by L. B. Reyes
“I am too,” I said, interlocking arms with her.
The woman smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. “He sent me a picture of this painting after he finished it. I knew it was you as soon as I saw it.”
Blushing, I shrugged, leaning my head on her shoulder. I felt comfortable with her.
“I was worried for the longest time about him, you know? I wasn’t sure if he’d get his head on straight, especially when I realized he was staying married to Hannah, until you came along and he started talking about you. I knew then he would be just fine.”
“How did you know?”
She laughed softly. “A mom always knows.” Deborah pulled away, giving me a pointed stare. “I hope to see a ring on that finger soon.”
“We’ve been back together for three seconds,” I shrieked.
Nathan’s voice—no, laughter—interrupted Deborah’s attempt to speak.
Followed by more laughter.
A woman’s laughter.
Nathan approached us with a woman at his side. She was tall, slender, with curves in all the right places, her reddish hair up in a ponytail. Her smile was bright, too fucking friendly for my taste. Her blue eyes sparkled as she gently placed her hand on Nathan’s arm while they spoke about something.
She looked familiar.
I felt Deborah tense next to me, and both Carter and Frank had a look of dread on their faces.
“Ooh, don’t forget I need to show you that other painting I finished,” she spoke. Her voice was so damn chirpy I instantly hated it.
Nathan nodded, his gaze falling on me. “Listen, Jesse, I want you to meet my family.”
The woman smiled, and she stepped forward, stretching out her hand towards Deborah, who hesitantly took it.
“I’m Jesse Mitchell. You must be Nathan’s mother, Deborah, right?”
“Right.” Deborah smiled, though it seemed like a grimace.
Carter and Frank went on to introduce themselves while Nathan approached me, his arm traveling around my waist.
“This is Evelyn,” Nathan said proudly.
“Ah,” Jesse said with a smile, one that was as fake as her breasts. “So you are the world-famous Evelyn Carson.” She stretched out her hand, and I took it just out of politeness. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
I tried, I really did try, to suppress the level of pettiness that was about to leave my lips. “I can’t say the same about you,” I stated.
Deborah snorted next to me while Carter and Frank stepped back, as if dreading whatever fight was about to ensue. Nathan gripped my waist tighter, but there was an amused glint in his eyes.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “Jesse short for something?”
Unfazed, Jesse replied, “Jessica.”
“Of course,” I said. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Is it?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Her response surprised me.
“Oh…kay…” Nathan said, dragging out the word. He squeezed my hand gently, glancing back towards the office. “Let me check out the painting Jessica needs to show me, okay? I’ll be right back.”
Nathan leaned down, cupped my cheek in his hand, and kissed me to reassure me. “I’ll be back,” he whispered before pressing a final kiss on my cheek.
Ironically, that bit of PDA was enough to do away with the uncertain feeling that had settled in my chest.
Nathan turned around and followed behind an apprehensive Jessica. Part of me felt I’d been too harsh without knowing the woman; he could befriend women and I wouldn’t mind. I never did.
But the way Jesse looked at him spoke volumes.
“I don’t like her,” I heard Deborah say next to me. I turned to face her, and once again she repeated the words from earlier to me. “A mom always knows.”
Not even five minutes later, Nathan walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and lowering his lips to my ear. “We have a little conversation pending, now don’t we?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Feigning innocence, I looked at the painting in front of us.
“You’re jealous,” he whispered.
“So what if I am?”
I felt him grin against my skin. “We do need to talk, though.”
“Fine,” I muttered. “Tell me about this painting.”
As much as I wanted to hear, I was also enjoying the feel of his lips tenderly kissing my skin.
“Do you see the colors?” he asked, running a hand down my arm.
“Mm, yeah.”
“Shades of red,” he teased, his voice low in my ear. I swallowed, forcing the thoughts that flooded my mind away. “Passion…anger…lust. Kind of what you’re feeling right now.”
Thankful that everyone was at the other side of the gallery, I let out a soft gasp when he bit down gently on my neck. “I like a jealous woman,” he whispered.
Unable to hide the smile on my face, I closed my eyes, reveling in the soft words he whispered only for my ears.
Words I was sure if his parents heard they would faint.
The chirpy voice I learned to dislike in just a short amount of time broke the moment. “Sorry to interrupt,” Jesse’s voice came from behind us.
I rolled my eyes, but Nathan didn’t turn around. He couldn’t because of the bulge in his pants.
“Yeah?” Nathan said, clearing his throat, as if that would make the bulge disappear. I pressed back against him, and his grip on my waist tightened as we turned around together, with me in front of him so his friend Jesse dearest wouldn’t see what was happening.
Jesse tilted her head to the side in question at the smug smile on my face. “I’m heading out. Just wanted to let you know.”
I pushed back against Nathan, and he tensed. “Okay, Jesse. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Everything okay?” Jesse asked with narrowed eyes.
“Just fine,” Nathan replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you, Jessica,” I said with a smile.
“Good night.” Jesse turned around and walked away, but I didn’t miss the glance she threw back at us. Something in her eyes I recognized then, though I couldn’t quite place it right that moment.
