Page 17 of Unwritten Rules

And so, I had called Nathaniel. My safe place, my harbour in the storm, my compass – I’d known immediately that whatever had gone before, he’d at the very least tell me what I should do.

How I should handle things.

Even though I knew we’d not left things on a positive note. My mind flashes back to my parting words.

“You’ll regret that, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mark my fucking words—you’ll live to regret this moment.”

I snort darkly to myself. I doubt he’s the one with regrets right about now.

Shaking my head at my wayward thoughts, I settle back against the plush cushions, humming that song by The Cure that I just can’t shift from my brain today.

The fact it’d been stuck in my head on repeat had been the catalyst I needed to finally give in and call Nate for help after a month of trying to live with my stupid, impulsive actions.

I’m still humming when my eyelids flutter closed in utter exhaustion following the adrenaline high of hearing Nate’s voice after months of the silent treatment.

* * *

The end credits of Just Like Heaven roll on the 50-inch screen in the living room of my childhood home.

I lift my head from the cushion where I’ve been laid on the opposite end of the couch, fully absorbed in one of my favourite happily ever afters.

“That was such a pile of shit, littlest DeMarco.”

“Excuse you, Nathaniel. I’ll have you know, this baby is a modern classic.”

He snorts, ruffling my hair, and I playfully smack his hand away as I rise to stand.

“It is, I swear. Reese Witherspoon is a rom-com goddess.”

“If you say so.” He rises to stand beside me and pulls me against him for a quick hug.

My heart rate kicks up as I inhale him silently.

All too soon, he’s stepped back, smiling down at me. “I’m going to head on home, but I’ll see you next weekend, okay?”

I nod, plastering a smile onto my face. “Sure. Thanks for coming this evening, Nate. You didn’t have to.”

“Henry said you’ve been struggling. He said you’ve been distant and asked me to check in—”

I cut him off, rolling my eyes before dropping my chin to my chest in defeat. “That brother of mine needs to get a new hobby.”

He chuckles, the sound doing things to my stomach.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I glance up to find Nate checking the clock behind him. He turns to face me with a broad grin on his face.

“How about one more rom-com for the road? Maybe you can change my opinion of them.”

* * *

I’m jolted into awareness by the sound of the elevator call button. I rub my eyes sleepily, realising I must have nodded off as I waited.

The dream – or memory – of the first night we’d fallen asleep watching movies on the sofa in my mum’s living room still haunts me. The night he’d discovered my nightmares. The night I’d discovered he was the only thing that could keep them at bay.

The elevator buzzes again.

My stomach bottoms out when my brain registers that Nathaniel must be the one buzzing.