Page 50 of Somewhere Only We Know
Bryce puts his arm around my shoulder and leads us forward. “Nate, I love you like a brother, but you are a grumpy, broody bastard. And have been since the day we met.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Thanks I guess.”
“You’re welcome,” Bryce accepts the fake gratitude, “but you’ve been a little less grumpy and less broody and we think it has to do with a certain 5 '2 someone.”
I look at Bryce like he’s insane, but don’t call him out because, and I’ll never admit it, he’s right.
“Don’t even deny it.” Chance tells me. “I saw you eyeing her in the limo.”
“The longing, the yearning,” Bryce calls with a hand on his chest but groans and folds in half when I elbow him in the stomach.
“What Romeo means—” Chance starts and we tip our head to the door being opened for us. “—is that if anyone can make you less grumpy and less broody, it’s Jax.”
“Gee,” I muse. “What gave that away?” I ask dryly. I’m asmuch of an open book than anything, except for my relationships. But these two know me too well.
“Nate, we sense your sarcasm and because we love you, we’re gonna let it slide.” Bryce says and moves past me with a pat on the shoulder when we get to our table.
“We really only want what’s best for you.” Chance gives my other shoulder a squeeze before heading to the table as well.
I shake my head and follow the sunshine twins to the table. When I get there, their twin grins are something out of a horror film when I see the only seat left is next to Jax.
25
JAX
Ishoot daggers at the table. I knew something was up when Sophie and Kamryn had the hostess take away the extra chairs. And as they hide their smiles behind their drinks I think of ways to get back at them. I certainly can’t poison their food. Plus, I’m too pretty for prison. But I’ll think of something. And I keep thinking until my sort-of friend Nate takes the only empty seat next to me. I knock back my rose and set the empty glass on the table. I really should eat something as the alcohol is starting to make my head fuzzy.
“Are you catching on?” Nate whispers to me only.
I let out a sigh and keep the others in my sight, but angle my head to him. “They’re Parent Trapping us.”
His soft snort is one of confirmation. “Yeah, I can see that now.”
A server comes over and drops off a few complimentary bread baskets on the table before taking our orders. My stomach rumbles loud enough for Nate to hear, if the smile on his face is any indication, and he reaches forward to set up our pre-appetizer.
When he sets the small plate in front of me, I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Play along,” Nate tells me so only I can hear and holds out the piece of bread to me.
He’s in my line of sight but I don’t miss the others in the background with their attention on us. I lean forward and take a bite of the small piece. My lips brush against his fingers and I see his eyes solely focused on the spot they touched. I sit back in my seat and chew the piece, keeping my eyes locked on him the entire time. Nate’s eyes stay on my lips and trail down to my throat when I swallow and I’ve never needed a glass of water more in my life.
“Anyone else a little flushed?” Someone whispers and we finally break our stares.
I pick up my newly refilled glass of rose and use that to cool me down. Nate sits back in his chair and with his spread thighs, one presses into mine. I could move my leg, but I don’t. I revel in the feel of him pressed against me and when I finally lift my eyes to the rest of the table, I feel like I’m under a microscope.
“Yes?” I ask, as if Nate and I have been friendly since forever and him feeding me bread is perfectly normal.
“Did you two want some privacy?” Chance asks with a teasing tone in his question.
“I needed to feed her,” Nate begins, “Jax’s stomach grumbling was aggressive enough to cause an earthquake.”
I reach under the table and pinch his thigh. Or at least I try to. The man has thighs as solid as a rock. God bless baseball.
“It was not that loud. He’s being so dramatic,” I finally speak up. I polish off the rest of my glass, because seriously, the microscope keeps getting more intrusive. “Tough crowd,” I murmur so only Nate can hear me.
He chuckles and leans forward on the table. Giving his attention to whatever Bryce is waving his hands about. While Nate and I had our moment this morning, I’m still walking on eggshells around him. Letting him in and just giving into the history that we have–it would be so easy to drop all of my walls around Nate.
Our server brings out our food and my mouth waters at the pasta sat in front of me. But my gaze can’t help but notice the pizza on Nate’s plate. Jerk. He knows my food weaknesses. Specifically pasta and pizza.
