Page 17 of Puck the Halls
But in this case, given Nathan’s history, I need a softer touch.
I also rely heavily on humor, but that isn’t going to work either.
I just need to be a friend.
Gripping the lapels of Nathan’s jacket and giving him a little shake, I say, “We’re both fine. This is no big deal. Minor setback. You can get in the passenger seat. I’m going to get us out of this, no worries.”
Nathan frowns. “Oh, I’m worried.”
“Don’t be,” I say with a nonchalance I don’t totally feel. I release his jacket and pat his chest with a nice bracing thump. “It’s all under control.”
Nathan opens his mouth.
“Ah. No arguing.”
To my shock, he actually just shakes his head and tromps around the front of the car, using the holes I already made to walk in. The door slams shut behind him and I’m left alone in what weather guys probably call a snow squall. I’m not wearing a coat and my fingers are numb but I manage to maneuver them over my phone screen and work my magic.
A minute later, I hop in the driver’s side of the car and slam the door shut.
Given that the car is wedged in some kind of ditch, I don’t think I can drive us out of it. It’s not deep, but the snow is wet and we won’t get any traction without some kind of board to brace the tires.
I think it’s safe to turn the car back on though so I do that so we have heat while we wait.
Nathan sticks his hands in front of the heater. “Now what? It’s the middle of the night and my assistant isn’t answering my texts.”
“Because it’s the middle of the night.” I shake my head. “Leave that poor guy alone to sleep, for fuck’s sake.”
“Well, it’s either that or you can push this car out of the ditch.”
Nathan sounds salty. More like himself.
It’s a relief to see he has color back in his cheeks and his usual surly attitude.
He kind of freaked me the fuck out.
But that’s what is cool about our friendship and our family. We’re all in this together, the four of us and the kids. We’re there for each other, no matter what, even when we’re vulnerable. Hell, the most when we’re vulnerable.
“I’m too pretty for manual labor,” I tell him. “Besides, I need my fingers to do dirty things to our wife.” I waggle my fingers as proof.
Nathan snorts. “Danielle is getting all the attention she needs from Michael right now.”
“Are you jealous?” I ask him, my tone serious. I am curious. I don’t get jealous but Nathan is built different. “It’s okay if you are. It’s not always easy sharing.”
“No, not really. It’s just…I want to always be there for Danielle. And for Isabel and Oliver. And you. And Michael.”
“You are.”
“But then that need pushes me to do stupid things. Like fly to Decatur when I should have taken us straight to Aspen.”
“I get it.” I do. “You want alone time with Dani and time with the four of us and time with the kids and us and somehow you want it all at the same time.”
He nods. “I think that’s it. Which is impossible, not to mention insane.”
“You went a long time without a family beyond your grandparents. I think that’s normal.” I give him a second but when he doesn’t respond, I ask, “Want to talk about it? The car accident?”
He knows I mean the one with his parents.
But he shakes his head. “No. Not really. I’m okay, seriously. It just…brought up some unexpected loss.”
