Page 75 of Lost in the Current of You

We sat in silence for a while before we heard the shower shut off. Nate stood but a long yawn stopped him in his tracks before he swore under his breath.

I grabbed his arm before he could go see Reece. “I can look after him. You have an early flight tomorrow and I don’t want you to have no sleep before your flight back home. It’s already midnight.”

He shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

He tried to escape again but I pulled him back. “Nate, trust me. I can handle him. You go sleep.”

His eyes bounced between my own as if trying to read more into my words, but he released a sigh and dragged a hand through his hair.

“Fine, okay.” And then he pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me. A rare occurrence between us, and I tentatively hugged him back.

He squeezed me tighter before whispering in my ear, “Please be careful around him, Dakota.” I started to frown at his words, thinking it was a warning against me, but then he kept speaking. “You have a soft heart. I know you think you’re like our mother, ruthless and cold-hearted, but you are more like our father than you’ll ever know. He will break your heart — not the other way around.”

He pulled back then and tapped the top of my head. “I’ll see you when I see you,” he said, before nodding towards the closed door where Reece was still behind. “And keep him in line for me. Warn him next time I see him, he better be ready for his ass kicking.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I didn’t take you for someone to stick up for me.”

He frowned with a confused smile. “I always have, Dakota. You may not know it, but I’ve defended you more times than not.”

I opened my mouth but closed it soon after, not knowing what to say. He took my silence as a way to flee and waved goodbye as he left.

Reece stepped out then, basketball shorts hanging low on his hips as he used his towel to dry his hair. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at me, guilt and shame clouding them.

He looked around, noticing Nate’s missing presence. “Where’d he go?”

“He has an early flight tomorrow. I sent him off.”

His eyes flashed to mine again. “So you’re here to look after me?”

I tilted my head. “Partially. I’m here to make sure you go to bed and stay while I send everyone home.”

His lip twitched. “You gonna tuck me in too?”

I pressed my lips together. “I think you’re perfectly capable of that yourself.”

He chuckled as he slid into bed before groaning. “Everything is spinning.”

“Good. That’s what you get for being an idiot.”

He’s quiet for a moment and I turn to leave, but then his softly spoken words stop me. “I’m sorry.”

I should have known then how true Nate’s words were. That he would be the one to break my heart. Because as soon as that bare apology slipped through his lips, I was quick to forgive him. I didn’t even know what exactly he was sorry for, I just forgave him.

“It’s okay,” I whispered back and then headed for the door.

He stopped me once again, speaking in quick succession. “You’re coming back, right? You’re staying over?”

I looked over my shoulder at him, noting the heaviness in his eyes and the crack in his voice that he tried to hide. It would have been impossible for me to resist him. “I’m coming right back. I’m just sending everyone home.”

He relaxed back into the mattress and closed his eyes as he nodded.

It was maybe ten to fifteen minutes before the last person left. Avery and Alex had already left with Nate’s help, driving them home. I sent them a text message in the group chat to apologise for the mess that night was.

I quietly closed the door to Reece’s bedroom behind me, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, already passed out.

I stole one of his shirts to dress into, not wanting to sleep in a cropped top and high-waisted jean shorts, before carefully sliding in next to him and settling with my back to him.

As if sensing me immediately, his arm reached over, hand curving over my waist before pulling me against him. He snuggled into my neck, pressing a kiss there, and released a long sigh as if he was finally able to relax.

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