Page 13 of Waiting Forever
I’MIMPORTANT. SINCERITY rings in his tone, and even if I couldn’t hear him for some reason, I can see it in his eyes. He cares about me, just not in the way I wish he did. And that sucks. If he has a girlfriend, it would suck even more.
“What’s with the sudden frown?” Nathan chucks me under the chin the way an adult would to a kid.
Because he still sees me as a child despite his earlier words that he doesn’t.
The elevator dings—finally—and the doors open. Saved by the bell. I readjust the strap to the heavy bag on my shoulder and patter inside, pretending I want to hold the door open for him, which I do, but really, I’m escaping his question.
Nathan rolls the suitcase onto the elevator. “Thanks.”
I remove my finger from the Open button. “Which floor?” They’re labeled with animals. A bear, an aardvark, and a boar.
“Bear.” Nathan leans toward me.
I tense. It’s like he wants to tempt me with his muscular body and close proximity.
“Relax, Kensi. I just want the bag.” He slides the strap from my shoulder and hooks it onto his own.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s not like I can’t handle the extra luggage, but your shoulder might have a dent for a week. I can’t believe you were carrying this the whole time. It’s heavy as hell. Next time, just give it to me. Okay?”
His brows tighten, giving him that James Dean smolder that I love. I glance behind me, out the window as the elevator takes us up. The view is of the open parking garage and greenery below. “Thanks, but you’re not my butler. I don’t expect you to wait on me like a servant. I carried the bag all through the Dallas airport on my own. I could carry it here, too.”
He laughs.
Seriously?“What the hell was funny about what I said?”
“I’m not your butler. I’m your friend, and I help my friends. I’d do the same for any of them.”
I doubt he rolls the luggage of his guy friends. He must be referring to girls who are his friends, not to be confused with girlfriends, because Nathan doesn’t date—he fucks. That’s what the guys from the IT department said at the last company picnic. Nathan might not have attended any in the last three years, but they have, and they love to talk about Nathan’s conquests, always bragging about how his sexcapades areporno worthy.
I need to stop eavesdropping, and I need to get over my desire for him. I was an idiot to try to offer my virginity to him on my seventeenth birthday. I’ve also determined my memory of that night is incorrect. Nathan wasn’t flirting with me or staring like he wanted me. He was being his sexy swoony self and I interpreted it as he wanted me.
I was overconfident that night in the dress that I’d chosen for him—so he’d notice me—and I imagined what Iwantedto see versus what really happened. I made the move, kissed him, and he was too stunned to react. When he finally did, he shoved me away and left, proving he never wanted me.
The elevator doors open. I turn and wait for Nathan to step out.
“Ladies first.” He gestures for me to exit while he waits.
At least he said “ladies” and not “children” or “little girls” first. “Thank you.” I walk out, my hands feeling useless without my bag.
Another set of double doors lead to the parking garage. They open automatically. I wait for Nathan and walk beside him into the crisp air. I expected sauna-like heat to blast me. This is nice. A soft breeze sends a few strands of my hair across my face. They tickle my cheek, making me giggle. Smiling, I close my eyes and sweep them away.
“Jesus, you’re beautiful,” Nathan whispers.
I stop in my tracks, and my eyelids snap open.
He’s staring at me.
I’m caught between being flattered and pissed. “Don’t say stuff like that.”
His brows tighten. “Say what?”
“You’re playing dumb now? Really?”
“No.” He tenses and gets a nervous look on his face. “I didn’t think I said anything.”
“I’m not playing this game with you,” I scoff. When I turn to walk away, he catches my wrist.
