Page 82 of Broken Daddy

If only I could stay.

Chapter32

Nathan

Gen clears the plates, half listening to Mel’s story about some trouble she and Jenson got up to in high school. It was surprising to learn about his background as a small-town kid. His childhood was disturbingly similar to mine and Chris’s, minus falling in love with his best friend.

I can see the connection between the two, and as they lean into each other, my eyes seek out Gen. I can’t help it. She picks up a stack of plates in both hands and heads off toward the kitchen, separated by two large rooms.

Excusing myself quietly from the conversation, I follow her.

She jumps a little when I appear. The plates clatter.

“You scared me. I can handle this, Nate. You should go spend time with everyone.”

It’s getting late—almost 8 p.m., and I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted. Maybe that’s why the lightheartedness of the last few hours slowly bleeds out of me.

“I wish you’d told me about this.”

She’s turned away from me, that black skirt stretched sinfully across her ass. As a bubbly, grinning brunette, Gen always looks great in her floral sundresses. But seeing her like this, hair up in a tight bun, almost business casual…it gives me ideas.

She places the plates in the sink and turns around, a grim expression on her face.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I just don’t understand how you thought this was a good idea.”

Whyam I doing this? This isn’t an argument I need to have, but it’s swelling in my chest like a balloon. If I don’t speak, I feel like I’ll explode.

Her mouth opens, then snaps shut. I get a fleeting glance of annoyance before she calmly explains, “It was Chris’s idea, as I’m sure he’ll tell you. I got a little ahead of myself. You know I like to plan this kind of thing.”

Crossing her arms, she pops her hip against the counter.

“Did you have a problem with dinner?”

I take a deep breath in through my nose. “No. Dinner was delicious.” It was, and it almost takes the fight out of me. Almost. The way those delicate scallops melted on my tongue reminded me of…

I shake off the memory of her naked body, legs spread before me on the kitchen counter back home. Gen reaches for a tray of little plates with panna cotta. Dessert.

Stepping closer, I try to explain myself. “I know you and Chris had good intentions. I just don’t think this was the best way to go about it. You can’t force these things, Gen.”

The annoyance is back. Her eyes are daggers as she stares me down. “Weren’t you the one saying the other day that you need to let more people in? For Eva’s sake?”

Hot frustration floods my veins as she uses my own words against me. The worst part is, she’s not wrong. “Yes, but this isn’t what I meant. I only just found out about Jenson myself. I wanted to protect Eva until I was sure—”

“About what?” she scoffs. “Jenson and Mel are wonderful. What more could you ask for, Nathan? They’ve been nothing but open, patient, and polite. In fact, I heard you chatting quite a bit with them tonight. So what’s really holding you back?”

Now it’s my turn for my mouth to snap shut. That lightheaded feeling is back, the one that’s been haunting me for weeks now. The sensation of being overwhelmed.

First Gen, a temptation in my own home, then finding out I have a half brother. And a baby on the way. And then Chris casually letting a dog loose in my house without asking me first.

It’s all boiling over again.

Why can’t I get this under control?

“You’re never going to understand, Gen, because you don’t know what real life is like.”

It’s like I slapped her. She stares at me in shock. “What?”

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