Page 77 of Let’s Be Real

“You could make a relationship work with a lot of women, Nate. Just because it wasn’t right with her doesn’t mean you’re not capable of being a good partner.”

He tapped the side of his head. “Things can get really muddled up here. But…I’m beginning to see that might be true. It wasn’t right with her, but it might be with someone else.”

My stomach lurched, but I ignored it. There was no reason for it. Nate was seeing his worth, and I was glad. Whether there was a woman out there who truly deserved him was another question, but that wasn’t up to me to decide.

“Maybe next time Adrian picks at my dating life, I’ll be able to point him in your direction.”

“Sure. Maybe.” His brow crinkled, and his mouth opened and closed like he was deciding whether to say something.

“What?” I tilted my head. “Say it, Nate. You don’t have to hold back with me.”

“I think…” He sucked in a deep breath and locked his eyes on mine. “Let’s be real.”

“What do you mean? Real about what?”

His mouth quirked into a half smile. “Let’s be real, you and me. No more faking it. Let’s try it for real. Dating. Being together.”

Oh no.

No, no, no.

Take it back. This was perfect! Take it back!

But he was looking at me with such earnestness, such hope, all I could say was, “I can’t, Nate.”

I couldn’t explain it. Not in any way that would make sense to either of us. One thing I knew for sure was this couldn’t be real. I wasn’t the woman to give that to him.

Another pinprick to add to my collection.

This time stinging worse than before…and I was doing it to myself.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Nate

It was a long night. A long flight home. A long drive to Louise’s from the airport.

I couldn’t say why I’d ended up there. My cloudy mind had decided to direct my body in that direction, and next thing I knew, I was parking and riding the elevator up to her floor.

My phone chimed with a text. I figured it was my brothers checking in after my flight. If I didn’t answer them, they wouldn’t leave me alone.

Adrian: That was weird, right?

Puzzled by his question, I waited for Ben or Roman to ask what he meant, but no messages came. It wasn’t like Benny not to pounce on Adrian being vague.

Then I realized this wasn’t our group chat.

Me: What do you mean?

Adrian: The tension between you and Sammie on the plane. Care to share what that was about?

I groaned, letting my head fall against the elevator wall. Leave it to Ade to be too perceptive for his own good. I’d done my level best to act normal. Clearly not well enough.

I couldn’t even say how I felt. There was hurt, but it was buried under a layer of apathy too thick for me to dig through. Knowing it was inside me somewhere, festering away with every other buried feeling from the last decade, made it impossible to be fully at rest. Ever.

The elevator door slid open, and I quickly responded to Adrian as I stepped out onto Louise’s floor.

Me: No tension on my part. I didn’t sleep well last night. I was keeping my foul mood to myself. I’ll talk to you later.