Page 56 of From Our First

I shook my head. “I didn’t.”

“Because you’re in shock over multiple things. They’ve had time to let it stew. They had to know some things wouldn’t go exactly in their favor.”

“I don’t know if I quite believe that. But, either way, I think I’m officially disowned.”

“I’m sorry.”

I sighed and took another sip of my whiskey and ginger ale. “I don’t think I can truly be sorry. I lost my family a long time ago. They kept pushing me out with each passing year. The way they looked at me today? I can’t ever go back. Even though I don’t know what of the past I would want to go back to.”

“I understand. Well, I don’t understand, because even though my parents don’t live here, any time one of us ends up in the hospital for longer than a single treatment, they’re right here.”

“I hate that you guys keep ending up there.”

He shook his head. “If our family could stop being shot at or stabbed, that would be great.”

I winced. “Yes. I’m tired of visiting the hospital.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with everything you have. But you’re through that step. And you’re not alone.”

“Do you want to go on a date with me?” I asked, surprising myself.

His eyes widened. “Are you asking because you’re going through a lot and you’re mourning right now? Because I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

I pressed my lips together before I let out a breath. “I have no idea what I’m doing, Nate. I feel like everything is slipping through my fingers like sand. But I’m tired of being afraid of what could happen and of what we lost. I can’t forget the way you are, and how you’re making me feel right now. Honestly, I’m just tired—of pushing, of fighting. We said we were going to start over. But I don’t think I can ever be only friends with you, Nathan. And I think that was always the problem.”

He stared at me for long enough that I squirmed, afraid I had said something stupid. That I’d pushed too hard or read the situation completely wrong.

He set down his glass, pulled mine from my hands, and tugged me to my feet.

“We were never going to be only friends, Myra. And that was the problem.”

And then his lips were on mine, and I could forget—just for a moment. We might be using each other, but I didn’t think it mattered.

Because I could get lost in him and the person he had been, as well as the man he was now.

And in his arms, I knew I wasn’t alone.

If only for the moment.

Chapter 14

Nate

“When I accidentally asked you outon this date, I wasn’t quite expecting this.”

I snorted as I looked down at Myra, shaking my head. “Did you just say ‘accidentally?’”

She shrugged, looking quite sexy in her little black getup as she pulled her hair back, tying it at the base of her skull.

“I didn’t go to your house thinking that I was going to ask you out. It wasn’t even on my mind. Even on the periphery. I simply blurted it out, and it felt right.” She looked at me then, and I wanted to reach out and grab her, kiss her and tell her that everything was going to be okay—even if I wasn’t quite sure I believed it.

“I’m delighted that you did, even though I have no idea if I would have asked you out. Mostly because we are excellent about never talking about the past.”

I leaned down and pressed my lips firmly to hers before leaning back and handing over her paintball gun.

“Okay, we’ve done this once before, though it’s been a few years. Do you need to relearn the basics?”

She shook her head and looked down at the weapon. “No, I remember. I’m not very good at it, but we’ll have fun.”

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