Page 60 of No Take Backs

My laughter was loud, raucous enough to draw Nate’s attention to me.

Sitting opposite me in the large booth, the seven bodies squeezed in tightly, Nate smiled. “Do I want to know?”

Amber leaned forward. “You two being dickheads and torturing me with farts.”

Amusement lit Nate’s face, his eyes twinkling in the low lighting and the occasional flashing of lights from the small dance floor. “It was an important learning experience for you,” he said.

“What, how boys stink?”

“Yup, and how they can be arseholes.” Nate followed up with a wink.

“Ooh, whose arsehole are we talking about, and is it pretty?”

Wide-eyed, I choked on air when Lenny’s question came out of nowhere. He wasn’t working tonight, so he was one of the seven people in our group.

“Wait,” Amber said, her voice carrying loudly over the chuckling group. “Buttholes are pretty? For real?”

Equally amused and mortified, I groaned. “Please don’t anyone answer my baby sister.”

“Hey, a woman needs to know these things,” she grouched.

“No, they don’t.” I glanced at Nate, silently pleading for help. The bastard laughed, looking far too delectable even when being unhelpful.

“Come on, Ryan, let’s head to the bar to save your delicate sensibilities,” he offered with a wide grin.

“Whatever, asshole.” I stood and eased out of the booth.

“I’ll have another cider. I’ll be fine here with my new teacher,” Amber threw out, high-fiving Lenny.

I shook my head, not-so-secretly happy she was having a great time. My happiness jumped a level or five when Nate led me to the far side of the bar, took hold of my hand, and urged me to the rear courtyard.

Grinning, I followed him eagerly as we wound around the tables and standing bodies. More than one appreciative glance was sent Nate’s way. I held on tighter, so damn lucky that we were here together.

As soon as we reached the far wall, Nate turned and backed toward it, allowing the wooden fence to support him. I stepped into his space without hesitation, not stopping until our bodies were flush and our mouths touched.

The kiss was fierce and all-encompassing and most definitely not appropriate for public viewing. Our tongues brushing against each other’s turned my brain to blissful mush. And I loved every single moment of it.

Nate pulled back first, his breathing heavy, pupils blown underneath the scattering of outdoor lighting. “You needed that about as much as I did, huh?” His gaze darted around my face, much like mine was his, drinking in his expression.

“And some,” I readily admitted.

Nate reached up and cupped my cheek, remaining silent. I swallowed hard, desperation threatening to crawl out of me. The words spilled out anyway. “How the fuck am I going to leave you in two weeks?”

Tightness appeared around Nate’s eyes as he winced. When he spoke, there was a roughness in his voice. “Let’s not think about that now.”

Emotion bubbled in my chest. “Maybe it would be okay if Amber knew about us.” Nate’s wide eyes, I was sure, matched my own. “All your friends here know,” I continued, conviction and desperation clinging to my words, “and I’m safe here, right, and—”

“Hey.” Nate cut off my rushed words. “Breathe, okay.”

I gasped and sucked in air, not even realizing I hadn’t inhaled for Christ knew how long. Nate studied me, gaze darting between my mouth and my eyes. Once I took a few steadying breaths, a smile touched his lips.

“Amber loves you. When you’re ready to tell her, it’ll be the right time, but it needs to be for you, and not just because I’m so irresistible you can’t stand not touching me.” Lightness lifted his last few words, and I smiled, suspecting that was his intention.

“I think me holding back is because telling her and Gran makes everything more real.”

Nate’s brows drew together as he nodded. “Okay?”

I shook my head. “No, I mean I’m gay, obviously.” I attempted a smile but wasn’t sure I pulled it off. But I needed him to understand that, like it or not, this… me coming out was everything to do with him, with us.

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