Page 53 of Told You So
“No, I’m thinking,” he clarifies and leans against the counter beside me.
“Oh yeah? Well, then, what are you thinking about?” I scoot the salt and pepper shakers out of the way and scrub the island harder.
Nick clears his throat and crosses his arms over his chest. “That I shouldn’t have kissed you the other night.”
My scrubbing falters before I remember myself and turn toward the sink. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“I don’t mean it like that, Bethany. Don’t take it personally. I just—I think I messed things up, especially with what happened after, and I want you to know that I’m sorry.”
With my back to him, it’s easy enough to shrug off everything that happened, like we’d simply chosen a subpar movie on Netflix last night, not that we’d shared a groping session. It was more than that to both of us, though, that much was clear.
“It’s totally fine,” I tell him. I have no idea what I’m doing as I fidget around the kitchen. All I can think about is that kiss. “I overreacted. We were both tired and stupid—”
Nick steps up beside me, waiting for me to look at him. After a few seconds, I force myself to meet his gaze.
“It was more than that to me,” he says with certainty. “But I heard what you said. I know this isn’t something you want right now, and I’m not going to make everything harder on you by throwing more complication into the mess...Nothing has to happen until you’re ready.” His eyes never leave mine, and he takes a step back, somehow sensing the havoc that descends over my senses when he’s around. “I promise. The next move will be yours, whatever you decide it might be. But I’m not going to leave you alone, either.”
Grateful, I lick my lips. “No?”
His head shifts ever so slightly to the left. “I want to be your friend.”
Twenty-Six
Nick
Bethany brings the Range Rover to a stop outside my parents’ house, her and Jesse natural and oblivious to me watching them from the window as they talk and walk to the door. I have no idea if bringing them here was a good idea or if it was completely idiotic, but they’re here now, and if nothing else, I know my mom canhelp Bethany study.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this,” my mom says, startling me. She steps up to the window beside me, just as the doorbell rings.
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Well, you seem a bit nervous, for starters.” My mom’s makeup is perfect and natural looking, her hair is perfectly done. There’s even a twinkle in her eyes.
I scoff. “Not nervous, just...hopeful,” I say, surprising myself. “And ifIdidn’t know any better, I’d think you were a little bitexcited.”
“Well, of course I am. It’s not very often I get to meet your friends, not anymore at least, especially the pretty ones.” She smiles knowingly and walks to the front door.
“You know Bethany, Ma. Remember, the whole debacle in eighth grade with her parents?”
“Well, she’s not a little girl anymore, is she?” She winks at me, and I laugh, completely creeped out. “You’re being weird.”
“Just trying to loosen you up,” she says, and nods to the door. “Well, are you going to be a gentleman and answer it, or do I have to do it for you?”
“I got it,” I say and my mom turns for the kitchen.
“I’ll pull out the pitcher of iced tea.”
Bethany’s smiling at Jesse when I open the door. I love her smile, I realize, and I don’t see it nearly enough. “Hey,” she says happily, if a little bit uncertain.
“Hi.” I open the door wider. “You guys came.”
“I told you we would.” There’s a hint of amusement in her gray eyes, like she’s surprised I questioned it. Truth be told, I’d assumed something would come up with her parents or she would decide she didn’t want to trust me after all.
“Yeah, you did.” I glance at Jesse and wave them inside. “Hey, kid.”
“What’s up?” Jesse says, and I silently rejoice a little bit at the hope that he really is warming up to me.
“Not much, just excited to hang out with you for a bit,” I admit. Knowing his penchant for collecting things, I have a feeling he’ll be the only one to appreciate my childhood assemblages upstairs.
