Page 9 of Nate
I don’t want him to see me cry.
I don’t want all those people to watch as I fall apart. As he tells me his lies.
I turn and I run. Barging past anyone who gets in my way. Pulling my phone from my bag as I slip through the escalator doors.
Me: My house... wine. Now!!!
Ashley: I’m on my way xxx
6
Nate
“Personally,I think you're better off without her.” My sister takes a bite of her cafeteria lunch, pulls a funny face, and pushes her plate away from her. “I don’t know how you can eat this! You’re a doctor, for god's sake, aren’t you supposed to be interested in health or something?”
“Or something,” I say. “And no, I’m not better off without her.”
“Well, if she can thinkwe’rean item, she must have a screw loose. I mean… me and you… together… romantically. It’s enough to make me barf.”
“She’s just a little insecure,” I tell her. “I think maybe she’s been hurt in the past.”
“Well, at least you have something in common.” She sips at her coffee, almost spits it out, leans over, and puts it on an empty table next to us. “But seriously, I think you could do much better. I’m not a fatist or anything, but I mean… you’re a frigging surgeon! Shouldn’t you be aiming a little higher?”
Fury builds up inside me. I literally have to bite my lip to keep myself from exploding.
Sometimes I forget how vapid and superficial my sister can be.
I mean, she’s not a bad person. But she definitely cares about looks and social media way too much.
“Don’t say that,” I warn her.
“Fine!” She throws up her hands. “You do whatever you want. But don’t come running to me when it all falls apart. I mean, you don’t have the best taste in women.”
I take a bite of my burger. It really does taste like someone’s slapped a lump of cat food in-between two heavily sugared pieces of cardboard. But I need the energy. I don’t have the luxury to not eat. Not when I have a long shift and patients to see. Patients who expect me to be at the top of my game.
“Well, thanks for the permission, sis,” I say, a little too much venom in my voice. “I mean, whatever would I do without your blessing.”
“There’s no need to get ratty,” she says, flicking her finger over her phone screen. Already back in the world of Instagram and Facebook. Measuring her self-worth in likes and shares and followers. “All I’m saying is, maybe you’d be happier with some a little less… pudgy?”
“Pudgy?!” I slam my hand down on the table.
Doctors and patients alike stop what they’re doing to stare at us.
I take a deep breath and try to control myself. Lowering my voice to an angry whisper, I say, “I told you, Hannah. I don’t want you talking about her like that. Not about the woman I love.”
“Woah!” She drops her phone into her bag. “Love? Are you serious? You only met her a couple of days ago, and she’s already acting like a total whack job!”
“She’s not a whack job!” I stand up, done with this lunch. Done with my sister. Just being around her is making my blood boil. I need to go somewhere where I can be alone. Somewhere where I can think up a plan to get Piper back. “And yes, I love her.
“I hadn’t really thought about it before. I mean, Ihaveonly just met her. But when you know, you know. There’s this connection between us. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And as far as I’m concerned, she’s mine. And I’m going to do anything I can to get her back.”
Hannah reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Sit down, Nate. I’m sorry I acted like that. I didn’t realize how serious you were.
“To be honest, I might even be a bit jealous. My last few relationships have been terrible. I’m really happy you’ve found someone you like. So let me help? Okay? I'm leaving tomorrow morning, and if you’re gonna ditch me tonight for this new woman, well… I don’t want things to end like this before I go. It’s not like we get many chances to see each other. What with you moving out to the middle of nowhere.”
“Okay.” I sit back down.
Hannahs’ right. We don’t get much of a chance to see each other. Heck, we hardly even get a chance to talk. What with my job taking up so much of my time, and her keeping strange hours.
