Page 115 of Let’s Be Real

I also now understood it was him blocking the door, and I couldn’t waste a second. I was able to nudge it open just wide enough to squeeze myself through.

Nate was curled on the floor, his phone clutched tight in his hand. His face was pinched, and tears tracked along his temple, disappearing into his hair.

My beautiful Nate.

His eyes were open, but they were unfocused, and he didn’t react when I crouched in front of him and touched his shoulder.

“Nate, are you sick?” I pressed the back of my hand to his forehead. He was sweaty, but not hot. “Honey, tell me what’s wrong. Please talk to me.”

Deep down, I knew what this was. Nate wasn’t himself. He hadn’t been since Louise had died. Maybe longer.

I’d been looking for the answer in all the wrong places. I’d felt him slipping and mistook it as him pulling away from me.

Had he been going under this whole time, and I had let him drown all alone?

No. There would be time for me to question every single thing I’d done wrong later. Right now was about Nate. Nothing else.

“Nate?” I tapped his cheek with a little more force, needing him to know I was with him. I couldn’t think of anything else.

Falling to my knees, I put my face in front of his. Nose to nose. Eye to eye. He couldn’t look past me, not like this.

“Nate.”

Still nothing.

“Natey.”

I stroked my thumb along his cheek.

“I’m here. Look at me. Please.”

I kept whispering his name and stroking his face until finally he blinked. His eyes shifted then locked on mine.

“Am I dreaming?” he rasped.

“No,” I choked out. “No, Natey, I’m here. You’re awake, and I love you.”

“Is it morning?”

“Not morning.” I touched my lips to his. They were cracked and dry. “I couldn’t wait to see you.” My eyes filled. “Morning was too far away.”

“I love you too,” he said, his brow furrowed. “I’m a little tired.”

“I know you are. I know, baby. We’re going to get you to bed.”

First, I lay down in front of him, not wanting to give him an inch of space. Then, I took out my phone and dialed Adrian. It was late, but he picked up on the third ring.

“Hello? Sammie?”

The concern in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

“Ade? I’m at Nate’s. He…uh, really needs you. I don’t think he’s okay right now.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Chapter Forty

Samantha