“Mac told me. He didn’t know we’d…”
Mac, a food delivery guy and a tattletale, apparently. “You corrected him, hopefully.”
“You’re wearing your hair down,” he said, instead of responding to my statement. The waves had settled a little from that morning, but they still flowed over my shoulders free, unlike normal.
“Yes.” I patted my hair. “What do you need, Nate? Why are you here?”
“I miss you, Sutton. I made a mistake. I was being selfish and needy.”
I shook my head. “No, you weren’t. You’re allowed to want someone who’s invested in the relationship.”
His expression softened, and I realized he probably thought I had done some reflecting as well. That I was telling him I would be different or something. “Not me,” I blurted, then tried to smooth it over by adding, “I mean, I wasn’t invested and there was obviously a reason and you need someone better than me.”
“The reason was that you had just had the busiest year of your life opening this place and I wasn’t very understanding. And then your mom had her accident.”
“I think that’s only part of it,” I said. Because now I had experienced what it was like to be truly invested in someone and have someone be truly invested in me. It was an all-consuming feeling. And maybe time would take away the all-consuming nature of it, but I’d never felt this at any stage with anyone else. That had to mean something. It was new, but it was something. I could feel it.
As if I conjured him with my thoughts, the deep voice of Elijah, from behind me, said, “Are you okay out here?”
I turned to see him as he stepped outside, lingering by the door but ready to jump into action if I asked it of him.
“Who the hell is that?” Nate asked.
“Who the hell are you?” Elijah returned, walking several menacing steps forward. I was beginning to see why he might’ve been intimidating in a boxing ring.
I put one hand on Elijah’s chest as he approached, keeping him back. “I’m fine. Will you just go inside?” I asked. “Please.” I gave him my best pleading eyes, and he nodded and only hesitated a few beats before he left.
“Seriously, Sutton?” Nate said. “It’s been two months.”
“It’s been longer than that and you know it.”
“Maybe for you,” he muttered.
“I’m sorry,” I said, because I really was. I didn’t want him to feel however he was feeling. But I also knew how I felt.
“This guy is from your childhood farm town? He’s moving here for you?”
“No. Don’t. Just let it go.”
“I thought you said you’d never do long distance.”
I rubbed my arms, goose bumps suddenly forming along the length of them.
“Wait, were you cheating on me with him?”
“What? No!” A wave of anger rushed through me, and I took a deep breath. It didn’t matter what he thought, I knew the truth. “Bye, Nate.”
“Whatever,” he said. “I don’t know why I came.” He stormed off, practically stomping his way to his car in the parking lot.
I watched him leave, hoping he got whatever closure he needed. I was surprised to realize that I hadn’t needed closure. I’d felt nothing but worry when I saw his face. Worry that he’d make Elijah feel insecure or unsure of us. I hoped it hadn’t.
I walked inside and straight to the back. It was like I instinctually knew that Elijah would be in the office, waiting for me.
He was pacing when I walked in. I paused by the door.
He stopped moving and asked, “You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
