He perks up as if I’m handing him his favorite candy. And I can’t help the grin that takes over my face as I tell him about how Scarlett made me try on each and every one in the shop.
“I like her,” he says. “Where does she live again?”
“No idea, but not in Nashville.” I blow out a breath. “I’m kind of sad about it, honestly.”
“We can travel to see her.”
We.I like the sound of that.
“The one I got I almost didn’t buy,” I continue. “Honestly, I thought it was a little ... showy.”
Nate raises an eyebrow. “And that’s a problem?”
“Not really,” I reply quickly. It’s hard to sit still. “But I guess I’ve gotten used to some things that were said to me about wearing things like that.”
“By who?” Nate’s leaning forward, brow pinched. “If I didanythingthat made you feel like that, feel free to smack me. Or tell me off.”
I hold a hand up. “Not you, I promise.”
He lets out a sigh of relief before he’s focused again. “So, who did?”
Nate will be able to guess it. Quinn would never. Neither would my parents. “Rob made a few comments about me needing to be more modest because I didn’t have the kind of body that looked good in certain things.”
I expect Nate to roll his eyes and call him an idiot. That’s what he is. Instead, his whole body goes tense. He’s so close I canfeelit.
“Excuse me?” he says.
“Y-yeah.” I shake my head. “I’m working on unlearning that.”
“He should haveneverspoken to you like that. If I’d known, I would’ve—” He trails off, shaking his head.
He’s angryforme, and it’s yet another way I know he cares.
My hand lands on his arm. “I know,” I reply. “Thank you.”
Nate blows out a breath before he glances at me. I see him push his anger away and he relaxes. “Good. You shouldn’t have to put up with him like that.”
“And I don’t have to.”Mostly.It would be cleaner if I could never see him again, but I know that’s not how everything will work out. “At least not in the same way. The only time I plan to see him is Quinn’s birthday.”
“I’m going too,” he says.
“But I thought you hated her family.”
“I do, but I’m not lettingyoudeal with it alone. So, I’ll be with you. If you’ll have me.”
My hand tightens on his arm and his skin is warm. “I’ll always have you. It’s one of my favorite things about being your best friend.”
chapter twenty-two
I endup changing into my swimsuit and layering my clothes over it before Nate and I head onto the island.
The ship is pulled up to a wooden dock. I feel better about being near the water, but I’m in no way comfortable with it, even now. While we’re in line to leave the ship, Nate’s hand intertwines with mine. It doesn’t completely erase the fears and haunting memory of falling into the ocean, but it helps.
“Would you jump into the water again if I fell?” I mutter as we move. I want to be casual about how I’m feeling, but my hand tightens around his. I know he’s aware of how nervous I am.
“Every time,” he replies easily.
We take it slow and stay away from other people. Thankfully, no one pushes me off the dock this time, and I make it to land unscathed. When the ground is solid underneath my feet, I let out a long breath of relief.
