Page 93 of Never With You
It’s time I return the favor.
I find Nate sitting at a table with his parents. I draw in a determined breath, trying to alleviate the sudden nerves taking over my body, which doesn’t make sense. I don’t even like Nate. What’s there to be nervous about?
“There you are.” I slide into the booth, leaning in to kiss his cheek. My hand rests awkwardly on his stomach when I aimed for his chest, and my lips hit his jaw more than his cheek, but at least I’m trying. There’s the brief thought that I need to raid his suitcase for the name of his cologne to purchase and spray it all over the next man I date.
“Hey.” Nate pulls back, eyeing me with amusement. “You good?”
“Yep.” I loop one hand through his arm, and the other goes to his thigh—upper/inner thigh, if we’re being specific. I blame my nerves for the miscalculated hand placement. The immediate skyrocket of Nate’s brows has me lifting my fingers and moving them to just above his knee.
Much better.
That is until Nate’s hand moves to my thigh. Now I’m rethinking everything: how this touch is beneath the table, making it unnecessary; how his hand sends a rush of heat down my leg; and how my heart feels heavier in my chest. I can’t react because his mom is watching me.
“We were just talking about you.” Connie beams, loving how I’ve cuddled up to her son.
“Hopefully, good things.” I notice how Mack Farnsworth is more focused on his phone than the conversation.
“Of course,” Connie answers for the table. “We were just telling Nate how much we love seeing the two of you together. There’s a spark there.”
“You think?”
“Oh, yes. I know my son, and I can see what’s happening.”
“Mom, we don’t need your commentary.” Nate shakes his head, but I turn to him with a grin.
“I think it’s only fair we let her speak.” Especially after the embarrassing torture I’ve experienced this afternoon.
“I see how Nate looks at you when you don’t know he’s watching you.”
He inclines his head. “Mom.”
But she just laughs and keeps going. “He has completely fallen for you.”
“Mom.”
“More than I’ve ever seen him fall for any other woman.”
“Mom!” This time, he gives her a look that says,Stop talking.
“Okay, okay. I know how it goes when you’re newly dating. Nobody wants to define these things yet. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I just thought you should know that you two are headed to exciting places.” She lifts her hand, pretending to zip her mouth shut.
“It’s fine,” I say. “I’m not uncomfortable.”
Yes, I am. I’m so uncomfortable.But good manners made me lie. Again.
“I’m uncomfortable,” Nate mutters. I can’t help but notice the blush on his cheek as he leans forward to sip his drink.
Nate with a blush is a visual I never want to leave my mind.
But now I’m thinking about why he was blushing in the first place. Is he embarrassed about lying to his mom when she’s clearly so invested in our fake relationship, or is he embarrassed about something else entirely?
The DJ makes his first announcement, introducing himself and welcoming all the Pureskin employees. The disco lights flicker as he invites everyone to the dance floor. A familiar beat starts to play, drawing people out of their chairs to the middle.
“Mack?” Connie tugs on his arm. “Should we go dance?”
He doesn’t even look up from his phone. “When have I ever wanted to dance?”
“Maybe you could tonight,” Nate says. “For Mom.”
