder had texted me too, checking if I made it through the night. I had been texting her for the first half of the car ride, complaining about how much it sucked to be stuck in his truck. She suggested I try to talk it out with him, which I immediately shut her down.There was no way I was talking to him,I believe were my exact words. Now here I sat, having done way more than talking to him.

The silence in the room was almost as intolerable as the sound of his chewing pancakes. He was completely unfazed by our decisions last night. Bringing his cup to his mouth again, he took a long sip before placing it back down in front of him.

“So, you going to tell me what was going on in your head last night? I haven’t slept that good in months, but I take it you didn’t sleep as well.”

Damn, I was hoping he forgot. I slept just fine wrapped in his arms, but that I’d never have that again made my stomach pull itself tighter.

“I slept fine. It was nothing. Let’s just finish so we can get on the road.”

I didn’t want to be stuck in such close quarters any longer than I needed to. My heart couldn’t take it.