Page 57 of Nathan
“Yes. You looked happy with Storm, you know?”
The sun was low in the sky now, and feeling a bit cold, I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them. “So you decided to punish me for breaking your heart.”
“I wouldn’t say that you broke my heart, but definitely River’s. I was more disappointed and confused.”
“Which is why you agreed to set me up to get my heart broken in return.”
Brushing his hands over his pants again, Nathan looked at me. “I’ll be the first to admit it was a petty and stupid thing to do, but I’m protective of those I love, and we were all angry with you.”
“Itwaspetty!” I said in a harsh tone before I added more softly, “But if I’m honest, I might have done the same if someone hurt my sister.”
We sat in silence for a moment before Nathan stood up and reached out his hand to me. “You’re cold. Let’s head back to the cabin.”
I could make a fuss and tell him I wasn’t coming back with him, but I was hungry and thirsty, so I went along.
As we walked side by side, Nathan asked, “You’re quiet; what are you thinking?”
“That you remind me of my grandfather.”
“Ouch.”
“Not in looks, obviously.” I smiled a little. “It’s just that I don’t know many guys who would have been as brutally honest with me as you were back there. My grandfather was the same. He just called it like he saw it, and if we didn’t like it, tough luck.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you, it’s just that we can’t move on together if we aren’t honest with each other.”
“Honesty over politeness,” I muttered low.
“What did you say?”
“It was my grandpa’s motto. Honesty over politeness.”
Nathan opened the cabin door for me and looked deep into my eyes. “I think I would have liked your grandfather.”
I didn’t blink or look away. “I think he would have liked you too.” Walking into the cabin, I headed straight for the fridge and pulled out a soda while Nathan spoke behind me.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, but I’m more interested in knowing how his granddaughter feels. Doyoulike me?”
After a sip from the bottle, I dried my mouth. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t like you.” Pulling out a chair, I sat down.
Nathan grabbed a beer and took a seat opposite me. “I didn’t know any of my grandparents. I wish I remembered more about my mother than I do, but one thing that I think about often is a conversation I overhead where she talked about my father.”
“I know you’re adopted, but did they give you up or…?
“She died when I was five. My father was a soldier, and he died when I was very young.”
My eyebrows tightened. “I’m so sorry, Nathan.”
“Me too, but the thing I remember is my mum telling her friend what she loved about my father. I was so little at the time and I didn’t understand words like integrity, reliability, and precision so she had to explain them to me. Still, I remember it so vividly because I took those three words she said and memorized them. All I had left of my father was the picture of the three of us on the wall, and those three words that Mum said made him the man she fell in love with.
“I was too young to understand the full meaning of it at the time, but as I grew older, those values became the foundation of who I am today.”
“Those are good values.” I took another sip of Fanta before adding, “I can’t believe you lost both your parents. That’s tough.”
Nathan lifted his right shoulder in a quick shrug and turned the beer bottle in front of him as if he could fast-forward the conversation to leave behind his troubled past.
“At least you have your adopted family.”
“Mhmm.”
