Page 130 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“Sure thing,” Vivienne replied with a smile, looping her arm around Nathan’s. I wasn’t sure if she knew I was Nathan’s ex,but if she didn’t, she would for sure now after this impromptu encounter.
After closing the door behind me and heading toward the elevator, I tapped my foot on the floor, waiting for it to arrive.
Lily’s front door opened and closed again with a soft click behind me. “Murph.”
I closed my eyes and sighed.Please go back to your girlfriend, Nathan.
“Hey!” I turned around, trying to seem casual about him coming after me. “What’s up?”
He scrutinized the flowers for a few seconds before turning his inquisitive green gaze at me. “Why did you apply for a scholarship? I thought James—your father,” he quickly corrected,“took care of your tuition.”
“Nathan.” I tilted my head and looked away. The flowers were weighing heavily in my arms. My elevator had arrived, and I didn’t think it was a good idea to talk to Nathan about this when I didn’t know how close they were or if he’d report back to my dad.
“What happened?” His eyes were filled with genuine concern.
“What do you think?” The elevator doors closed behind me, and I cursed inside my head.
“I don’t know what to think.” He took a step forward. “That’s why I’m asking.”
“Nathan, I think you should go back.”
“I just want to know if you’re okay.” His tone was low and gentle.
“I am,” I assured him. “I swear. But you knowJameswell enough by now.”
Nathan stared at me in silence. It was clear he wasn’t backing down until I gave him something. Seeing and talking to Nathan was tough because he wasn’t the asshole ex-boyfriend.He’d been nothing but kind to me.Ihad been the asshole. I was the one who hurt him. That’s why it was so hard to look at him still caring about me after everything that happened, especially when his new girlfriend was waiting for him inside Lily and Joel’s apartment.
“He cut me off, okay?” I finally conceded, clicking the elevator button again to give him a clear signal that it was time for me to leave.
“I see.” Nathan pressed his lips into a tight line. “I didn’t know.”
“Why would you?” The elevator arrived, and I stepped inside. He didn’t follow me but kept the doors from closing with his arm.
“Well, I talk to James every day,” he said.Of course, he does.“You know, since we’re business partners.” His brow furrowed, looking confused, as if I would know these things.
“I didn’t know it was official.” I couldn’t believe my dad went through with this partnership. ThatNathandid, either. It made me remember how it used to bother me so much when we were together. Either way, I hoped things didn’t end badly in the long run, knowing how vicious my dad could be when it came to, well, everything. “I haven’t talked to him since last Christmas.”
“I see.” Nathan cleared his throat. “That explains your absence at the opening cocktail.”
“I didn’t get an invitation.” I shrugged. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
The elevator’s long alarm went off, and the doors struggled against Nathan’s arm, wanting to shut close.
“Right. Well, I’m terribly sorry your dad is being an arse,” he said. It made me chuckle, and he smiled. “I guess I should head back. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
I nodded. “See you at the wedding.”
June 4, 2011
Cecile arrived inNew York a few days ago for a summer internship her university in France had facilitated through an alliance with NYU. She wasn’t staying with me, since the program included housing in NYU’s dorms, but I felt bad that I couldn’t hang out much with her because I was busy helping Lily with all the final wedding details.
Cecile told me she’d bumped into Tobias in the lobby when she came to see me the day she arrived, and I’d never seen her so nervous. He didn’t know she was coming, as she asked me not to tell him. She hadn’t seen him since they broke things off in December, but she missed him very much, that I knew. Cecile had been doing a shit job pretending otherwise.
When she arrived, we video-chatted with Sophie, who told us Ren would visit her in Paris for the summer. He had recently graduated from Columbia and would start job hunting in London since his two brothers worked and lived there. It would be an easy transition for him to move there. At least now, Sophie and Ren would be in the same time zone.
I missed Sophie, but I was looking forward to hopefully spending some quality time with Cecile inNew York after the wedding frenzy was over, if our schedules allowed it.
