No Strings Attached

Chapter Five

Tonight was the first outfit she’d done on her own – white ripped skinny jeans, and a gauze leopard print top layered over a white crop top. She’d paired it all with heavy gold accessories, and a pair of gladiator sandals. Her dark hair was still long – almost skimming her thighs in mahogany waves – and she’d left it loose, because she knew Nate preferred it that way. He’d asked to meet her at the beach, even though they were living together, it was all a little awkward whispering in corners if Tori didn’t know about them, so she’d taken a bit of care with her appearance, and she would meet him at the bench above the sand dunes at six in the evening.

She still had so much to do in preparations for the funeral, and her future, she knew she couldn’t stay with Tori and Nate forever, but she hoped to buy them a place, maybe, with the money from her parents’ insurances. She’d need to talk it over with Nate first, see how he felt. Tori was planning on going to University in a few months, so maybe they would just stay at the Caseys’ old place afterwards, it would really be up to him, he had so much more to consider than she did.

Nate didn’t want to tell Tori just yet, he wanted to break it to her gently, after they’d kept it a secret for so long because of her parents, she could only respect that he wouldn’t want to upset her.

Once they were married, obviously Tori would have to know, and Shannon knew that she’d be pleased for her, that she’d found her Knight in Shining Armour. But Nate had his reservations.

She saw him emerge from the early dusk that had clouded the beach, throwing his dark hair out of his eyes as he tracked the sand with his eyes, not meeting her own. Powerful and restrained, even then, she watched his smooth march across the sand – she loved the way he walked, smooth and steady, his arms swinging at his side, and yet somehow always coiled with tension – demanding respect and attention from anybody that looked his way.

“Hi,” she smiled shyly, once he was close enough, and he just gave a stiff nod in response, folding himself onto the bench next to her, blowing out an agitated breath as he stared out over the calm waters – moonlight dancing over the waves, and the stiff breeze furrowing into the calm surface.

He didn’t seem like himself, he seemed sullen and closed off, as he sat with his arms crossed over his chest, and his dark brow furrowed and cool. He didn’t look at her, or say a word; he just stared out into the darkening skies.

Reaching out a hand to brush a lock of dark hair that had fallen into his eyes, her voice was gentle, and soothing, “What’s the matter?”

He flinched away from her, the look on his face almost disgusted as he turned to her, “Nothing’s the matter,” he drawled, “I just ... don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

He pursed his lips, turning back to the waters, as she felt a wave of despair crash over her – her heart breaking in that one second that he’d pulled away from her touch.

She disgusted him, that was all that she could see from that moment. She carried his child inside of her body, and yet he was completely disgusted, couldn’t even bear her touch.

She had nothing to say. How could she not have seen that this was how this would turn out? How could she even blame him for feeling that way?