Page 16 of The Wrong Side Of Us

For the longest time, I simply lay in his arms, thinking how every moment in our lives had led to this, to being with him. I understood that no matter how painful and troublesome it had been, it all had a purpose.

It wasn’t until I heard Nathan’s voice whispering in my ear that I realized I was falling asleep. We rinsed off, and he wrapped me up in a towel before I laid down naked in his bed.

He soon joined me, pulling me close to his chest.

“Isn’t everyone going to be waiting for us?” I asked sleepily.

“Afternoon nap.” He tilted my face up and kissed me softly, letting his lips linger against mine until we both were fast asleep.

Chapter 7

Evelyn

Later that day, we all went to the gallery. Nathan wanted to show it off to his parents and Carter, and none of us minded. When we arrived, the light to the gallery was on, and Nathan raised his eyebrows, surprised.

“I’m guessing Jesse is still here,” Nathan noted.

“Your business partner?”

Nathan nodded. “Come on.”

We all stepped out of the car as Nathan unlocked the door to the gallery. He held the door open for all of us while we walked inside. I smiled, feeling like even this place was home. It was so…Nathan. Everything about it screamed it was his place of comfort.

“Let me see if Jesse is in the office,” Nathan said once we were inside.

I nodded, waving him off while I began analyzing the paintings. My heart swelled with pure joy when I realized that I hoped to share more of these moments for the rest of my life with Nathan…only with him.

“I’m so proud of him,” I heard Deborah say next to me. Her eyes glistened with tears as she stared at the painting in front of us, the one I had been looking at before he snuck up behind me.

“I am too,” I said, interlocking arms with her.

The woman smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. “He sent me a picture of this painting after he finished it. I knew it was you as soon as I saw it.”

Blushing, I shrugged, leaning my head on her shoulder. I felt comfortable with her.

“I was worried for the longest time about him, you know? I wasn’t sure if he’d get his head on straight, especially when I realized he was staying married to Hannah, until you came along and he started talking about you. I knew then he would be just fine.”

“How did you know?”

She laughed softly. “A mom always knows.” Deborah pulled away, giving me a pointed stare. “I hope to see a ring on that finger soon.”

“We’ve been back together for three seconds,” I shrieked.

Nathan’s voice—no, laughter—interrupted Deborah’s attempt to speak.

Followed by more laughter.

A woman’s laughter.

Nathan approached us with a woman at his side. She was tall, slender, with curves in all the right places, her reddish hair up in a ponytail. Her smile was bright, too fucking friendly for my taste. Her blue eyes sparkled as she gently placed her hand on Nathan’s arm while they spoke about something.

She looked familiar.

I felt Deborah tense next to me, and both Carter and Frank had a look of dread on their faces.

“Ooh, don’t forget I need to show you that other painting I finished,” she spoke. Her voice was so damn chirpy I instantly hated it.

Nathan nodded, his gaze falling on me. “Listen, Jesse, I want you to meet my family.”

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