He took his time cleaning up the take out boxes while the other three took turns going head to head in Mortal Kombat. They’d cycled through a variety of nostalgic games from their childhood, carrying on about old times. The fun they used to have.
Nate didn’t want things to be like they were. He liked them now. And he wasn’t about to stop holding Cara’s hand just because Bryan couldn’t meet his gaze and Josh wouldn’t look at them. Bryan’s issue, Nate could at least understand. Yeah, if he found out one of the other guys had made a move on Cara and they’d been together, he’d be a jealous asshole, too. But Josh? Where did he get off telling Nate what he could and could not do? This pretentious bullshit act of his was out of line.
Cara was not Josh’s sister. She was their friend. All of theirs. And she’d made a choice. The same one Nate had. Just because Josh had drawn lines in the sand he believed to be right and wrong, black and white, didn’t mean that the world conformed to his view.
“Well, I’ve got to head out,” Bryan said after Cara beat his ass again.
“It’s good to see you.” Cara gave Bryan, then Josh a squeeze.
“You leaving, too?” Nate asked.
“Yeah.” Josh didn’t even glance Nate’s way.
“I’ll walk you guys out.” Nate wiped his hands down and met the other two at the door.
He didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Cara. There was no guarantee what Bryan or Josh would say, how they’d twist things, and he’d prefer to not have an audience for this.
“Bye, guys.” Cara waved them out the door while Nate led them down.
The only sound was their feet on the old, sturdy staircase. He pushed out into the evening air and inhaled.
Still, no one spoke.
“What’d you guys come here to say?” Nate strolled toward the guest parking spots.
“Talk about where things are at,” Josh replied.
That was vaguer than Josh liked to be.
Nate stopped at Josh’s car and leaned against the trunk, facing his two so-called friends. Yeah, he was a bit bitter about this.
“Cara’s staying for the week. We’re together. What else is there to know?” Nate watched their faces, how they didn’t exactly look at him. Were they feeling some guilt about their hypocrisy? Was that it?
“It’s not you, Nate.” Bryan found his backbone first and speared Nate with his gaze. “It’s...Cara’s not like you. That’s the problem.”
“Like me, how?” Nate crossed his arms over his chest.
“She’s not into weird stuff. And what about Ellie?”
“Ellie and I are on the same page. And Cara doesn’t care. You need to check yourself, Bryan.”
“Cara knows? About Ellie? And the...the...bondage stuff?”
“Yes.”
“You told Cara about Ellie?” Josh asked.
“Not...with names.” Nate swallowed. So, he wasn’t one-hundred percent transparent. He would tell her, but she needed to get her life settled first. “Cara knows, I just didn’t mention Ellie by name.”
“Do you hear yourself?” Bryan’s face was getting redder.
“How well do you think that’s going to go over?” Josh crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking Nate’s pose.
“It doesn’t matter. She knows. She understands.”
“Everything?” Bryan asked.
“Everything else, yeah.”
“You...” Josh blinked. “You told her? Did you show her?”
“That’s none of your damn business.” Nate glared at the two. Would they have this same reaction if it were anyone else? Or was this a hang-up on his sexual preferences? Or Cara?
“Telling her and showing her are two different things,” Bryan said.
“Do you guys even hear yourself talking?” Nate glanced from one to the other. “Is it because you think Cara’s weak? Or is this a black man and a white woman thing?”
“Wow. None of us said that.” Josh held up his hands.
“No, but you both are coming at me, acting like I’m not good enough, like I’m fucked up or something. So what’s the deal? Man, neither of you even cared about telling Cara goodbye today. You came over when you did because you thought she’d be at the airport and you could tag team my ass. And here you want to get up on your high horses and act like you care. You don’t fucking care about her or me. You just want to tell me how to live my life.”
“That’s, no, Nate. That’s not what this is.” Josh shook his head.
“Then what? Hm? Because Cara knows something is up.” Nate gestured up at the windows to his apartment. “She’s not stupid either.”
“You’re going to hurt Cara. Maybe not intentionally, but you are.” Bryan was glaring at him now, fists clenched at his side, jaw thrust forward.
“When’s the last time you talked to Cara, before you knew she was coming to visit? Hm?” Nate stared deep into Bryan’s eyes. “Did you see her when you went home for Christmas, Bryan? What about you, Josh? You and Ruth invite her out to eat?”
Neither man met Nate’s gaze.
“That’s what I thought. You’re fine telling me all about our friend, Cara, but neither of you even give her the time of day anymore. That’s not what I’d call a friend. Liking statuses and sharing memes isn’t a friend. Being there for her, talking to her, helping her—that’s a friend. You know there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t hear from her? A text. An email. Something. Hell, she’s been through so fucking much it makes my head hurt, and you don’t even know. You don’t fucking know. So you want to ride out of here on your high horses, smoking your hypocrisy, fine with me. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.”
Nate pivoted, heading down the sidewalk. He couldn’t go upstairs, not this pissed off.
“Nate. Nate, wait.” Josh jogged after him.
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
Josh didn’t listen. He matched Nate stride for stride.
“You’re right. I’ve been a shitty friend,” Josh said.
