Page 27 of Replay

Berkley looks a little stunned by my sudden appearance, her eyes widening.

“I did not say that,” Bellamy growls at me, crossing her arms.

“I don’t need either of you to walk me… It’s only a couple minutes away, and Darby is there. So, she’ll call the hounds if I don’t show up.” She takes a few steps, and her body sways from the alcohol she’s likely been drinking all day.

“Not funny,” I say, grabbing her arm as she tries to head for the door.

“Nate, there you are.” Berkley and I both turn to see a blonde I dodged earlier when I first got to the party. “I wondered where you went. Want to be my partner in beer pong?”

“He was actually just about to walk me home.” Berkley slips her hand into mine, and fuck, it still fits so perfectly.

There she is. Claim me, baby. I’m yours.

Thank you, random girl… You just helped me out more than you know.

I catch the way Bellamy raises her eyebrows at Berkley as the other girl walks away.

“Let’s get you home, BB,” I say, gently pulling her toward the door, not wanting to lose the chance to be alone with her.

As soon as the door shuts, she rips her hand from mine. “I see blondes are still your type.”

“You jealous, baby?”

“No! And don’t call me that,” she shouts and scares the shit out of me when she almost falls down the front stairs. I grab her arm just in time, steadying her.

“Okay, drunkie, keep telling yourself that.” I link my arm into hers, and she doesn’t fight me as we start walking to her place.

We move in silence for the first couple of minutes. So many things are on the tip of my tongue, but there’s too much alcohol involved tonight to breach anything I’d want to.

There is one pressing question that doesn’t require sobriety, though. “What happened with Graves tonight?”

Narrowing her eyes, she gives me nothing. “None of your damn business.”

“You’re right,” I say, holding up my free hand, signaling I’ll back off the topic.

Berkley shakes her head, and after another minute of silence, she surprises me. “Being this close to you is so confusing… Your damn letters are even more confusing.”

I don’t respond immediately, trying to articulate what I want to say, but she continues before I do. “Did you really write that letter two years ago?”

I nod, closing my eyes at the memory. I was such an emotional mess back then.

“I know none of it makes any sense, but I didn’t just leave that day and move on. My world spun around you—every game, every accomplishment, every day, every minute had been about you since we met. I thought I was doing the right thing back then, but it never felt right.” I stop my steps, turning her, so our bodies are almost touching, and it takes everything in me not to pull her into me. Tipping her chin up, I dip my head down so my eyes bore into hers. “Ihaven’t felt right since that day. And now I’m here, having to face the feelings that never went away, and I’m confused, too, BB.”

Her eyes fill with emotion, and she looks at my lips before she lets out a sigh and steps back.

“I don’t even know what to say, Nate. I’ve probably had too much to drink for this conversation.”

“I know. We don’t have to talk about it.” Releasing a breath, I link my arm back into hers and walk up the steps to her apartment.

“You did really good today.” She gives me my first genuine smile tonight. “I’m still pissed at you, but I loved watching you play again.”

I smirk, reveling in that admission. “I was showing off for you.”

“Psshh, and every other girl there.” She rolls her eyes.

“Nah.”

We stop in front of her door, and I find myself wishing the walk was farther.

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