I’ll get over it?He stumbles on his feet and lurches forward, grabbing me into a wet sloppy kiss on the corner of my mouth.
I panic and try to step away and push him off. Then Dex is suddenly there between us, pulling him off of me growling, “Get off of her, Cross.”
Nate laughs and leans back on his feet, trying to steady himself. “No, Dex, you get off. Get out of here.” He grabs for my hand but I pull it out of his reach. “You’ve already fucked this one, go find some other slut to take home.” He points to me and smiles. “I’m taking this one.”
Dex stills, then lunges at him, pinning Nate to the wall with his forearm. “Apologize to her.”
Nate struggles and vomits down the front of his shirt and pants, just missing Dex’s arm. Dex jumps back. “Ah shit, man, really? What are you fourteen?”
“Dex, stop,” I say, touching my hand to his arm. This is all too much. Nate is drunk and doesn’t even know what he’s saying. And I don’t want either of them arrested for having some stupid bar fight over a misunderstanding.
Dex whirls on me. “You want to be disrespected like that? That’s okay with you?”
“That’s not what I meant. He’s just really drunk.”
Nate tries to wipe off the vomit with his hand, mumbling to himself. I don’t think his head is clear enough to even know what just happened.
Dex stares at me hard then steps closer to me, looming over me angrily. “You’re going to make excuses for him?”
“I’m…I’m not.” I glance at Nate who is now leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down to the floor.
Dex throws up his hands. “Whatever. Go, chase after him. Pick him up off the floor and take care of him like he’s a child.” He goes to step away then stops to face me again. “If a man makes you more upset than happy, if he makes you question your worth or doubt yourself in any way, Jane, then he isn’t worth your time.”
But Nate was supposed to be my Mr. Perfect—I can still feel that kiss in my heart. I wish I could explain it to Dex, if I could only get the words out, I know he’d understand.
“Nash,” he curls his index finger under my chin and lifts my head. “That epic love you’re looking for doesn’t come with fireworks and explosions. It comes quiet and easy. It isn’t found in a packed stadium the instant two strangers kiss. It’s built between two people who nurture and support each other.” He backs away, shoulders slumped and sad. “I hope you realize that before it’s too late.”
Dex storms out of the bar and I’m left in the back hall standing in puke with a drunken Nate smiling stupidly at me.
Chapter 25
Iremember when I was younger, I had this enormous trampoline in my backyard. I’d invite all the neighborhood kids over and we’d bounce on that thing for hours and hours, every single day. And on every one of those days, I would fall on that stupid trampoline and everyone would just keep jumping around me so I would never be able to get myself back up.
That’s totally what adult life feels like.
I’m leaning against the kitchen counter in the office, trying not to think about anything more than finishing my coffee so I can fully function for the rest of the day, when Nate walks in. His clothes are a bit wrinkled and his skin looks ashen, but he gives me a small smile. “Morning. Is there any more of that? I need caffeine.”
“Yeah, there’s a whole pot.”
I’m nowhere near the coffee machine but he holds out his mug and winces. “Jane, would you mind?”
I’m taken aback but I slide my mug on the counter and pour him a cup of coffee. “Thanks,” he whispers when I hand it to him. “Hey, Jane. If I said anything stupid last night, I’m sorry.”
I nod numbly. He said everything stupid last night. After Dex left, it took me an hour to get Nate to leave the bar, and when we finally got to his apartment, he tried kissing me again and asked me in for a blowjob. He wanted to compare my style to Julia’s. Needless to say, I left in tears. “You were pretty messed up last night.”
He lowers his gaze and blushes. “I don’t remember anything after we all started doing shots and chasers.” He sips his coffee and grimaces. “I don’t even remember how I got home.”
My heart stutters. “I took you home,” I whisper.
His eyes dart up to meet mine. “Really? I don’t remember seeing you there at all.”
I have the sudden urge to cry. I just don’t know if from sadness or happiness. If he doesn’t recall me being there, he couldn’t have meant all the outlandish hurtful things he said. But then again, he kept repeating how he should have just stayed at the baseball game with me, how everything would have been so different, so much better.
“I, um, I called a car for you.”
He sets his mug down and shifts closer to me. “Did you come home with me?”
His question makes my insides flip. “Yes, but I just got you in your apartment and I left right after.”
