Page 132 of Captivated

It wasn’t the adjective Nate would have chosen.

More like complicated.

Hot.

Scary as hell.

“Have you been in contact with him since you got back?”

“We’ve exchanged texts. He did call a few times, but I didn’t answer.”

“Why not?”

Nate swallowed once more. “I didn’t think I could bear to hear his voice.” Zeeb hadn’t mentioned the missed calls, and Nate had wondered about that.

“Did anything happen between you two?”

“Not much.” Nate sighed. “And yet so much.”

“Okay, now I’m really confused.”

Nate turned to face him. “He got through my defenses, every last one of them. He…touchedme, and not just physically. And before you ask, we haven’t even kissed.”

Dad cocked his head. “But you wanted to?”

He huffed. “I wanted to before I left Salvation. I think he did too.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

Nate had been asking himself the same question.

“I think he was being careful around me. And I… I was too scared.”

“Of what?” Dad’s voice was gentle.

“Feeling something so huge that it overwhelmed me.” He gazed at Dad. “Have you ever felt that way about someone?”

Dad didn’t react for a moment. Then he nodded. “Once.”

That quietly uttered word stopped Nate in his tracks. “Oh.”

He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. And something I regret.”

Nate stared at him. “You regret feeling that way about someone?”

He shook his head. “No, for not acting on those feelings. I had a chance to tell him how I felt, and I didn’t take it.” He gave a sad smile. “I still think about him.”

“How often?”

Dad scrubbed his hand over his face. “Oh, every day.” He got off the stool and left the room, and Nate’s gut clenched. A moment later, Dad returned with a strip of photos. He gave it to Nate. “That was us.”

Nate gazed at the photos. Dad and the other guy were laughing at something.

He looks so happy.

“How old were you?”

“A little younger than you are now.” He bit his lip. “And as you can see, he was older.”

---