A pang of deep affection echoed in my chest. ‘Dude, you really know how to boost a woman’s self-esteem.’
He smirked, but his eyes were searching when he finally gathered the courage to look at me. ‘I overheard Jo and Cam talking. I know about you and Nate and what he did. I told him I don’t hang out with idiots or assholes, and seeing as he’s both, I was done.’
For some insane reason I felt bad for Nate. ‘Cole, while I appreciate your loyalty, and I really do, Nate is your friend. He cares about you. Don’t shut him out because of me.’
‘But he hurt you.’
‘Yes. And I’m angry at him. But he didn’t hurt you. So please don’t you be angry at him.’
Cole was quiet for a moment and then he said, ‘I think he feels bad. He’s been looking like shit lately.’
I pretended not to hear that. ‘That’s the third time you’ve cursed – you realize that, right?’
He shrugged.
‘Okay, I’ll leave the admonishing to Jo. Let’s talk about something less depressing. How’s school?’
‘You think that’s less depressing?’
‘It can’t be that bad.’
He shrugged.
‘Okay, how about art?’
That topic immediately opened him up. ‘I’m getting a tattoo on my eighteenth birthday. I’ve been drawing loads of different ideas.’
‘Oh? So, are you still thinking about becoming a tattoo artist?’
‘Aye, didn’t Jo tell you?’
‘Tell me what?’
‘Adam’s friend’s cousin owns a tattoo parlor down in Leith. He’s going to let me spend a couple of days a week there over the summer. After high school there might be a possibility of an apprenticeship with him. If he likes me, that is. He told me to keep all my drawings. Create, like, a portfolio.’
‘That’s brilliant. Wow, you are way more organized about life than I was at fifteen.’
He grunted. ‘Tell that to Jo. She wants me to go to college first.’
‘Maybe you should.’
‘We’ll see. Despite what she thinks, I have still got time.’
‘She just wants you to have choices in life, Cole.’
‘Aye,’ he said, his eyes softening. ‘I know that.’
The walk passed quickly as we talked about school and movies and books. He was a kid who was kind of taciturn with most people, and it was nice to be counted among the circle of friends and family he was willing to open up to.
Arriving at Jo and Cam’s flat, Cole shoved the door open. ‘I’m home!’
‘We’re in the kitchen!’ Jo called back.
Cole grimaced. ‘I’m not going in there,’ he whispered. ‘Sometimes when they think they’re alone they’re all … affectionate.’
I chuckled under my breath and followed him into the sitting room. He stopped abruptly and I had to sidestep his tall frame to see past him.
If a bus had driven through the wall and slammed into me, it wouldn’t have had any less of an impact than when I saw Nate sitting there. Our eyes collided and Nate slowly stood up from the couch. After a moment of helpless staring, my gaze drifted over him. Sporting a short beard and dark circles under his eyes, he looked exhausted and unkempt. It was so not like him.
‘Sorry, Liv,’ Cole apologized quietly. ‘I didn’t know he’d be here.’
‘It’s okay.’
‘How?’ Nate took a step toward me and I automatically took a step back. He stopped, swallowing hard as his eyes took me in, almost hungrily. ‘How are you?’
Before I could muster up some kind of reply to that stupid-ass question, the loud clack of heels in the hall grew in crescendo as they came toward us, and I turned, my eyes narrowing, as a tall redhead in a low-cut tank top and skinny jeans sashayed into the room in five-inch sandals. ‘That bathroom is gorgeous.’ She smiled politely at me before sidling up to Nate. Her toned arm slid around his waist and she pressed her breasts against him. ‘Your friends have a really nice flat.’
Heat unlike anything I’d ever felt before flooded me. A fire blazed in my chest, the flames licking my throat and forestalling any words. Instead I just stood there glaring at them in impotent jealousy and heartbreak.
‘Liv?’ I turned at Jo’s voice and found her standing in the doorway, her features slack with surprise. ‘What are you –’
‘Just leaving.’ I cut her off and pushed past her hurriedly, ignoring her calling my name in concern as I slammed out of the apartment and raced for the stairs. I heard the door opening behind me, but I just kept moving, desperate to get somewhere quiet where I could brood and rail and curse Nate Sawyer to hell.
‘Olivia!’
Oh, God.
‘Olivia, stop,’ Nate growled behind me. Close. Too close.
His hand clamped around my arm and I found myself hauled to a stop and turned about to face him.
He stood, a few steps up from me, breathing heavily, his expression panicked. ‘Liv, don’t go.’
I wrenched my arm out of his grip, and immediately felt the phantom of his fingers wrapped around it. ‘Go back inside, Nate.’ My expression was pure disdain. ‘I should have known nothing would keep you down for long.’