Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 64 - Confrontation

"Your brother." He says quietly and I stop pacing immediately. My mouth falls open as I stare at him and it all clicks together.

That's why he did all this...

His mother... she had to be the woman from the car crash...

"You are her son," I stare at him in awe, shocked that I didn't see it sooner. But I don't know how I ever would have guessed. He never mentioned his parents. He never talked about his past. I only even found out the truth about the crash a few days ago...

"He took the only person in my life from me and they covered it up. I was devastated. I was so angry. I couldn't see past my blind rage. Everything was directed towards your family. Your brother, your parents, you." He pauses before the last word, like he is ashamed almost. "It was so fucking stupid. I realized a few weeks ago-"

"A few weeks ago?" I repeat, my anger rising back above the betrayal and hurt. "After months of sleeping together? After months of knowing me? That's when you realized you didn't hate me? Great, thanks."

"The day you spoke with her on my phone - do you remember that?" He asks, ignoring my questions, and I nod silently. How could I fucking forget? "I lost my shit on her after you told me. I knew how I felt about you then. It wasn't about the revenge anymore. It made me admit to myself how much I wanted and needed you. I couldn't risk you finding out from her and leaving me. So I cut ties with her. The whole plan, I said I was out. I never... I never thought she would go after you... I didn't expect her to do that..." He pulls at his hair as if reliving a traumatic memory.

I frown. "She didn't..."

His eyes look up to meet mine before they move to my wrist in the cast.

All the pieces fit together finally in my head, the realization and truth knocking all the air from my chest.

"She was the one who hit me..." I don't ask, I just state, knowing it's the only answer that makes sense. Everything lines up now. The timeline of our whole arrangement or relationship makes sense in my mind now. "God, Nathan..." I close my eyes and press my shaking hand to my mouth. I can't even look at him right now.

I hear him sigh and move closer. "I'm so sorry, Emily, you have no idea how guilty I feel about that. About it all. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if something had happened to you. You are all I have left. You are everything to me now." He confesses and I don't move a single muscle.

I wish I could believe him. I want to. I hate that despite it all, the only person I still want to run to right now is him. There is still that invisible string tying me to him. The one that wants to have him wrap his arms around me and tell me it will be okay. That none of it is real and he will make it all go away - like after my nightmare.

"I am so so sorry." He speaks again softly and I slowly open my eyes to see him in front of me, his eyes wide and vulnerable. His fingers twitch at his sides like he is trying to stop himself from touching me. "It all got so out of control. I didn't want you to find out this way and hate me."

"Where you ever going to tell me?" I ask him, letting all the pain into my voice as tears start to fall down my cheeks slowly.

"When I took you to the Hollywood sign, I tried. I wanted to. You stopped me, but I don't know if I could have actually done it so I won't say I would have. I was so desperate to keep you and didn't want to ruin everything between us... the plan was dead by then, I tried to put off telling you. We were happy. I couldn't bring myself to..." He shakes his head, sighing. "When we said we would be official and not end after the summer, I swore to myself I would tell you. I would come clean and make this right. Beg for your forgiveness. I was waiting for the right moment..."

"There is no right moment to tell your girlfriend everything between you was fake as you fucked some other girl." I snap and roll my eyes.

"I never fucked Gabby this summer." He says adamantly and I narrow my eyes at him, judging if I should believe him. "You have to know that if nothing else. I never touched her like that after you and I started. She wanted to, but I couldn't."

He takes a step closer and I stand frozen, watching his handsome face twist as the regret takes over his every feature.

"I haven't been able to think of another girl since we met. I want you - only you - I promise you that was not fake."

I stare at him silently for a minute, looking into his eyes to try and find anything that resembles him before, the Nathan from this morning cuddling in bed or the Nathan from the beach telling me he wanted to stay with me and make this work when I move.

But there's nothing.

I don't see anything but a stranger now.

Author's Note:

Guys, this hurt me to write. I knew it was coming and still fell in love with Nathan....

I think everyone can see now why I had to take Dean out of the book for a bit. With that perfect boy in the picture, it was hard to make you (and Emily) love Nathan enough to make this revelation truly heartbreaking. But I hope I achieved that now... it took a lot of planning and character development omg

The next chapter is posted too so keep reading! I decided to post the end all at once.

Please vote and comment! Love you all xo

Almost at 5K reads!!