Page 33 of Returning to Everton

Quinn laughs. “No idea, but I could use some.”

We get to the bottom of the stairs just in time to hear someone knock on the door. I wonder who that could be? It’s too early for the movers to be here already. I go answer the door and stand there in shock at who I see.

“N-Nate?” I ask the slightly familiar looking man standing on my front porch. I mean he looks like Nate, but he’s changed a lot.

He has his dark brown hair shaved on the sides and long on top. Like he could probably spike it and have a nice mohawk going on, but he has it artfully messy. He also has a full beard. It’s longer than Declan’s, but still clean and kept trimmed. It’s neat, not bushy and all over the place like some, I’ve seen. His beard has a red tint to it, which is strange because his hair doesn’t. He’s wearing tight jeans and a black shirt. I can see tattoos peeking out the neck of his shirt, and down both arms. I look back up at his hazel eyes, which are looking back at me with so much hope.

“Hey, Rowen. Welcome to the neighborhood,” he greets me. “Hudson wanted me to give you this and remind you to text him later.”

That’s when I realize he has a smoothie in his hand. I reach out to take it and take a sip. Mmmm strawberry, my favorite. “Thank you, Nate. Come on in. We just got here. Waiting on the movers to get here with all of our stuff. What are you up to today?” I ask, trying to make small talk. Nate’s always had a bit of a temper and I’m a little concerned with how he’s handling me being back.

“Well, being this is the first I’ve seen you in ten years, I’d like to spend it with you. Need help unpacking?” he asks hopefully.

I mentally sigh in relief. Good, he doesn’t hate me. Or at least I don’t think he does. Why would he want to spend the day with me if he hated me right?

“Sure, a little help would be nice. Quinn has to leave for work in a few hours so she won’t be here all day. I’d love the company since you’re offering,” I bite my bottom lip and raise my eyebrows hoping he doesn’t change his mind and run away.

He’s been known to lash out when the situation gets too tense. I don’t want him to flee from me. I miss him. I want to work our problems out. I’m under no delusion that we don’t have any problems. With the way I left, there’s bound to be hurt feelings that need to be resolved.

He sighs, “Don’t look at me like that Rowe. I’m not going to run. I came to you remember. Why would I come here just to chicken out and leave after talking to you for two minutes?” he kindly points out.

“Well if you say so,” I giggle. We walk into the kitchen and I set my smoothie down. I turn around and find Nate staring at me longingly. I decide to just bite the bullet and walk up to him and wrap my arms around his waist. He wastes no time wrapping his around me and holding me tight.

“I’m so sorry Nate. I can only imagine how you felt when I left the way I did. I didn’t mean to Nate. I never meant to hurt you. Please tell me you believe me,” I beg him.

“I do, Rowe. It was hard at first. Really hard, but I don’t want to think about that. You’re here now, let’s focus on that okay?” he pleads. “Things weren’t good for me for a long time. I’m trying to move on though, so please let me do that. Let’s not talk about it right now. Just let me be with you. I missed you so damn much Rowe.”

“Okay, Nate. We won’t talk about it now, but eventually, we’re going to need to. You know that,” I tell him gently.

We stand there just holding each other until I suddenly remember Quinn and Violet are here. I reluctantly pull away from Nate and look around. I catch a glimpse of someone running past the kitchen window, so I walk over to check it out. Looks like Quinn went outside with Violet when Nate got here. She knew we’d need some time alone. I really do have the best friend ever.

“You wanna go outside and meet my daughter?” I ask Nate, worried about how he’ll react to learning I have a kid. I shouldn’t have worried, of course, Nate’s just full of surprises today.

“I’d love to meet your daughter, Rowen. I bet she’s as beautiful as her mother.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head at him. “Whatever Nate,” I chuckle. “Come on.”

We head out the sliding glass doors to the back porch and watch Quinn chase after Violet. Violet is laughing hysterically and screaming any time Quinn starts to get a little too close. I hate to break up their game, but I’m sure Quinn could use a break. So I call Violet over to meet Nate.

“Sweetie, this is Mommy’s good friend Nate. We grew up together. Nate, this is my daughter, Violet,” I introduce two of the most important people in my life.

Never one to meet a stranger, Violet just smiles real big and says, “Hi Nate! You wanna be my friend?”

Nate squats down to her level and replies, “I would love nothing more than to be your friend Violet. Do you have many friends?” he asks her.

“Well, not here I don’t, but we just got here last night. So just give it time.” she smiles. “I do have two other friends here though. My friend Logan and his daddy.”

“Really? I have a friend named Logan too. Is he about yay high?” he asks as he holds his hand up to right where Logan would stand, a little more than 4ft. “With brown hair and green eyes?” he asks as he continues to describe the very same Logan Violet is talking about.

“Yes! You know Logan?” Violet questions Nate.

“I sure do. I’m pretty close friends with his dad,” he states.

“Wait you know Declan?” I ask him.

Nate looks up at me and cocks a brow. “It’s a pretty small town Rowe. Or have you forgotten? Everyone knows pretty much everyone,” he smirks at me, “but yes, Declan and Logan actually live with me and the other guys.”

Wow, I was not expecting that. I think back to what Declan said about his best friends helping him raise his son after his wife died. It does sound like something my guys would do. That also explains how Nate knew where I was. This is his friend’s house.

---