Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 43 - I'm Trying Here

"Why especially lately?" He asks. 

"My dad has been losing his shit over thinking someone has been in the house a few times. He's so paranoid, I just ignore him usually. My mom thinks he's going crazy." I reply and then turn to face him. "Why do you want to know about the staff?"

He blinks at me for a second and then shrugs. "Just making conversation." 

"I do need to tell you something though." I say cautiously and he puts back down his toast slowly before taking a bite and looks at me. I gulp and continue. Now or never, Em. "I don't want you to get upset."

"Why would I be upset?" He asks, his tone tense and apprenhensive.

"I don't know. I just don't want to ruin our nice morning." I start to panic and avoid eye contact at him despite how much I can feel his intense gaze. "I'll tell you later."

"Like hell... say it now." He insists.

"My friends are forcing me to go for dinner with their friend." I say vaguely.

His forehead scrunches up as he looks confusedly at me. "With their friend? Why would I be upset abou-" I can see the realization hit him, "Is this friend a guy?"

Shit. He isn't happy.

I nod silently.

"Why?" He asks in a low voice. I can see him trying to control his anger. 

I don't like that he's mad right now - again - about another man but I'm starting to get it a little. Seeing him with the woman last night didn't feel amazing.

So I don't start a fight about it like I have before. Today we will try a different tactic.

"I'm just doing it to shut them up. They don't know about us, they think I'm lonely or whatever." I roll my eyes.

"Then why not tell them about us?" He asks and I look up to his face.

"We talked about this." I reply.

"I know." He stares into my eyes. I can't read his expression. "Why not tell them about us?"

"I don't want them to know." I say a little too quickly and he scoffs before turning to continue eating his eggs. 

I tug on his arm a little to look at me but he doesn't budge so I stand up and pull his right hand and wrap it around my waist. With my other hand, I push his chin up lightly so he looks up to my face. 

"It isn't about you. It's about them. They will never shut up about this. They live for boy drama. I don't want to deal with them knowing and asking a hundred questions I don't know the answer to." I try to reassure him and I can see the anger fade a little in his eyes at my words.

"I'm trying here, Emily." He says with a frown.

I give him a small smile as I wrap my arms around his neck. "I know. I see it."

"You don't make it easy." He says in an almost-whisper and presses the hand not on my waist to hold the side of my head. His thumb grazes over my cheekbone lightly as he stares at me with his big dark eyes.

"I don't try to make it hard." I reply honestly. "My life is usually not this dramatic, trust me."

"Somehow, I doubt that to be true." He chuckles, his earlier anger completely faded now - at least on the outside.

I smile and lean down. My lips meet his gently and his grip tightens on my waist, bringing me closer in between his parted legs.

"When is the dinner?" He pulls back and drops his hands from me as he asks. 

I frown at the loss of contact. "Probably this weekend. Just an hour of chitchat, nothing else." I promise.

"30 minutes?" He counters with a smirk and I laugh.

"45." I reply and he nods, satisfied, thankfully.

---

After breakfast, I get changed and put my shoes on at the door to leave to go see Anna.

"Wait," I hear Nathan shout from the kitchen and I look up confused.

He holds his hand out and I do the same so he drops the piece of metal in my hand.

"You almost forgot that."

"Oh shit, I thought it was already in my bag." I reply as I put it in my purse.

"You don't want it?" He asks. I can see the hesitation on his face.

I reach up and put my palm to his cheek. "I promise, I do."

He smiles, relieved, and I let out a breath as I move to walk out the door.

His hand curls around my wrist and tugs me back, making me crash into his chest. His mouth meets mine instantly, surprising me for a second before I kiss him back.

We both pull back after a few seconds, breathless.

"You almost forgot that too." He says with a smirk. He's such a flirt.

"Thanks for reminding me. I'll see you tomorrow?" I reply with a grin.

"Tomorrow," he nods and I leave to find Anna.

Author's Note:

I think these two are learning how to communicate a little better as they grow closer!

Hope you liked this chapter and hope you are liking Nathan and Emily together!

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