He sighed and looked at me. His expression said “I don’t want to tell” but he would or I’d become angry.
“Nate’s grandfather lives in the building.”
That was it? He was upset over that? Eli could be as dramatic as a female at times, so I responded “and . . . uh . . . so what?”
He shrugged. “I just don’t want you running into him more often than you should.”
There he was, worrying again. Like he always had and would. “Eli, I told you, I’m a big girl. Stop it with the hovering and concern. I am fine with Nate. I see him at work. I’m employed by his fiancé.”
Eli didn’t look convinced. Definitely not relieved. I opened the door before I lost my temper and fussed at him some more. He was way too overprotective. It was a waste of my breath I decided.
We stepped out of the condo and headed for the stairs. I wanted to say more, but I kept my mouth shut, because changing the subject was better. “Did you bring a swimsuit?” I asked him. Mine was under my sundress. Eli’s grandparents had a beautiful pool on the beach and this was a swimming party.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
He was still being moody. Seriously?
“Eli, what is your deal? I should be the one acting pissy. You’re just being ridiculous.”
We’d just gotten to the bottom of the stairs when Nate came into view. He was walking toward the parking lot. I paused and his gaze found us both. He went from Eli to me then stopped. Like he was waiting on something to happen.
“We’re going to be late,” Eli said, taking my arm and moving forward.
“No, we aren’t.” I argued.
“We are if you stop and talk.”
“I was only going to be polite.”
“He doesn’t need polite. Doesn’t fucking deserve it.”
I jerked my arm loose from Eli. “What is your problem? Are you mad at him because he doesn’t remember me? Eli, let that go. It was a long time back. I was a kid. I’ve changed. So has he.”
I turned my attention back to Nate. He was watching us like a hawk. Like he expected something to explode. I got the feeling there was more to this than I realized was currently happening. Had they talked today? Had words? Did Eli say something he shouldn’t?
“What’s going on?” I asked Eli in a whisper. Yes, something had occurred.
He glared at Nate. “Nothing. Not a thing.”
“Eli,” I warned, “something’s going on.” He knew I’d discover the truth. No reason to hide it now.
“Why don’t you ask him?” His tone was full of anger as he continued glaring. Eli then walked off, leaving me there with Nate. I watched as he stalked towards the car, completely baffled at his behavior.
Turning my attention back to Nate I asked “what the heck happened?”
Nate looked as confused as me. “Not sure. He was really upset.”
Great, Eli was crazed over nothing and there’d been no reason for this. Nate would know if there was.
“I’m sorry. He’s been acting weird all day. I’m trying to figure out what’s bothering him.”
Nate nodded as if he understood.
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” I said it and started for the car.
“Bliss.” His voice stopped me.
“Yes?”
He stared at me for a moment. It made me nervous, I wanted to fix my hair or check and see if there was something in my teeth. Those silver eyes made me a mess. They always had and always would.
“When did you beat cancer?”
I felt myself break. My heart plummeted. Right there lost in his eyes. He knew. I wasn’t a stranger. I was a healthy female that worked for his fiancé. Not the girl he once knew. I was A.C., no longer B.C. And they were different. Vastly different.
He’d never look at me the same way again. And I knew Eli was to blame.
Nate Finlay
THERE. SHE KNEW. I couldn’t keep it in any longer. Knowing she had fought and won against cancer since we’d last seen one another made me feel like an even bigger bastard for pretending not to remember her. She remained quiet about it. Not reminding me. Not trying to get me to remember her. Most girls would’ve been upset and dramatic, needing to draw attention.
Not Bliss. She said nothing at all. Did her job and smiled when I made her. The joy that had originally drawn me to her was still there as if it never left. Even after all she’d been through. I was the world’s biggest jackass. I intended to rectify that. If it was humanly possible I would.
“Who told you?” Finally, she spoke the words. She’d been staring at me for a while, as if she wasn’t sure what to say, or if she’d heard me correctly. There was sadness. She didn’t want me to know. But why? Perhaps I didn’t deserve to.
“Does that matter?”
She nodded. “Yes. It does.”
“Bliss, let’s go, we’re going to be late,” Eli called out to her. She didn’t look at him or speak. There was a flash of anger in her eyes and I realized she was mad at Eli.
“He didn’t tell me,” I replied, although I don’t know why. I kind of liked the idea of her being angry with him over something like that. He fit so perfectly into her life. Eli was able to be with her through every moment of the day if he chose to. I wasn’t. I hadn’t been given a Bliss. I’d chosen, instead, an Octavia.
“Then who?” she asked again, this time with obvious anger in her voice. It was sexy, she was never angry, or hell, never even ornery. She made “pissed off” look good.
“My grandfather. He thought I knew and mentioned it, while we were eating at his place.”
Her anger quickly faded. The sadness was back in an instant. She stood there for a moment bewildered. “Okay,” she whispered, turning to leave, but I couldn’t let her go. “Wait,” I called after Bliss. She knew the truth that I’d been a lying asshole and she hadn’t even mentioned it. I needed more. A slap in the face? She could yell at me if she chose to.
She paused and with an obvious sigh turned back to me to speak.
“I’m sorry,” was all I could say. I was, more so than I’d ever been for anything I’d ever done.
“For what?”
Did she actually have to ask me that? I would’ve thought the reason was obvious. I had a mountain of shit to be sorry for. “For letting you believe I didn’t remember you. I thought it was for the best. But it was wrong. A cruel thing to do.”
“Oh. I just thought I was forgettable.” She shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head. “That was a million years ago. We’ve both lived another life since then.”
She’d survived through a hell that changed her. Robbing Bliss of experiences she should have had, yet she didn’t complain in the least. “I’d like to know the woman you’ve become. We were friends once, before I kissed you. We could be friends again.”