Page 15 of The Wrong Side Of Us

Glaring at him, I splashed water towards where he stood to no avail. This was far too embarrassing.

His mom had already found us having sex once after my Nana’s funeral. A repeat of that wasn’t something I looked forward to.

“Come on, Evie. They may show up here and find you naked in the lake, which wouldn’t exactly be good, either.”

I pouted, swimming up to the pier and covering myself up with my hands. Nathan chuckled, handing me my sweater dress, and I put it on as quickly as I could. He covered me up with the blanket and helped me put on my socks and boots. “It’s so cold,” I mumbled.

He gave me a small smile. “Come on,” he said as he turned around. “I’ll carry you.”

“Piggy back?” I asked, excited.

I didn’t even wait for his answer. I jumped on, and he caught me, chuckling as I wrapped my arms and legs around him. Thankful that he was carrying me, I let myself relax, simply taking in the beautiful sights that surrounded us. We’d figure out what to say to his parents and Carter when we got there.

Or rather, he would figure out what to say.

When we finally arrived, I tightened the blanket around me, hoping they wouldn’t be suspicious about what we had done.

But the curious eyes that met us along with a single raised eyebrow from Deborah said that they knew exactly what we had been doing. I blushed, hiding my face.

“We’re going to shower,” Nathan said, continuing to walk.

“Together?” I heard Carter’s alarmed voice.

“Yeah,” Nathan said.

“Oh my God,” I groaned, still hiding.

Once in the bedroom, Nathan set me down and went on to turn on the water, making sure it was warm for me. I smiled, grateful, and once again took off my clothes and soon stepped into the tub, letting the warmth engulf me.

“My mom has gone all out.”

“What do you mean?”

“She went a bit crazy when I told her that I was going to visit you yesterday, so she rushed out and bought a shitload of…clothes. Girl stuff.”

“You’re kidding.” Wide eyed, I saw how he entered the tub behind me. I leaned back on his chest, closing my eyes as his arms surrounded me. “She didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah. But she always wanted a daughter, and you’re the closest thing to that, so I didn’t say anything to her.”

“She’s too sweet. I wish my mom would have been like that.”

He tensed at the mention of my mom, but I thought nothing of it. Our past would always follow us around; there was no way to avoid it. However, when he spoke up again, I was the one to feel uncomfortable.

“Hannah called me a few days ago.” I pulled away from him, but his grip tightened, holding me still. “I’m only telling you because I don’t want secrets between us, Evie.”

“What did she say?”

“She wanted to know about you…said you weren’t answering her calls.”

“I didn’t know you were, either,” I replied.

“I didn’t know who it was.” Nathan pressed a kiss to the top of my head before continuing. “I told her it shouldn’t matter to her.”

I felt him squeezing my hand in comfort. This would never get easier…

I closed my eyes. “I wish it could have all been different.”

“I know, baby.”

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