Page 67 of Never With You
But it’s a lie.
I’m not coming back to his side.
That’s enough acting for one night.
* * *
Staying awayfrom Nate is hard once the live band and dancing begin. Everyone partners off, swaying to the music with their significant other. It’s no surprise when he saunters to my side at the bow of the boat like hewantsto be by me.
With ease, he slips his hand behind my back and jerks my body to his. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“No.” I glower back at him, pressing my palms against his body, but Nate’s a brick wall, unmoving and unfazed by my resistance. “I’ve been avoiding this.”
“Careful.” He smiles, looking down at my hands pushing him away. “Or people will think you don’t like me.”
My jaw hardens. “Idon’tlike you.”
“Ah, I think you like me a little bit.” The lazy way the corner of his mouth curls is distracting, to say the least. His arm loosens, releasing me from his grasp. I immediately step back to create space between us.
“I think it’s you who likes this arrangement a little too much. Your public display of affection at dinner crossed a line.”
“How so?” His stance widens, and he faces me with folded arms.
“You were all over me.”
“I did what I needed to in order to convince my parents.”
“I think you were taking liberties. This charade isn’t a hall pass for you to get handsy whenever you feel like it.”
“That?” He snorts out a laugh. “That wasn’t handsy.”
“Yes, it was. Your hands were on my leg, on my shoulder, tickling my arm, massaging my back.That’shandsy.”
“The rules were whatever we deemed necessary to make this believable.”
“Not all of that was necessary nor appreciated.”
“If you were really my girlfriend, you’d enjoy having my hands all over you.”
“Well, I'm not your girlfriend, and I definitely didn’t enjoy it.”
Instantly, his smile fills with swagger, and I know I’m in trouble. “You enjoyed it a little bit.”
“Why do you keep saying that? Does your ego prevent you from believing not every woman is in love with you?”
His eyes flick to something behind me. When they meet mine again, he drops his arms, slowly stepping toward me.
“What are you doing?” I panic with each footstep.
“We have an audience.” I turn to see who he’s talking about, but Nate’s hand goes to my cheek, stopping me. “You have absolutely no chill.”
“Yes, I do.” My back straightens, uncomfortable with the warmth of his fingers against my skin.
“Then act like it. Put your arms around me.”
“No.”
My eyes glance around, latching onto Isaac dancing with Lauren. They’re slowly moving with the music like lovers do, but for one beat, our gazes meet. He’s keeping tabs on me. That’s motivation enough.
