Page 104 of Blindly Yours

Nate sits forward and clasps his hands together. “Look, I’m not the jealous type. I’m not going to sit here and make assumptions. But even if you didn't eat, you still had to sit with him, and he made you uncomfortable. I wish you would have told me.”

“I know.” I glance up and nod quickly. “It won’t happen again.”

Nate shakes his head and regards me carefully. “Were you afraid to tell me?”

I chew on my lip. “It really meant nothing. It was short. He didn’t stay long, so I just thought maybe it wouldn’t matter.”

“Well, I’m a firm believer in communication and honesty,” he says. “Even if it meant nothing, it still seems like something you shouldn’t keep secret.”

“No, I completely agree.”

There’s a pause before he speaks again. “This is the guy who almost crashed his car with you in it, right?”

“Yeah,” I half-whisper.

Nate looks a little pale in the face. He shifts in his seat and his jaw twitches, but he takes a deep breath. “I’ll be honest. The thought of you spending any time with him doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Oh, me too,” I agree quickly. “I wish he’d quit showing up.”

“So…” He eyes me carefully. “If the guy demands lunch again and won’t leave you be, just text me.”

I look out the window. “I should have been firmer with him the first time. I shouldn’t have to have to ask you to save me from that.”

Nate’s voice softens. “You know I’d be there though, right?”

He’s being too kind about all this. I kept this from him and then invited him over to be ridiculed and insulted by my parents. The weight of my actions begins to sink in quickly and a lump forms in my throat. I’ve never been so ashamed. I try to hold it in, but a tear drops onto Daisy’s fur.

“I’m so sorry…” I whisper, casting my gaze down and wiping my cheek.

There’s a shuffle as Nate crosses the room and sinks onto the sofa next to me. He takes my hand as Daisy jumps off my lap, annoyed at the intrusion.

“Rose,” he says softly.

“You shouldn’t be so nice to me,” I sniffle.

He lets out a short laugh. “Why shouldn’t I be nice to you?”

I continue staring at our hands in my lap, watching the way he runs his warm thumb gently across mine. “If I would have pulled something like this—had lunch with an ex—when I was with Malcolm, he probably wouldn’t have spoken to me for days.”

“I’m not Malcolm.” Nate’s voice is deep and disapproving.

“I know…” I shake my head as another tear escapes. “You’re you. And that’s the thing…” I take a rattling breath, wishing I could hold back what I’m about to say, but it pours out. “You were so happily married. I’m sureshewould have never treated you this way. I mean, you had a child with her. You went through it all, and you were strong together. And she got ripped away and now…” I sniffle, “you’re dealing with me, and I feel so immature and I’m making a fool of myself, and you just…deserve better.”

Nate takes a deep breath and sits up taller. “Rose.”

My lip trembles.

He breathes again and hooks his finger under my chin, lifting it until my eyes meet his. “Do you know why I’m dating you?”

His expression is tender. So tender, I look past his shoulder and shrug. “I guess you thought I was pretty. And Kara seems to like me.”

Nate raises his brow and almost smiles. “You think I’m dating you because Kara likes you?”

I shake my head and look down again. “I really don’t know.”

He takes both of my hands in his. “When Amber died, I never thought I’d feel that spark with someone again.” He swallows. “I didn’t think it was possible. I was broken for a long time. It probably explains thegrumpinessyou so affectionately disliked when we first met.”

I stare down through tear-rimmed eyes and study the paths the veins take across his hands.

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