Page 37 of Romancing the Grump
“So, what do you think?” I ask Franklin. “Can you ask around? See if Blake’s attorney is doing things right?”
“You got it. Anything for you. I’ll make some calls first thing tomorrow.”
We say goodbye, and I slip my phone into the side pocket of my leggings before making my way back to Nathan.
He’s leaning forward, his elbows propped on his knees. His phone is beside him on the bed.
“Well, I think that went well,” I say, sitting down beside him. “If anyone can sort this out, it’s Franklin. He’s so good and so smart, and I really think he’ll be able to help.”
Nathan slowly nods. “Yeah. That’s…thank you. I appreciate you doing that.”
There’s something slightly off about Nathan’s tone, but I can’t quite put my finger on what. It could just be that he’s feeling emotional about Blake finally getting some help. Or maybe he’s tired of my company?
He clears his throat. “So, Franklin, huh? Sounds like you know this guy pretty well.”
“Oh, yeah. Definitely. We went through all three years of law school together.”
“So, you two were…close.”
I pause, letting his words replay in my brain.
Could the weirdness I’m sensing actually be that Nathan is jealous?
Franklin has always been generous with his compliments, and he delivered more than one in our short conversation, a conversation Nathan heard in full.
I feel a sudden need to push, to see just how much Nathan will react. Not because I normally make a game out of pushing Nathan’s buttons, but because I get the sense thatdespite saying he doesn’t want a relationship, there’s something happening between us. I don’t think I’m imagining it, and now, I really need to know.
“Oh, yeah,” I say. “We were super close. He was my favorite study partner.” As was hisgirlfriend, now wife, Andi, who was also in law school with us. But I’m not about to admit that to Nathan. Not yet, anyway. “He used to bring me donuts from this little bakery right next to campus. Man, I loved those donuts.”
I don’t think I’ve ever made donuts sound so sultry, and my efforts absolutely pay off.
Nathan clears his throat again,loudly,then stifles a cough.
I shift, changing positions so I’m sitting directly beside him, our thighs touching.
“Nathan?” I ask, and he looks over at me, the skin above his beard revealing a touch of pink. “Why do you care how well I know Franklin?”
“I don’t,” he says quickly.Too quickly.“I just…want to make sure he’s someone we can trust.”
“I already told youItrust him,” I say.
“Right. You did. So…we’re good then. Thank you for reaching out to him.”
“I was happy to do it.” I lift a hand and tap my chin. “I do have one regret, though. We didn’t talk enough about Andi or the twins.”
“Andi?”
“Mmhmm. Franklin’swife.”
Nathan’s head swivels to face me. “Franklin is married?”
“And he was married theentiretime we were in law school,” I say.
“So you guys never dated?”
“Honestly, I would have dated him. He’s gorgeous and sweet and so fun to be around. But the man fell in love withAndi when he was fourteen, and they’ve been together ever since. They got married the summer after they finished undergrad.”
Nathan huffs and stands up. “You did that on purpose.”
