Page 34 of If You Say So

Nate lets out a strangled breath and wipes a finger under his eye before shoving his hands into his pockets. “I think this might be the most open and honest conversation we’ve had in a really long fucking time.”

“I think we needed it.”

“I think you’re right.”

The silence consumes us again and the noise from the outside filters through the door, making me realize we just left them out there high and dry. We’ve been in here longer than is appropriate, and I can’t imagine the things going through their minds right now.

Me, personally, I’m a mess. I have so many emotions running through me. I’m relieved and angry and anxious and unsure all at once.

Is he going to expect us to fall back into each other’s arms? Is he going to expect us become anusagain? Am I?

I…I don’t know, but I do know it’s not something I’m ready to think about right now.

“Listen, I think that was enough soul searching and sharing for one night. I’m going to head back to my room and lie down. As much as I love Elliott and her game night, I can’t do any more Monopoly. I’m out.”

He nods and doesn’t try to stop me as I slide past him and toward the door. My hand is resting on the knob when he speaks again, and it’s nothing like what I was expecting him to say.

“Our room. It’sourroom.”

That anger rears its head again, and it’s obvious in my clipped tone when I respond.

I turn his way. “Itusedto be ours. Itusedto be our safe place, but you ruined that, Nate. You ruined that when you put your lips on someone else after our fight.Youare the one who turned it intomyroom. You’re the one who created this huge rift between us. We could have overcome the fight. We could have worked together to work on things after you had calmed down, but we didn’t do that, and you made sure of it.” I huff out an irritated breath. “Stop moping around likeI’mthe one who’s turned this into what it is. I might have started the fire, but you fed it.”

His green eyes burn with ire. “How long are you going to be mad at me? You’ve already said it’s onbothof us.”

“Youkissedsomeone else inourbed. I can be pissed off at you for as long as it takes for me to get over it.”

He curls his lips back in disgust and marches toward me, his chest puffed out and almost brushing against mine. “Get over it? Like it’s that fucking simple?”

“No, and that’s the hardest part about all of this.”

My words are whispered, and he staggers back at them, his features softening.

“Blake…”

He reaches out, and for the first time in months, I let him really touch me.

His fingers are shaking, his touch ghosting along my cheek. I don’t mean to lean into him when his hand cups my face. I don’t mean to let out a moan at the contact.

But I do, and he doesn’t miss a second of it.

Before I know it, his lips are on mine, and he’s pressing kiss after kiss against me.

I try to fight it, try not to react, but I can’t help it.

I want this too much to deny myself.

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