I try to disappear upstairs to at least change my shirt, but Ma calls me out to the kitchen.
She gasps and her eyes go wide the second she sees me.
“Evan! Baby, what happened?”
I swat her hand away when she comes closer and tries to touch my face.
“Nothing Ma, I just got in a fight. It looks worse than it is.”
“A fight? With who?”
“No one.”
Nate and Stacie are standing at the table. They don’t know where to look. I ruined dinner. My presence here has made everything worse.
“I’m gonna go and get changed.”
Ma tries to call after me, but she trails off when she sees I’m not listening.
I lock the bathroom door and splash my face with water. I need ice. I need a fucking mask or something right now. There’s no hiding the bruising or the swelling around my nose.Fucking Adam.
There’s a knock on the door. I ignore it. They knock again.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.” Nate. “Let me in.”
He’s not going away. I know how stubborn he is. With a sigh, I open the door. He comes in and locks it from the inside.
“What happened?” he asks, putting his hand on my face. I have to force myself not to close my eyes and surrender to it.
“I just got in a fight with a friend.”
“Afrienddid this to you? Jesus, Ev.”
I flinch from his touch and go back to the mirror.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’ve had worse.”
I pull the shirt off and leave it in a ball. I can feel Nate standing behind me, watching as I bend over the sink to wash my face. I know from experience it’s possible to feel ashamed and turned on at the same time. That’s how most of my hookups before Nate felt.
“Let me help.”
I try to protest, but he presses me back against the sink and wets some toilet paper before dabbing up my nose.
“It’s not broken.”
“I know.”
“Good.” His lips twitch in a smile. “Because I’d be pissed if he messed up your pretty face.”
He’s talking quietly, but my heart still races at the thought of my ma or Stacie hearing him. I should tell him to shut up, but I don’t want to.
“Oh yeah? What would you do?”
“I’d beat him up with my tennis racket.”
