Page 49 of The Wrong Side Of Us

Lip quivering, I hugged him again.

Late into the evening, Carter and Nathan’s parents were still at the condo. While I didn’t mind and enjoyed the company, I was getting tired. I yawned, leaning my head on Nathan’s shoulder while the movie played, my eyes fluttering close.

“Go to bed,” he murmured.

I hummed, standing up groggily. After saying goodnight to everyone, I went to bed, falling into deep sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

***

My eyes fluttered open early in the morning. The light from outside was barely coming in, illuminating the perfect man sleeping next to me. I bit my lip, running my hand over his stubble-covered cheek and slowly running my thumb over his bottom lip.

He was my anchor.

I was his light in the darkness.

He didn’t have to say it, didn’t have to do anything. Just the way Nathan looked at me, I knew that he needed me to breathe. It’s the type of love that never goes away, the type of love that both strengthens you and makes you weak. The one that is stronger than its obstacles, stronger than anything surrounding you.

Regardless of the pain we had been through and the ways we had almost drifted apart, we were together now, and that was all that mattered.

A sleepy smile formed on Nathan’s handsome face as he opened a single eye.

“You’re staring at me,” he mumbled, placing a kiss on my forehead. “How did you sleep?”

“Good, I didn’t even feel you come into bed last night.” I ran my hand through his hair, watching how his eyes closed again. He relaxed under my touch, sighing as he laid his head back on the pillow. ”At what time are you going to the gallery?” I asked him, nuzzling his neck.

“Noon, when Jesse goes out to eat.”

I ran my hand down his chest. I didn’t want to spend the day alone at the apartment thinking about the situation with Hannah, but I knew I couldn’t follow along behind Nathan if he was going to be busy.

“Do you want to join?” I glanced up, surprised. It was as if he’d read my mind. “I know you,” Nate murmured, brushing away my hair.

He did know me.

When we arrived at the gallery, it was relatively calm even with the people that were there. Nathan placed a kiss on my temple before going back to the office to see if Jesse was there.

I looked around the gallery as I waited for Nathan to come back around, always mesmerized with the various paintings in sight.

However, I jumped back, startled when someone placed a warm hand over my shoulder.

Green eyes sparkled in amusement while a genuine smile adorned Derek’s face. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“How about that coffee?”

Chapter 19

Evelyn

“How about that coffee?”

I shifted on my feet, glancing nervously towards the office. On one hand, I didn’t want to be rude and turn him down when he had been nothing friendly to me, but on the other, my relationship with Nathan was more important than anything.

“I’m not sure that it’s a good idea,” I replied with a small smile.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s okay, I understand.” Derek glanced over to the other side of the gallery. “Want to see the painting I’m buying?” he asked, changing the subject.

I didn’t see why I shouldn’t, so I nodded. Soon we were in front of the one piece we had looked over during the exhibition.

“It’s so pretty. I’m glad you’re buying it,” I said honestly. It was one of the more beautiful pieces there; Derek appreciated it.

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