Page 93 of The Wrong Side Of Us

“I’m not going to, Evie. That was the worst,” he whispered. “Knowing I was in there and that you were alone out here, trying to figure out what to do, was…”

He swallowed, and for the first time since I met him, there was vulnerability in his eyes. He’d been just as frightened, even more. I brought my hands to his face, then let it tangle in his dark locks while he pressed his forehead against my own.

“I didn’t know if I was getting out of there, Evelyn.”

The tears I was trying to keep at bay bubbled over. My heart ached for us, for Nathan. We’d been through so much lately, and I’d been so focused on my pain, I didn’t think about his. He had to be hurting too.

I stood on my toes, pressing my lips against his and kissing him softly. Peace ran its course through my veins, calming every nerve that had been on edge for the past hours. Our hearts beat to the same crazy rhythm.

I scolded myself in that moment.

How could I want to change?

He loved me for who I was. He loved this crazy, pregnant woman who loved too much, who felt too much. He cherished me, had never judged me for being who I was.

As if reading my mind, he broke this kiss and whispered against my lips the sweetest words. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

Nathan wrapped his arms around me and held me there in the middle of the kitchen as we both tried to ease out of the dark place we were in. Deep in my heart, I knew these were the trying times we would look back on when we were old and wrinkly in a nursing home. We’d look back at them with fondness, knowing that in the end this made us stronger. This was a story our kids would hear to give them hope and strength when they went through a rough spot, when they didn’t think that they could get out of a difficult situation.

Between us, our biggest motivation let us know that we weren’t alone with a kick.

Nathan chuckled, kissing me yet again while caressing my bump. “We’ll get out of this together, okay?”

If we had each other, we could get through anything.

After eating breakfast together, which ended up being my preferred cereal and catching up on more sleep, Nathan and I spent most of the day with the TV on yet not paying attention to it. We talked and talked about our plans or we just laid in silence, memorizing the feel of each other’s touch.

“I’m going to talk to Jessica.” I hummed, picking at the t-shirt he wore. “I’ll see if I can sell my part or something…I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.”

“I feel bad about this.” The last thing I wanted was for him to give up his dream. Nathan worked hard to get to where he was, and for him to give it up hurt.

“It’s not your fault, but you’re right. I can’t work with her if she’s going to pull stunts like this. My relationship with you comes first. I can find a job anywhere.”

“You always do so much for me.”

When I was younger, I always thought that finding love was as simple as loving someone and having them love you back.

With Nathan, I learned I was completely wrong.

When I found love, I found the person who accepted me for me. He chose to evolve and grow with me. I’d found my peace in the middle of war, my glimmer of hope when surrounded by darkness.

The silence surrounding us came to a sudden end when my phone started ringing. I groaned, standing up to begin the search for the device that dared interrupt the calmness surrounding us. Nathan smacked my ass playfully as I walked away, keeping his eyes glued to me in such a loving manner it took all my effort not jump on him.

“Who is it, babe?” Nathan asked.

Without warning, my hand trembled at the familiar phone number, one I hadn’t seen in a very long time. At the lack of response, Nathan stood up, walking in my direction with caution. I swallowed, forcing a small smile. “Give me a minute?”

He frowned but nodded.

Knowing I was going to need time alone after the answering the phone call, I made my way to the balcony, taking a deep breath.

“This is a call from an inmate from Pennsylvania State Prison. Do you wish to proceed?”

No.

Yes.

I don’t know.

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