I’m worried he won’t agree.
That I’m asking too much.
“Nate?”
“I swear on my mother’s grave, I willnever,evercheat on you!”
Hearing those words brings a lump to my throat, and I can’t fight back the tears. My throat chokes up, and I sob just once, but it’s audible that I am crying. “Oh God, Nate, I didn’t expect that. That’s really serious.”
“That’s how serious I am, Ria. I’m not a cheater, never have been, never will be. Please don’t cry.”
I sniff and take a deep breath, calming myself down. “Do you think you might want to come over?”
“I’m already on my way. I’m about five minutes out.”
Opening my eyes wide, I smile. “You’re driving?”
“I started when you admitted you were scared. I had a feeling you might need me by the tone the conversation was heading, though I didn’t see it heading quite this way. I can tell you I can’t stop grinning right now.”
“Really?”
“Like the fucking Cheshire cat, baby.”
I let out a soft, teasing laugh, wiping my eyes. “You’re way too good to me.”
He chuckles. “I know, but you’re worth it. You’re giving a chance to a drummer who can’t read. That’s pretty amazing of you.”
“You’re worth it, Nate. You’re so worth it.”
He pauses for a moment. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”
My stomach sinks at just how badly Nate has been treated in his life, and I was only adding to the misery he was feeling. “Well, get prepared to hear it a hell of a lot more from now on.”
“Thanks. You have no idea what that means to me, Ria. You’ve changed my world.”
I smile, thinking about how, before we met, he could barely read. Now, he can string a few words together, form sentences, and even write a few with my help. I’m so glad I’ve been able to do that for him.
“I think you’re going to change mine, too.”
“I’m pulling up at the gate.”
“Great. I’ll meet you at the door.”
“K-bye…”
Pushing myself up from the sofa, I rush through the house to the front door. I yank it open just in time to see Nate pull up, so I bolt down the steps to greet him. He jumps out of the car and runs to meet me, grabbing and lifting me, then spins me around. I laugh as I wrap myself around him and lean in, kissing him deeply. We both let out an amused laugh as he walks us back up the steps toward the house and inside, closing the door behind us.
He heads for the pool house, but I stop him and drop from his hold, breaking apart and reaching out for his hand. Nate looks at me, raising his eyebrow as I lead him off to the left and toward the stairs. He furrows his brows, and I smile.
“I think it’s time you see myactualbedroom, don’t you?”
He nods as we head for the stairs. Our feet move fast as we jog up the plush white carpeted staircase, giggling all the way like a couple of teenagers. His hands don’t leave my body, and when we get to the top, we turn right and walk into my bedroom.
He stops as we enter, and he stares in awe. “Sweet baby Jesus,” he says with a smirk on his face.
I turn to look at him and wince. “You okay?”
He looks down at me and says, “You have a four-poster bed…” His grin spreads wider, and I furrow my brows and tilt my head.