Well, that was a ground-breaking admission.
Bryan’s car passed them on his way to the highway. Figured.
“Take your pansy ass home, Bryan,” Nate mumbled.
“Bryan’s butt hurt. We both know that, and we both know Ellie is never going to be the kind of woman Bryan can handle.” Josh shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Man, she’d crush him.”
“I know. Ellie is a black belt ball buster. She had to be. But you and Cara... I’m just worried. Where is this going?”
“I don’t know, man, but I want to find out. We both do.”
“Tell me honestly, what about the tying up shit? Does she know?”
“Josh, do you think I’d lie to your face like that? She knows. We talked about it.”
“Okay. Okay. I’m just...fuck, man, I’m worried what this will do to her. You. Us. I don’t mean to start anything, but...” Josh sighed. “Be happy. Let me know if anything changes. If I can do anything, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay. You know anything about Daphne getting a divorce?” Nate peered at Josh out of the corner of his eye. Josh and his neighbor, dubbed Crazy Daphne, were a combustible combination. Nate had always had his suspicions though.
“Ruth told me. Said it was bad.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“That’s what happens when you marry a guy you’ve known for less than a week.” Josh shrugged, but his frown said more. He wasn’t indifferent.
Nate’s memories of Daphne were hazy. She’d been a colorful character, hell bent on bugging the shit out of Josh, and by extension the rest of them. He’d bitched and moaned about her all through high school and every time he went home. Josh cared, and sometimes that didn’t come across well.
Like now.
Josh didn’t have all the information, only some of it. He was an asshole, but a well-meaning one, at least. One of his best qualities was admitting when he’d been wrong. It made forgiving Josh and movi
ng on a hell of a lot easier.
They shot the breeze and walked the block until Nate’s head cooled enough he wasn’t spouting profanities and the headache had eased.
At least things with Josh were okay. Bryan would come around. And Cara was in his life. Things were going to be okay. At least, that was what Nate had to tell himself.
He climbed the stairs back up to his apartment. So much for a lazy day with Cara. Tomorrow, he’d have to work, but when he was done, she’d be there. It was the kind of thing he could get used to. They could figure everything out, he just knew it. A little time, some effort, and everything would be okay.
Nate stepped into the quiet apartment, already searching for his girl. Because Cara was his now, and he planned on keeping her.
11.
Cara stared at the floor, lost in her thoughts.
There were moments tonight where...it felt like they’d never stopped being fourteen, taking turns on the game system and passing around Doritos and green onion dip. She had to blame Bryan for that combination. It was the taste of their youth now.
Both Bryan and Josh had moved on. Yeah, they were still her friends, but not in the same way she wanted them to be. They’d grown apart. While she and Nate had held onto each other for selfish reasons. It was still jarring and sad to realize that the people most important to her didn’t feel the same way about her.
The front door opened and only one set of footsteps thumped against the old, wooden floors.
Nate.
She didn’t have to look to know it was him.
The difference was in the electric charge of the air. How every cell in her body seemed to gravitate toward him.
He rounded the sectional and sat next to her. His arm wrapped around her waist, tugging her to his side.
She wanted to put the whole evening out of her head, but she couldn’t. Sorrow gnawed at her, down to the bone.
“They didn’t come here to say goodbye, did they?” She didn’t want to be right, but...
“No. No, they didn’t. Josh feels bad about that, and Bryan will too, once he pulls his head out of his ass.” Nate kissed the top of her head.
“Everyone’s moved on, except me. What did they come here for?” She peered up at his face.
“They...saw the way I was looking at you. I guess they were...coming over to, warn me away? I don’t really know.”
“Because...of the tying people up?” The others knew? And they’d think...the truth.
“Yeah. They wanted to warn me that I’d scare you. That it would be too much.”
“You? Scare me?” That was the silliest idea ever. She’d been around Nate angry, sad, in a football adrenaline high. Scary was not a word she’d ever associate with him.
“What? What’s that look for?” He frowned. “I can be scary.”
“As a teddy bear.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. No, he didn’t scare her. The intensity of her feelings did, but not him and not his bedroom bondage tastes.
“I’m scary,” Nate grumbled.
“Sure, you are.” Maybe to someone who didn’t know Nate, but she did. He never made her feel anything other than safe. Protected. And loved.
Now, that was scary. She was about to give up her whole live and move here. To be with Nate. She wanted it to work out, to be her Cinderella solution. No, she didn’t have crazy expectations that their lives would magically be perfect. Things would be hard, but they’d have each other.
She’d never lived with a boyfriend. Never felt particularly strongly about break-ups. But that was because her heart had belonged to Nate. This, right now, mattered. How long until he realized her awkward, timid ways weren’t as cute as when they were growing up?
She needed female friends she could talk to. Learn from. Magazines weren’t going to help her. The latest edition of Cosmo was so far over her head it might as well be a fairy tale. She needed a crash course in girlfriending.
“What are you thinking about?” Nate ran his thumb over her lower lip, pulling it out from between her teeth.
“I don’t have a lot of clothes with me.”
“We can get you something. I bet Tamara and Piper could help.”
