Page 57 of Why Not Us?

He looks at me again like he wants to argue but realizes he has no chance so takes a breath. “Well, I was going over some finances the other day, and I’m a little behind on a couple things. I was wondering if I could borrow some money. You know, just for a few weeks.”

Adalie lets out a breath. “We can talk about it, yeah. How much do you need?”

He looks at me again and I have the feeling he’s going to ask for something ridiculous andheknows she’s going to say yes. Before he can ask for anything, their mom calls, “Dinner’s ready.”

Adalie turns to Elliot. “Talk after dinner?”

He nods and we return inside. They’ve seated me across from Adalie and I hate it. I want to be next to her. I want to be able to touch her. Regardless, I’m ready to step in if they start any more shit. At first, everyone is quiet as they dish out food. Calista starts rambling about some party she went to the night before. But there’s tension around the table and it’s only a matter of time before they go after her again.

I’m practically sitting on the edge of my seat as I wait for the first attack, knowing it’s coming. Adalie has told me a little bit about her family. It’s why I wanted to come with her today, to be here for her. I hadn’t expected the viciousness though.

However, what Ishouldhave expected is, when they start in on her again, they do it through me.

“Areyouthe reason she got that awful stain on her skin?” her mother asks me.

“Mom,” Adalie says. “My tattoo was my decision. Leave Nate alone.”

“I’m just wondering where you got the idea,” she continues, looking my arms up and down with disdain.

“Lots of people have tattoos,” Adalie says. “All my friends have them. Spencer has two, Vic has at least three, and Derek has like six.”

“If your friends jump off a bridge, are you going to do it, too?” her mother asks.

I think of bungee jumping but don’t mention it.

“All I’m saying is,” Adalie says far more calmly than I would have, “Nate didn’t convince me to do this. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. He just helped me find a good artist.”

“So heisthe reason,” her mother says with a sniff. “I’m not surprised. Calista told me she met you before and that you’re a single father. The tattoos, the motorcycle, and you can’t manage a responsible relationship—”

Adalie stands abruptly. “No,” she says, cutting her mother off before I can. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to you belittle him. You know nothing about Nate. You haven’t even let me introduce him. You look at him, see the motorcycle, the leather jacket, and the tattoos and think you know who he is, but you don’t.”

“Adalie, don’t be so dramatic,” her mom says. “I was only saying—”

She draws herself up to her full height. “I don’t want to hear what you were saying. Come on, Nate. It’s time for us to go.”

I don’t argue. I simply stand as well, coming around the table and placing a supportive hand on the small of Adalie’s back.

“Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Murphy,” I say, because being polite will piss this woman off. I grab our jackets from the living room, and we start toward the front door.

“Wait,” her dad says. “Adalie, come back to the table this instant.” His tone brooks no argument, but she doesn’t listen. She continues down the stairs, pulling on her boots and zipping them up.

Her parents follow us, but stay at the top of the stairs, watching as I hold out Adalie’s jacket for her then shrug into mine.

Adalie doesn’t look back at them when she opens the door and we go outside. As soon as the door closes behind us, her posture deflates. She sags and her hands cover her face.

“Hey,” I say. “Are you okay?”

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry. They were awful to you. I should never have brought you here. I knew they were going to be terrible. I’m so sorry.”

I grip her wrists, pulling her hands away. Tears stand in her eyes.

“Awful tome? Adalie.” I shake my head. “Do you think the way they do?”

“Of course not.”

“Then don’t apologize. Your opinion is the only one that matters to me.”

She blinks up at me, swallowing as her gaze drops to my lips. I realize how close we’re standing and remember all the times we’ve almost kissed in the last few weeks. I glance up at the front window of the house and I can tell someone is there, watching us, though I can’t see who. It could be the whole fucking family.

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