The feeling follows me home—aquiet, steady warmth in my chest—right up until I pull into the driveway and see Nate sitting on the front steps.And instantly, I know something’s wrong.
His posture is a fortress, his shoulders are tense and jaw is tight.It’s the kind of stillness that isn’t calm at all, but more like containment.
“Hey,” I say softly, sliding down beside him.
Nothing.
“What’s wrong?”
He looks at me, and the hurt in his eyes knocks the breath from my lungs.
“Liam sent you flowers.”
The words shouldn’t matter but he says them like they do.
“What?”I get to my feet.“Nate?—”
“They look pretty expensive.”
“And?”My voice sharpens.
“It’s a cute romantic gesture.”
I stare at him.
“Don’t—don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Make accusations.”
“That’s not an accusation,” he fires back, shifting on the porch step as if the wood itself has gone uncomfortable beneath him.He plants his elbows on his knees, fingers laced, head bowed for a breath—then he looks up at me, eyes sharp, guarded.
“Thereareflowers.From a guy you met in London.In the kitchen.”
“Why are you being like this?”
“Like what?”
“You’re being—” I swallow hard.“You’re being unfair.”
“Unfair?”His voice cracks—barely, but enough that my ribs go tight.He scrubs a hand over his mouth, then pushes himself upright from the step in one fluid, restless motion, coming to stand toe-to-toe with me.He isn’t looming—just meeting me, eye-level, as if he needs to see the truth in my face and nowhere else.
“You’re going back,” he says, breath unsteady.“Aren’t you?End of summer?Back to London?Back to him.”
“I don’t know?—”
“What are we even doing, Nora?”he says, running both hands over his face.“What the fuck are we doing?”
The words slice right through me because they echo something I haven’t dared admit.
“You really don’t trust this,” I whisper.“Aftereverything.”
“How can I when it feels like you’re building a life that doesn’t include me,” he says, voice breaking.“Fuck.”
It hurts.God, it hurts.
And then he says, “I can’t do this right now,” and walks toward the dock without looking back.
