Something thuds on Fallon’s end. A rustling. A muffled gasp.
“PUMPKIN?!?” Mac’s bellowing voice fills the phone like someone kicked open the gates of hell. “ARE YOU INJURED? IS NATE THERE?!?”
Nate mouths,Oh, shit.
“Mum put it on speaker,” I whisper.
“Hi, Dad,” Nate offers wearily.
“NATE! IS SHE OK?”
“Sheis fine,” I retort dryly.
“I’d say a damn site better than fine, if your boy is anything like you,” Mum quips.
Mac booms, “NATHAN WOODRUFF, WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?”
Wait a minute.
Wait a goddamn minute.
“Mum,” I ask archly, “why is Mac where you are? I thought you were in Leeds with Aunt Linda?”
There’s pin drop silence from the other end of the line.
“Mum…” I say in a stern voice as Nate’s jaw drops.No way, he mouths.
“It’s… Er…”
“Um,” Mac adds helpfully.
Nate snorts. “So, are we going to becurrentstep siblings again, or…?”
“It’s - shut up,” Mum grumbles.
“We’re not talking about us, we’re talking aboutthe two of you,” Mac cuts in.
“Yeah, nice try, old man,” I drawl. “Get comfortable on the floor, cos you don’t have any legs to stand on.”
Mac makes dad-noises as he tries to regain his footing. “I love your mother,” he mutters.
“Shutup, you stupid old fart,” Mum barks.
“And there’s a prime reason why,” Mac snorts.
“Yeah, well, you love Fallon;IloveAlly,” Nate adds like kerosene to an established bonfire.
I blink. “You…Whoah.”
“Yeah,” he admits, going pink. “It’s not just sex for me. Iloveyou.”
I gulp. Can it really be that simple?
“ALLYSON MONTROSE, YOU TELL THAT SWEET BOY YOU LOVE HIM BACK, OR SO HELP ME I’LL - ”
I end the call, cutting off Mum’s rant.
“You don’t have to say it back,” he says sincerely, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I just wanted to…” Nate sighs. “I just wanted to say it out loud. Just once.”