“You tease. If we weren’t staying at my parents’ tonight, I’d teach you a lesson.”
“I can be quiet,” I whispered.
Ready for the challenge, Nathan’s voice echoed through the gallery. “All right, family, time to go!”
***
I tried desperately to sleep that night, and though Nathan was next to me, I found it impossible. There was a familiarity in Jesse, and my mind struggled to place her, only for a little bit. Soon, I started making memory of her, of the time in which Nathan broke up with me unexpectedly.
The night we’d had sex in that bar.
A woman had been flirting with him. A woman with red hair.
My eyes flew open.
Naked and sore, I gasped for air and stared up at the ceiling.
Suddenly, everything began to make sense. I turned around, taking in Nathan’s peaceful expression as he laid next to me. And as much as I loved him, all I felt was anger.
“You bastard,” I shrieked, shoving him with my hand.
Startled, Nathan’s eyes opened as I straddled him on the bed, my naked body on top of his. “What the—”
“Jessica is the woman at the club, isn’t she?”
Nathan gave me a confused look before picking up his phone and checking the time.
“It’s barely 2 a.m., baby. Are you sure we can’t do this in a few hours?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“No,” I hissed. “You didn’t think to tell me that your business partner is not only a woman, but the woman who came onto you the day we fucked in a club?”
Nathan pressed his lips together. At first, I thought it was out of anger, but when I took his image in, I realized he was suppressing his laughter.
“What the hell is so funny?” I shoved his chest, and Nathan shook his head, g
roaning softly when I shifted on top of him.
I was arguing with him and the man had a boner.
“It’s hard to focus when you’re naked on top of me,” he muttered.
I jumped off the bed, wincing when my legs contacted the floor. I was so sore. Nathan gave me a knowing smirk. I put on his shirt, buttoning just a few buttons and taking in his intense gaze on me. It darkened.
If he wanted to ever see me undressed ever again, I expected answers then and there. I sat on a chair at the other side of the room with my arms crossed over my chest.
“Really, babe?” he asked, running a hand over his face. I raised an eyebrow, and finally, he sat up. “Yes, it’s the girl from the club but—”
“But what?” I hissed, standing up. “You didn’t think to tell me that your business partner was the woman that had come onto you that night? Did you talk to her after we fucked in that restroom or what?”
Nathan grimaced.
“Oh my God. You did!”
I covered my mouth in shock and disgust. I’d left so overwhelmed that night, and he spent it talking up some chick at the club.
“It’s not like that, Evie.” He ran a hand over his face, complaining about how we should have stayed at my place.
Maybe we should have.
I would have been able to kick him out then.
“You left that night. You were pissed and rightly so. After you left, she figured it out, I guess.” Nathan shrugged, a tight smile forming on his face. “We talked, she gave me her number, and that’s it. I never called her.”
I scoffed. “Are you sure? Because otherwise you wouldn’t have had this business deal with her.”
“Yeah, so remember the couple of dates I went on? The double date thing with Thomas and his wife?”
My eyes widened. “You’re fucking kidding me, Nathan.”
He gave me an ashamed look. “Turns out she’s one of the friends his wife told him about.”
I groaned, running my hands through my hair. “Let me get this straight. Jesse flirts with you at the club. You follow me to the restroom, and we do…stuff. I leave, and you talk to her. She gives you her number. You don’t call her. I leave Pennsylvania. You start dating, and it turns out that in a blind double date, she is the date.”
Nathan gave me a slow nod. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
I glared at him, biting on my lip. “It seems like destiny keeps pushing you two together. I think I’m in the way, to be honest.”
Nathan raised his eyebrows, and then he laughed.
The man had the nerve to laugh at me.
“Baby, you’re being irrational. It didn’t work out, and now we’re just friends. Art is the only thing we have in common,” he said as he approached me.
“Yeah. Just friends. Very friendly friends. Friends that are very friendly when other friends aren’t around. Friends that f—”
“Okay, Evie,” Nathan said, stopping me by cupping my face in his hands. “Shut up and listen to me. Nothing happened between us.” He took my hands in his, placing a kiss on each of them. “I didn’t sleep with her, okay? I know that’s what you’re wondering. I didn’t. Never even considered it. Hm?”
“I am being irrational, aren’t I?” I whispered, searching his face for any annoyance. I didn’t find any.
Nathan didn’t seem frustrated by my outburst or the way I had reacted. In fact, he remained the same patient man I always knew and caressed my cheek softly. “I need you to trust me, Evie. If we want this to work, you need to trust me like I trust you, okay?”
I nodded slowly, but still felt uneasy. As much as I trusted him, I didn’t trust her. Something about her didn’t sit right with me.
The way she looked at him was too flirty. I knew what I saw.
“You’re not comfortable with her, are you?” Nathan knowingly asked.
“No,” I said quietly. “But I’m being stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Evie. It’s okay. Get to know her, and if there’s something she does, we’ll see what we can do. I just don’t want you thinking I’m hiding stuff from you.”
