Page 76 of Awestruck at Dusk
“Did you think of me too? Like I did?” He kissed my thighs as I held on to his head for balance, my legs quickly turning into jelly.
“Yes,” I lied. I hadn’t, but I wasn’t going to ruin the mood and sayno. Not only was the William drama unhelpful, but I’d collapsed from exhaustion too. And then I had to deal with his sister’s moans, which was a major buzzkill.
So it’s not that I didn’t think of him because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t have the energy to do so. To go into that headspace.
“Good,” he replied, standing up, and unbuttoning his shirt. My hands moved to his jeans, feeling how eager and ready he was for me. “So what’s it gonna be. Fast and hard? Or should I take my time with you?”
I blushed at his words. But I savored the demanding need in his voice. And admitting that to myself made me blush even more. He smiled a triumphant and proud smile after noticing my reaction.
“How about a mix of both, and we don’t set a timer?” I suggested as I laid back on the bed to grant him the image he so desperately wanted—me, on my bed wearing nothing but the ruby pendant.
“Let them wait then.”
If William was home or not, I couldn’t have cared less. Not after last night. He’d set the tone, and finally, I was free of the anxiety of William listening from across the wall.
Nathan and I took a shower, and I asked him where we were going for brunch and if Zara would be joining us too while we got dressed and ready to leave.
“She’s not answering my calls, which is odd,” Nathan said. “And I’m not planning on calling William, but I will if she doesn’t pick up the phone in the next few hours. Perhaps I should just knock and see if she’s in there. She might be sleeping, though.”
It was a possibility that they’d gone at it the entire night and were probably sleeping together in William’s bed.
“I’m sure she’s okay,” I told him. “We should go. I’m starving. If she calls you, just ask her to join us.” I’d prefer it if Nathan didn’t go knocking on that door.
I hoped she didn’t come, as we finally left for brunch.
Lily and Joel joined us too, and we were almost done when Zara called Nathan back.
“Hey-hey…Well, we’re having brunch, and I wanted you to join us, but we’re done now. Why weren’t you answering your phone?Are you okay?…You’re going where? …Sagaponack? …Zara…I know I’m not Dad. And believe me when I tell you that I don’t want to be. But I’m still your brother and…No…You still have meetings in the city…But…It’s impractical to come and go almost every day…You could stay with me, with Billie, or with Lily and Joel…Okay, bye…Suit yourself…Bye…No…Bye.”
Nathan dropped his phone on the table with a thud. Joel addressed Nathan in Swedish, and he replied with an angry and exasperated tone. Lily looked at me with wide eyes for a second, then looked away, thankfully.
I couldn’t help but remember how William told me he never took girls to Sagaponack, how I’d been the only girl to have gone inside his room and slept in his bed. And I liked that. To not only have been the first but the only one that had been there.
And now he’d taken Zara there too. To his sanctuary. To keep doing what he finally decided on doing with her over there. In the same bed I’d slept in almost a year ago.
I just hoped he’d taken that photograph he kept on his nightstand of me down. I didn’t want it to become an issue with Nathan. I didn’t care to know what would happen if Zara saw itin caseWilliam still kept it there.
“What did she say?” I asked Nathan, placing my hand on the back of his neck, slightly massaging it with my fingers, hoping it would help him relax. I knew he was furious.
“Well, William decided to move to Sagaponack indefinitely, and Zara will be staying there with him for the rest of her stay.”
Williammovedto Sagaponack?Indefinitely?
I was sure it was easier for him to hide his face there instead of confronting me when I was one hundred percent sure he was aware of what he was doing with Zara. That I had listened to them and was now familiarized with the decisions he’d made a second after informing him of my choice. That with his actions, he invalidated every great thing he’d ever said and done before because how was I to believe William was serious aboutanyof it if he could so easily pivot?
He’d rather leave than risk seeing me again.
The coward.Go hide in Sagaponack.
Showing Up
May 12, 2010
Me:Hey you! Have you boarded your flight yet? The event starts at 7:00 p.m. sharp, so if you come straight from the airport, you should be arriving at Parsons at around 6:30 p.m. I’ll arrive at 5:30 p.m. so I’ll meet you there, okay?
Nathan:I’m not going to make it, love. I’m so sorry. Can I call you in 15 minutes?
Me:You missed your flight?
