Nathan didn't move. "Do what?"
I scoffed. "Glare at him like you were deciding whether or not to rip his head off."
Nathan finally uncrossed his arms. "I was just standing here."
I narrowed my eyes. "Uh-huh. Sure." Why did he have to be so infuriatingly overprotective? It wasn't like we were together. We never would be. I wouldn't let myself fall for anyone again, especially not him, my brother’s much-older-than-me best friend.
Elle walked up with a group of friends, spotted me, and frowned. She muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. "Figures."
I tensed. "Excuse me?"
Elle didn't repeat herself. She just turned and walkedaway, leaving me stung and confused. What had I done to make her dislike me so much?
I turned back to Nathan, ready to demand answers, but he was already striding off, his shoulders taut. I exhaled sharply. This day just kept getting better and better.
The fundraiser finally wound down, and I started gathering up the leftover bake sale items to take inside. Nathan appeared next to me, his presence too large, too warm.
He didn't waste time. "What happened with Elle?"
I glared at him. "You tell me. She's been acting like I ran over her dog since I got here."
Nathan's jaw tightened. "She's a kid. She'll come around."
I folded my arms. "So youdoknow she has a problem with me? What is there to come around to?"
Nathan exhaled sharply. "I noticed there was some animosity there."
I didn't let it go. "Did you say something to her to make her dislike me?"
Nathan looked genuinely taken aback. "What? No, of course not. Why would I?"
I studied him, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth. "Then why does she seem to hate me?"
Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. "She's been through a lot. She's protective."
My frustration grew. "Protective of whom?" I demanded. Of him? Of their family? I was just trying to do my job and live my life. I didn't need this small-town drama.
Nathan avoided answering. Instead, he glanced toward where Peter had walked off to. His tone shifted. "You need to be careful with people like him."
I groaned. "Oh my—Seriously?" I couldn't believe he was pulling this overprotective act again.
Nathan's hands flexed at his sides. "You don't know him."
I threw my hands up. "I don't know you either."
That made him flinch. Ha. Good. Maybe he'd finallyback off.
I shook my head, ready to walk away. Before I could, Nathan muttered under his breath. "He's not good enough for you."
I stopped in my tracks. My pulse spiked. Not good enough for me? Who did Nathan think he was?
I forced myself to scoff. "And who is?"
Nathan didn't answer. He just stood there, his brown eyes intense, his expression unreadable.
I couldn't handle the tension anymore. I stormed off, pretending my heart wasn't pounding. I wouldn't let myself fall for Nathan Gallagher. I couldn't. No matter how much my traitorous heart seemed to want to.
I slammed the door behind me as I walked into Gavin's house later that evening. The scent of Chinese takeout wafted over from where he sat on the couch.
