Page 16 of Summer of You
The smell of grease filled the air as paper boats of fried fish and chips were placed down on the table. Nathan reached for the malt vinegar and shook some over his plate and I made a face at him. “I still can’t believe you like that stuff.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. My mom used to put it on hers, and it was just something I kind of copied. I can eat it without, but I feel like it’s missing something.”
I made another face at him when he picked up a piece and bit into it. “It feels like you’re ruining a perfectly good piece of fish. What’s the point in getting it if you’re just going to disguise the flavor?”
Nathan laughed, setting the piece back down and picking up fries instead. “It really bothers you, doesn’t it?”
Did it? It was one of those quirks that I always thought was different. Thinking back to hanging out with the Grant family all those years ago, I remembered watching Nathan and his mother smother their food in the acidic substance. Not only did I not care for the taste, but the smell was horrible and hung around forever. “It’s not my favorite.” I picked up my fish and dunked it in the tartar sauce. Now it was Nathan’s turn to make a face at me.
After taking a bite, I chewed and swallowed quickly. I laughed and set it down. “Looks like we both have something we don’t like.”
This was so strange. We’d known so much about each other four years ago, but this was like learning about the other for the first time. Weird first date jitters without it being a first date. It wasn’t a date at all. This was just two guys getting a meal together. I wouldn’t even call us friends yet.
By the time we’d finished our meal, we’d also finished a second beer. I was feeling a little buzzy, and Nathan led me out to the main road. We started walking in the direction of his uncle’s house, and I could sense the question coming. The evening was cooling off quickly with the breeze blowing off of the ocean. I didn’t want him to ruin it, but it was coming, and there would be no avoiding another argument unless I caved.
“Can I give you a ride home tonight?”
I sucked in my cheeks as I kicked at a rock on the sidewalk, my hands stuffed into my pockets as I thought about how to answer him. “I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
Nathan stopped walking, so I followed his lead. Cars drove past us on the road, probably wondering what the hell we were doing just standing here giving each other a stare-down.
I didn’t want to ruin what had turned out to be a great day. My shoulders slumped as I thought of a shitty excuse to get out of a ride home without causing another fight.
“I rode my bike to your uncle’s house. I can get home.”
Nathan huffed, crossing his arms over his chest before shaking his head. He started walking, seeming to accept my answer. “One of these days, you’ll stop being such a stubborn ass about that.”
I smirked in his direction as we continued down the street. “I seem to remember you enjoying my ass.”
The air filled with laughter, and I felt like we were back on the right track.
Chapter 13
Nathan
When I got home, Uncle Drew had a fire going in the backyard pit. Chase followed me back, and Max jumped up and licked him in the face in greeting. I’d always wanted a dog growing up, but being in the city, it wasn’t practical. Max was the best I had, and I’d missed him while I’d been away at college.
Max brought Chase a ball, and Chase took it from him and tossed it across the yard. Uncle Drew watched us in mild fascination before he got up and put out his cigarette on the bottom of his shoe. I frowned at the action. I hadn’t noticed him doing it very much since I’d been here, so he’d been truthful that he’d cut back. Now he needed to quit entirely.
“You boys going to stay out here and enjoy the fire for a bit?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I looked at Chase, who gave me a shrug.
“Sure. We can put it out after a bit.”
Uncle Drew nodded before heading inside and taking Max with him.
Chase and I stared at each other for a moment before he broke the contact and made his way to one of the folding chairs next tothe fire. He plopped back into it, causing it to rock slightly, and folding his hands in his lap.
I blew out a breath, suddenly feeling jittery and nervous. My palms grew sweaty, and my heart beat rapidly in my chest. I’d been alone with him all evening, but not like this. Seclusion like this left opportunities for something to happen, and after that kiss at the park earlier, I wasn’t totally against it.
Being the big-ass chicken I was, I took the chair across from him. When his lips ticked up in a smirk, it was clear he knew exactly what I was doing.
“Why so far away from me, Nate?”
He only ever shortened my name when he was being playful, otherwise it was always Nathan. I’d never minded what he called me. When he called me Nate, it always sent a strange course of heat through me, because it normally led to something more. It led to mouths, lips, and hands. It led to filthy words and sinful fantasies.
I laughed, my gut churning as I thought of an excuse. “Just figured you’d want some space.”
