“Is that a fact.” I took a swig of the beer.
He nodded. “Yes. You made such wonderful friends out there, Ash. And if you want privacy—like I said—tell me before you head out, and I’ll stay away. It’s a big community. We can share it.”
Does he suck you off as well as I do?
“At least think about it,” he added. “I’d hate the thought of you alienating yourself. You need friends.”
Do you go on dates?
I tore my gaze from him and stared into the fire instead. It couldn’t hurt me as much as the rat bastard next to me.
Fuckinghell, now I saw them too. Kissing, fucking, destroying our bed, going out to dinner, laughing, holding hands?—
I was gonna be sick.
“Maybe you’re right,” I forced myself to say. “I should…rejoin society. Maybe meet someone.”Someone who wants me for who I am.“We’ve never suffered any shortage of subs and Littles who wanna play with us after all.”
Nate cleared his throat and picked at the pieces of meat without actually taking anything. “Right. Yes, of course. I have no doubt you’ll have a line of Littles waiting their turn.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I don’t care about the line,” I said. “I want someone to settle down with.” Okay, that was a lie. “I’d like to get married again too.” Horseshit.
He bobbed his head and wouldn’t look up.
The fuck was wrong with him?
A blind person could see he was uncomfortable as hell—but why? He’d met someone. Didn’t I deserve the same happiness?
“I didn’t know you’d thought about marriage,” he said quietly.
I fucking hadn’t. Hadhe, though? Was he gonna marry that goddamnAceyboyone day? Was a guy who hated the outdoors going to know my kids?
“Aside from the kids, nothing made me happier than being your husband.” At least that was true. “I wanna feel that way again.”
He cleared his throat and nodded slowly, and he gave up on the smoked meat. He couldn’t stomach it, could he? I knew that feeling.
“I, uh…I think the whiskey was more than enough,” he said awkwardly. “I’m gonna take a walk before bed. Would you mind bringing this inside?” He gestured at the meat and his beer.
He didn’t wait for a response. For some reason, he needed to make a hasty exit, and I watched him stick his hands down his pockets as he walked briskly along a narrow path. If he continued straight ahead, he’d reach the communal showers and kitchen of the campsite, or he could venture into the forest on one of several trails.
You’re not getting away that easily.
I took another swig of my beer before I got up too. I could tidy up after us later.
After throwing a glance at the RV, I took off on the same path Nathan had taken, and it wasn’t long before I spotted him around a bend. He was getting closer to the part where he could choose left or right, and he opted for left. Into the forest.
I let out a low whistle to alert him to my approach.
He stopped and looked back at me, and he tensed up. “I need a moment, Ash.”
I shook my head. Nah. We weren’t doing that. I wanted to confront him.
“I was more thinking you could fucking level with me for once,” I said, reaching him. “Come on.” I jerked my chin at the trail we’d walked with Lily yesterday. She’d wanted to lead a hike, and this one was approximately five hundred feet long and called Bug Trail. It was also paved, and several of the trees had fun facts for children attached to them.
I made Nate sigh a lot.
Within seconds, we might as well be the only two people on earth, and I saw no reason to walk farther. It was almost pitch black in here.
