Page 64 of Fault Lines
Nate headed off to help them and I was left to roll the word “murder” around in my brain, stunned. This had to be the thing Jackson had told Rachel about. Poor Nate. It made sense, in a way, that he’d be so easygoing and open; maybe he’d spent a lifetime running from a shadow he wouldn’t talk about.
The rest of the morning went by in a blur of cash register math and online book orders. Mr. Porter had once asked Nate to teach me how to make orders and handle the accounting. I’d been honored—and nervous—that he trusted me with it.
Nate kept to his side of things, cycling between cleaning and making drinks behind the bar.
By lunch I’d almost convinced myself to forget about my fight with Cam. He was meeting me at my favorite bistro, and our meal was easy, ending with a kiss that lingered long after hewalked away. I didn’t let myself think about Thursday night or what he would be doing.
Back at the shop, there was a giant, beautifully wrapped box sitting on the back counter.
“What’s this?” I asked. “Is there a staff birthday I forgot about?”
“Just you,” Nate said from behind me.
I frowned. “Huh?”
He grinned, sheepish. “You never said a word about your birthday.”
I shrugged. “I’m a little old for making a fuss. How did you know?”
He explained he’d found my file in the office while organizing. “It’s for you,” he said, pointing to the box.
I laughed. “You didn’t have to do that!”
“Don’t ruin it for me, Livi. I wanted to. It’s what friends do.”
I just shook my head and started opening the wrapping, careful with the corners. Nate was precise about everything; I’d bet good money he’d wrapped it himself.
Inside was a sleek, professional espresso machine—the kind that could make anything from a simple cup to espresso or a frothy latte.
“Since you’re basically a pro with ours here, and you love coffee—you should have one at home,” he explained.
I hugged him before my brain caught up, the whole thing so thoughtful. I’d told Nate months before I wanted one, but I’d sworn off spending so much. I needed to keep saving my secret money.
“I love it. Thank you. But you really shouldn’t have spent this much.”
“I did it because I wanted to—and you deserve the best.”
His face was close to mine. His eyes were intent, and in that moment, I wondered what it would be like to be his. Not for thenice gifts, but for the certainty that I would be enough. The only one. No Thursday girls, no secret texts.
He kissed me, and I let him. There was no thinking, only heat and the hum of electricity that ran right through me. We kissed, breathless, until the bell above the shop door jingled.
Nate grinned, his voice low. “You’re welcome. I’ll go help our customer.”
He left me stunned, pressed back against the shelving, my lips still tingling. Guilt hovered at the edge of my mind, but it didn’t really take hold.
I hadn’t actually cheated—not the way Cam did. It was Thursday, and Thursday was my night off the leash. Even so, I knew Cam would never see it that way.
But what did I want? I loved Cam, but with Nate I was starting to feel things I shouldn’t. He gave me something Cam had stopped giving a long time ago.
The feeling that I was enough.
∞∞∞
“Why would this be weird?” Rachel’s voice boomed through my phone. “It’s just the four of us. Friends. Thursday night.”
“But you and Jackson are going as a couple,” I argued. “I don’t want to give Nate the wrong impression.”
She snorted. “I think it’s the right impression! Hang on.” She rattled off an order to some barista, somewhere. Rachel never went anywhere without caffeine. Jackson had apparently heard that Nate wanted me over on Thursday, but had a new Xbox game to show off. The solution was apparently: bring Rachel, let the boys game, and let us hang out together.
