Page 28 of Coming Home

“So, there werenoorgasms.”

“We were eighteen. Neither of us knew what we were doing. Plus, we only had sex once.”

“Why only once? Was itthatbad?” Summer’s face contorted in apologetic lamentation.

Nat blew out a heavy breath. “No. It was fine. It’s just…it was a mistake.”

Summer’s head jerked. “Mistake? What happened?”

“No. Not like that. It was consensual. I just wasn’t in a good headspace. We dated for almost two years. There was lots of kissing and a few make-out sessions worthy of a CW show, but I wasn’t in a rush to have sex.”

“Was he?”

“No… I mean, he was a teenage boy, so he was down. He never pushed me, though. Not for sex.”

“Why’d you have sex then?” Summer’s tone was soft and coaxing.

“Evan.” She closed her eyes. “He’d died. Everything was a mess. I just wanted to feel anything but what I was feeling. It wasn’t fair to Duncan. It wasn’t fair to me. We had sex, and two weeks later I broke up with him.”

“Because of the sex?”

“No. I mean, I don’t know. He just wanted more of me than what I was able to give. The sex took the relationship to the next level. Only while Duncan and the relationship were at that level, I was still a step below.”

That day flooded her senses.Duncan’s red-rimmed eyes imploring her to stay. The things she returned clenched in his hands. The tapping of the rain on the porch roof. The squish of her sneakers in the wet grass as she left him on the porch and crossed to her car.

“He deserved better. He still does. I can’t keep letting myself get caught up with what will never be.”

Summer placed a hand atop Nat’s. “It will never be if you never tell Noah how you feel.”

“Despite what you say, my life isn’t like a bad romance novel. Noah’s not going to fall head over feet for his best friend’s little sister.”

“Who says he hasn’t already?” Summer asked smugly.

“If the people who think you’re still Regina George only knew you’re actually a cross between Marmee and Beth fromLittle Women.”

A bashful smile tugged at her lips. “Thanks.”

“Of course, we know I’m Amy March.” Naturally, she’d be the youngest March sister whose artistic skills matched her own craftiness.

“And Noah’s your Laurie.”

Forehead wrinkled, Nat slipped her hand from beneath Summer’s and glittered her face. It was a very Amy March thing to do, after all.

CHAPTER TEN

“Be comforted, dear soul! There is always light behind the cloud.”~Louisa May Alcott,Little Women

“Are you a doctor?” Sally asked, swinging her tiny legs over the edge of the exam table.

“I am.” Nat smiled, placing her tablet on the small desk anchored to the wall.

“But you don’t have a bow tie.”

“Sally,” Emma, her mom, chided, twisting to Nat with an apologetic expression.

“It’s alright.” A wry grin spread on Nat’s face. “Nope. I don’t have a bow tie.”

“Why don’t you have a bow tie?” Sally looked at Nat and then at her mom, who sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair in the corner.

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