Page 128 of Bossy Wicked Prince
He bites his lip and doesn’t say anything. I can tell he doesn’t want to violate the space-giving agreement. Well, I’m done wanting space. Now, I want answers.
“I hear you’ve been coming here for a while, Nate. And you managed to avoid me every time. Are you watching me again?”
He freezes, his spoon full of mashed potatoes hovering over Rupert’s plate. “I didn’t, Cat, I swear. I know I violated your privacy before, and I promise I won’t do it again. I just wanted to know when you wouldn’t be here, so I wouldn’t bother you.”
Rupert looks between the two of us with a knowing smile. I nudge Nate with my elbow, reminding him that he still has a job to do. His neck turns red as he hurriedly scoops the potatoes onto Rupert’s plate. I’ve never seen Nate blush before—I like it.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I figured you weren’t stalking me this time. I’m glad you asked Minnie instead of just following me with your cameras.”
As if on cue, a camera flashes. They’re still photographing the event. But this time, it’s not the paparazzi hounding us outside our apartments. It’s just hired photographers, here to show all the good the Walsh Foundation has done.
EverythingNatehas done.
“I’m still sorry,” he murmurs. “The truth is, I’ve wanted to check up on you. Beau told me you moved, and I went right to my computer to find your new address. I didn’t, for the record. I hope the new place is nice.”
My muscles tense. I wouldn’t mind Nate knowing where I live, but it’s strange to hear him admit he still wants to violate my privacy. “What do you want me to say? You want praise fornotstalking me?”
“No.” He huffs out a breath. “I’m trying to be honest. I found out that my mother was keeping some big secrets from me, and my dad left me with some pretty heavy secrets, too. I don’t want to make that my family legacy. So I have to tell you the truth, even if I know you won’t like it.”
“I don’t…not like it either,” I whisper. It’s weird—I don’t want him watching me, but I’m relieved he still cares enough about me that he wants to. Neither of us has moved on from whatever this is, which means I’m not alone.
“For the record, I know how fucked up it is,” he says. “Security is all I know. All my Dad taught me that was actually useful. I thought it was this superpower—I idolized him.”
“Of course you did. That’s how you’re supposed to feel about your parents. It’s how I felt about my dad, before…everything.”
Nate shifts, his hand coming up to touch my shoulder. He stops himself, pulling back, and my breath catches. He still has the instinct to touch me and comfort me, but he’s trying not to overstep my boundaries. It’s growth, in his own little way.
“I’m sure your dad was different, though,” I say. “Everyone at UPS has such great things to say about him. The way Susie talks, it’s like she thought he walked on water.”
Nate takes a long breath. “Dad was a great boss. He was charming, sharp, and whip-smart. Everyone thought he was the perfect CEO and the perfect father. But the secret I mentioned…it was big. Dad had a second family, who he visited when he told us he was going on business trips. I found out about them before he died.”
I gasp loudly and immediately wish I could swallow the sound. He’s just told me something so immensely private, sopersonal, and we’re surrounded by people who could hear it. But Nate doesn’t look worried. He looks—at peace, somehow.
“I’m so sorry, Nate,” I whisper.
He shrugs. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’ve actually been in touch with them and—you know what, that’s a whole story for another time. The point is, when I learned his secret, it made me obsessed with control—it felt like the only way I could keep my family safe. That’s why I can be so protective, and why I pushed things too far. That isn’t an excuse—it’s an explanation. I just—I want you to…”
“To understand who you are,” I finish, and he nods.
I have so many questions for him. About who his family is, what he’s learned about them, whatEleanorthinks about it all—but he’s right. Now’s not the time. Not when we’re surrounded by people.
But will there ever be a time? Nate admitted that he’s been thinking about checking up on me, but is that because of our residual feelings, or because of his own admitted obsession with my safety? Is he coming by the shelter to win me over, or to be a good guy? I still don’t understand what Nate wants—or if I want the same thing.
My brain is busier than it’s ever been, chugging and chugging as I process all this new information. I’m glad that my body can disappear into the flow of handing out rolls.
We spend a few silent moments spooning out Christmas dinner before Nate speaks again.
“That’s not the only thing I’m sorry about. I never should have looked into your father without asking. You shouldn’t have had to find that out before you were ready. I regret that, more than I can say.”
I can hear the sincerity in his voice. It’s so different from the guarded, even tone he used when I first met him. He’s different now—more open, more awkward, more approachable. He’sletting the world see more of him, letting his mask of perfection slip. It still isn’t easy for him, but he’strying.
I love it.
Because he’s also the same. Honorable, giving, determined, protective. He’s the same man I’ve been missing…only better.
If I’m honest, I’ve beenalmosttexting him every day for weeks, always thinking better of it. I figured he’d moved on and after how hard I pushed him away I didn’t have any right to expect anything from him.
“I forgive you,” I tell him. “I’m not angry about my Dad anymore. I’ve had some time to process it—to process everything, really. And I’ve come to terms with it. Maybe Dad didn’t reach out after he got sober because he wasn’t ready. Maybe he never will be. And that hurts—but at least I don’t have to feel guilty about the things I said making his addiction worse. There's peace in knowing he’s alive and well, and you gave that to me.”