“What about Ellie?” She’d had a style to be jealous of.
“I’ll see if she’s surfaced. She said something about unplugging and turning off her phone for a while.”
“Oh, okay. I wish I had my sewing machine.” She sighed. Too often, the stuff she wanted to wear didn’t come in a size bony.
“Have you ever thought about making clothes and selling them? I know you love that sort of thing.”
“No one would buy my weird clothes.”
“Shortcake, no offense, but you’ve been stuck in the middle of nowhere for a long time. I think there’d be more interest than you might expect. Why don’t we hit a few thrift stores tomorrow? I bet we can find something for you to work your magic with.”
“I’d like that. My stuff’s been in storage for so long.”
“You should see if you can talk to Tamara and Piper’s friend, Rashae. She does cosplay and makes a living off sewing stuff.”
“Wait. Rashae?”
“Yeah.”
“Rashae Grant?”
“That sounds right. Why?”
“She’s amazing. She did this super-detailed Wonder Woman cosplay thing...wait...Tamara is friends with Rashae?” Cara blinked at Nate, the pieces clicking together.
“Yeah.”
“That’s where I’ve seen her! Oh my God, and I spoke to her. I beat her at Mortal Kombat. Oh my God!” Cara covered her face.
Nate just laughed.
“I think Tamara got a kick out of it. She’s super competitive. You might find yourself challenged to a game or two, if you don’t watch out.”
“Oh my God. Nate! You don’t get it.” He pulled her partially onto his lap. “Rashae is like...so where I’d want to be. But I have zero experience with that level of costuming.”
“What happened to wanting to be a science researcher person?”
“If life had turned out differently I’d love it.” Cara shrugged. “It’s too late now.”
“I wouldn’t write you off yet. You’re pretty amazing.” His smile was warm. He believed what he said. And he believed in her. She had no doubt about that.
It’d been so long since anyone had supported her. She wanted to hold onto this. Him. Not just because she loved him, but because he looked at her and didn’t see a failure. He saw potential. That little change was a breath of fresh air. And yeah, maybe she could do this. With support, with people who encouraged her, maybe her life wasn’t so down the drain after all.
“Thank you,” she managed to get out, though her throat was all sorts of dry and tight.
“For what?”
“For believing in me.”
“You’re the one who showed me the impossible was possible.”
“I failed pretty hard at that.”
“No, you didn’t. Someone else threw a wrench in your plans. It doesn’t mean things are over. You’re pretty awesome, Cara-bear.”
Nate leaned down, his lips caressing hers. She sighed and strained to get closer. His mouth was warm, inviting. She was fast becoming addicted to this, the way he made her feel.
She needed to get closer. She wanted to.
Cara grasped his shoulders and straddled his lap. Nate’s lips paused for a moment while his hands slid around her waist, to her hips.
This was okay, right?
She hesitated.
Maybe she shouldn’t have?
Nate’s tongue swiped into her mouth and she groaned at the touch.
How was it that one gesture, one action, could light up all the nerve endings in her body? In the breadth of a second, need suffused her every cell.
He cupped her bottom, tugging her closer until she felt the thick, hard line of his erection against her. She’d gone from hardly caring about sex, to wanting it daily. Was this normal?
Nate didn’
t seem to mind.
“Nate?” Her voice was muffled by his kisses.
“Hm?” His lips trailed down her neck to her shoulder.
“D-do you want to, um, do the tying thing?”
“Not right now,” he muttered against her skin.
“Oh.”
So...were they not having sex? Kissing Nate was pretty fan-freaking-tastic, but...he awakened her inner horndog. What was she supposed to do about that?
Nate slid his hands under her shirt, shoving her bra up. His fingers toyed with her nipples, rubbing and plucking them. She groaned and leaned her head back. It was way too hot in here now. Her body pulsed with need, wanting him, but...he didn’t want her?
He dragged shirt and bra over her head. His arm wrapped around her thighs, hoisting her up until he could latch his lips around one nipple. She held onto his shoulders, eyes closed, while he treated her breast like his favorite piece of candy.
Was something wrong with her if she wanted more? Were her wires crossed?
She gasped and whimpered, the need eating away at her.
Nate wedged his hand between them and under her skirt. He fumbled with the waistband of her panties until he had them down far enough to cup her mound.
“Ooohhh...”
His touch both soothed the need and made it...sharper. More insistent.
Thick fingers slid the length of her slit, probing her entrance. She shifted against him, seeking more. All at once, he plunged his fingers into her. She gasped at the sensation, sore muscles warming, stretching.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck while he stroked her, deep, sure touches, each one severing a thread of control or care. No, she might not be the sexiest thing alive, but damn it, she wanted him. He was the center of her focus, the one thing she wanted, and all the nerves in the world couldn’t stop her from acting on that. Well, except his hand buried inside of her.
Nate tugged her panties down farther until they stretched around her things.
“Up,” he barked.
She slid off his lap, to her rubbery, not quite sturdy legs. He followed her, scooting to the edge of the sofa, and pushed her panties to the floor.
The Adorkable Girl and the Geek (Gone Geek 5) Page 10