“But you didn’t tell me sooner,” I mumbled.
“We weren’t exactly preoccupied with talking earlier, Evelyn.” His charming smile was contagious, and I found myself grinning back at him at the memory of everything he’d done to me earlier. He pulled me back into his arms in bed, kissing my head. “Do I have to worry about being slapped while I sleep again?”
I grinned, placing a kiss on his chest. “Just don’t cheat on me in my dreams and you’ll be fine.”
Chapter 8
Evelyn
Before I knew it, the year was over, my birthday had passed, as well as the holidays, and Nathan had officially moved to New York.
Nathan and I were amazing together. Yeah, he had an apartment, but he basically lived in my condo, not by his choice—though I knew he didn’t mind—but more than anything because we couldn’t figure out how to be away from each other. With things at his gallery working out more than well, he was even helping me pay the rent, which was something I didn’t really like.
Although Nana had left me well off, I was getting desperate to start working or go back to school. But he didn’t want me to think he was taking advantage, so he helped as much as he could.
Strangely, after years of loneliness, my heart now felt full. I was with the man I loved, his parents adored me, and I had Carter. Not to forget the many, many friends that were still in Pennsylvania. Our lives were beginning to make sense, and maybe we should have taken things slower, but both Nathan and I were on the same page; we wanted to be together.
I laid next to him with his arm wrapped around my waist, savoring the small kisses he placed on my bare back. The smile playing on my lips wouldn’t disappear; it hadn’t for weeks since he’d arrived.
Nathan seemed deep in thought as well even though it was past midnight and he had to be at the gallery in a few hours. I turned around, laying on my back to look up at him. He smiled, placing a small kiss on my lips.
“Why can’t you sleep?” I asked, raising my hand to his cheek.
What I saw in his eyes was strange, and I couldn’t decipher it. All I knew was that it was different than he’d ever looked at me before. A mixture of longing and realization covered his features, and I didn’t know what to do or say.
In a practiced move, Nathan positioned himself on top of me, my legs parting instinctively to let him in. He pushed inside of me, and I gasped softly, my eyes closing at the sheer pleasure of having him inside me.
He didn’t move, though.
He didn’t do anything but look at me.
“What?” I whispered the question, trying to figure out exactly what was going on inside his head.
He nuzzled my neck, groaning softly as he began thrusting inside of me, slow…torturous…sweet. It was so sweet tears formed in my eyes.
Usually our sex was passionate, at times wild…always loving. But in that moment, it was so beautiful, so sweet, the emotions overwhelmed me. He made love to me like never before, as if was the last time, as if he was cherishing every single millisecond that passed by.
His name escaped my lips with a soft whisper, and he gazed down at me, a small smile on his lips, before he leaned down and kissed me once again, making sure that every part of our bodies connected throughout.
Once we finished, he stayed on top of me, peppering kisses on my jaw, my neck, my cheeks, everywhere.
“I love you more than you could ever imagine, Evie,” he finally whispered, linking our fingers together.
It was the perfect time to play that “I love you more” game, but somehow, by the look in his eyes, I didn’t know if I could counter his words. They were shining with devotion, and as he held me, I felt exactly that: loved.
Heart soaring, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, hoping he knew I loved him just as much.
***
The next morning, Nathan and I arrived at the gallery hand in hand. We got l
ittle to no sleep, but we were both happy and eager to start the day together. It felt like everything had changed.
The light to the gallery was already on, letting us know Jessica was already there. However, I realized I didn’t feel jealous or doubtful anymore, not after the way he held me the night before. My mind was at peace because I knew he was with me no matter what. But that didn’t mean I didn’t doubt her…
Nathan kissed my forehead before going to the office, where I was sure Jessica was already waiting for him. I liked the peaceful silence that surrounded the gallery before opening. It was comforting. I could admire the paintings and make up the stories in my head without distractions.
I walked around, analyzing each painting, from its colors to the details. My phone buzzed, the unknown number interrupting my exploration. I didn’t bother to answer and instead silenced it completely and focused on everything else in front of me.
It wasn’t until a few minutes later that I heard footsteps and later saw Jessica appear from the office. She seemed annoyed to see me, and I forced a smile just to spite her.
“You could pretend to like me, you know?” I said. “I am your friend’s girlfriend after all.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “You don’t like me, either.”
“Because I’m not an idiot. I’m pretty sure I know how you feel about him.”
Taken aback, she stared and stared before smiling. “I care about him, yes. And I’m his friend, so I will be around.”
I took that as a warning. That’s what it seemed like. Her eyes took on a glint I didn’t like at all, and I would have said something else had it not been for Nathan coming out of the office.
“Are you going to stick around?” he asked. Jessica turned around, giving me all the confirmation I needed. I shook my head, placing a small kiss on his cheek.
“I’ll go visit Carter a while,” I replied. I said my goodbyes and went back to my building. It was a calm day overall, and while with Carter, I started planning a surprise for Nathan. He rarely used his apartment, and I wanted to make it into somewhat of a man-cave for him. Although for him, a man cave meant a studio, I knew it would mean a lot to him.