I look up to see Juliette and Addie, both looking at me with concern. Juliette smiles in a sympathetic way, but I can’t return it.
Nothing is normal about this.
I brought this man into everyone’s lives, and look what it has caused.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” I whisper. “I want to go home.”
Luckily, Nate knows me well enough. No questions asked, he’s up out of the chair, pulling me into his side.
“We’re leaving,” he announces. “Adelaide, are you coming now?”
She rubs her stomach. “No way. I’m salivating at the smells coming from the kitchen.”
“Fine. I’m leaving one of the guards here. He will drive you home.”
She doesn’t fight it; she just nods, accepting the crazy.
Rosa walks in with a bag of Tupperware. “I had a feeling you’d want to be at home.” Then she passes me the bag.
Nate calls the car, and we blindly walk outside and get in.
“I didn’t even say goodbye to my brother.”
“He’ll come over for breakfast in the morning, before he goes home. Don’t worry about it.”
The car ride home is made in almost complete silence. The only sounds heard are the heaviness of everything between us.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask.
He hesitates, as if stunned by the question, “Mad at you?”
With a shrug, I glance away from his gaze and watch the city lights fly by.
“I can feel the tension radiating off you.”
He sucks in a deep breath. “I’m fucking furious.” His tone shocks me enough to turn my attention back to his face, which is a glowering mask of anger. “But not at you. At the situation.”
We get out of the car, thank the driver, and walk into the building, waving to the doorman as we go.
“How can I make this better?”
He points down the hall once we step into the penthouse. “I’m going to go work out and let off some steam. Then we can watch a movie or something.”
I’m not letting him shy away.
“No,” I say with meaning, taking a bold step forward. “I need you right now. I need you to help me forget.”
He shakes his head. “I’m too worked up.”
“I know.” I lower my voice. “That’s exactly why I need you to take me upstairs.”
“Mads.”
This is how we cope…we need each other.
I take another step, so we’re a whisper apart. “I need this just as much as you do.” I lean in and press my lips to his. “Own me, Nathaniel. Remind me who I belong to.”
I knew that would push him over the edge…
