“Better tell the truth then, Quinn.”
“Fine. But you need to do shots of almond milk.” Nathan fake-gagged at my suggestion. One side of my mouth lifted before I could smother the reaction. “It’s only fair. You like whiskey.”
He grumbled but retrieved the almond milk from the fridge. He plopped it, along with two shot glasses, next to the whiskey bottle. “And because you made me leave this room, I’ll kick us off. What happened to your engagement ring?”
He voiced the question I’d seen in his eyes for weeks. I wasn’t ready to tell him the story, to tear down the protective wall my engagement had raised around me. Nathan would never make a move on anyone in a relationship. If he knew I was no longer in one, I didn’t know what he’d do. Attraction simmered between us, and we were stuck in the same bed. If he acted, I wouldn’t be able to resist, even though my heart would shatter when we went our separate ways again.
Or maybe it would give us closure, and we could finally move on from each other. People banged to get it out of their systems all the time… didn’t they?
I met his stare. “I returned the ring to its owner.”
Nathan narrowed his eyes. “Descriptive.” He shook the whiskey bottle, but I didn’t budge. He wasn’t getting more information, even with the distractingly soft look in his eyes. “Suit yourself.”
He poured a healthy shot and held it out to me. My fingers grazed his as he handed me the glass, and a well of want churned in my gut. Each time I thought I’d reached its depths, Nathan reminded me just how deep my desire for him went.
I wrenched my gaze from him to focus on the task at hand, tossing back the amber liquid, feeling it burn a path down my throat. I sputtered at the harsh taste and tears stung my eyes. Nathan covered his mouth, at leasttryingto suppress the laugh.
“What did the note from your dad say?” I asked after the burn subsided.
I thought about asking about his shoulder. It’d serve him right for hurling a fastball with his first question, but Ineededthis to work. Besides, I did wonder what the note Nathan crumbled and tossed angrily into the trash had said. Despite my curiosity, I’d resisted the urge to fish it out and violate his privacy.
“A piss-poor excuse for his actions,” he answered.
Without my prodding, Nathan took a shot of almond milk. He chased it with a swig directly from the whiskey bottle. “That’s fucking disgusting,” he muttered.
“Not as bad as regular milk.”
“Says the woman who considers cardboard a snack.” He fired his next question before I could defend rice cakes—one of my main food groups. “Why are you seeing Ellis?”
“We’re friends,” I retorted.
Nathan shook the whiskey bottle back and forth, pushing it in my direction.
I swallowed, preparing to share something no one else in my life understood. I didn’t expect him to be any different. “Derek is giving me legal advice. I’m trying to get custody of Molly. Kathy’s not fit to raise her.”
His head jerked back. “Not what I expected.”
“But you’re relieved?”
He took another swig of whiskey. “That you’re not fucking the smug prick? Yeah, Bren, I’m relieved.”
“You know he’s not a bad guy. What’s the real reason you don’t like him?”
Nathan blinked. “I told you.”
“He got the moments with me that you wanted?” I repeated his words from over a month ago in a mocking undertone, too cowardly to say them any other way. “Come on. You didn’t want anything to do with me back then. At least not when you were sober.”
Nathan shook his head. “That’s not true, Brenna.”
“I thought we said no lying, Nathan.”
“I’m not.”
“Prove it.”
Nathan gripped the almond milk carton, readying to pour a shot before abruptly shoving it back on the bed. “You know what? No. You want the truth, Bren? The night I found you inmy bed? I was plastered because I was losing my shit over seeing you again. I worried you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I was still in love with you. I wanted you back. I was prepared to doanythingto make it happen. Then I found you here, in my bed… and you kissed me. It wasn’t what I’d planned, butGod…”
Nathan let out a sexy groan that had me squeezing my legs together for relief. I watched his perfect mouth form the words, utterly captivated, unable to look away.
