Page 78 of Giving In

Nathan:I hope you like brunches. Any plans for tonight?

He sent another one late last night asking if we were still on for today. And of course, today.

Nathan:Everything alright? Let me know if you need to be picked up today.

Nathan:I just hope nothing bad happened

The last one was half an hour ago. I can’t believe this slipped my mind. Not only does my hate for Jake deepen further but I also hate myself. I tap on his name in a hurry and call.

Shit, who calls anymore?

What’s wrong with me? I’m about to hang up when my thoughts are cut off.

“Jamie? Is everything alright?”

“Oh, Nathan. Hi. I’m so sorry I–” Haven’t thought this through. “I... had an emergency last night and I left my phone here. I only came back now.”

“I hope you’re okay?”

I don’t know. Am I? The boy I hate the most in the world kept me at his house against my will but also gave me a mind-blowing orgasm with the help of his best friend. It was good enough to make me forget about my first date ever, with a very decent guy as well.

“I am. I am. Honestly, I feel horrible for letting you down.”

“No hard feelings. We can make plans for another time.”

“Or now if you’re free.” The words slip out before I can catch them. What the hell am I doing?

He pauses for a few seconds as if thinking about it.

“Sure. What do you want to do? You have to sort it out now that you left me hanging,”he replies in a playful tone.

“I’ll text you my address,” I simply say because apparently I have developed some sort of courage I had no idea I had.

He chuckles into the phone.“You’re a keen little one, aren’t you? Are you on your own?”

“Of course I am. Just come whenever,” I conclude. “See you.”

I hang up before I can chicken out and stare at the phone.

What did I just do?

???

“No! How?! I thought I’d have to let you win to make you happy. Turns out you’re just too good at this game.” Nathan’s playful voice is filling me with undeserved happiness.

We’ve been playing video games for two hours and I don’t ever want this to stop. The way his eyes squint in focus behind his thick glasses, the way he smiles when he gets in front of me on our racing game and how his shoulders slump and he pulls at his blond bun when I get back in front. All of the little things about him make my heart swell with love and warmth.

“I used to play with my brother. Every single day. It’s the first game we got and pretty much stuck to it,” I admit.

“Shit, you’ve got a brother?” He straightens up and gives me a lopsided smile. “Should I expect a talk about not breaking your heart?” he jokes.

I enjoy how light-hearted he is. I like that everything else that worries me just seems to disappear when he’s around. He makes me feel safe and appreciated and for some reason I don’t even mind telling him about my family.

“No,” I chuckle sadly. “He, um, at the risk of ruining the mood he went missing a few years ago.”

His eyes widen at my revelation and he puts his controller down straight away. He fully turns to me on the sofa, his face showing nothing but empathy.

“I’m so sorry. Is this a topic you want me to avoid?”

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