This chapter is dedicated to Babieeez for all the votes and comments.
Thanks girl!
Enjoy!
~Bethany~
I paced back and forth across my bedroom while trying to get my thoughts together.
I took a deep breath and faced the person on the bed.
"I do like you Nate. So, so much." I sighed. "I want to. You're an amazing man and I can definitely see us together eventually. I'm just too scared to pursue it now."
I finished talking and looked for a response but only got a blank look in return.
"Are you not going to answer me?" I questioned, trying not to laugh.
Silence.
"Angel, you're the worst fake Nathan ever." I walked over to her.
She mumbled in her little baby talk before she reached her hands up to me.
"C'mere pooh butt." I grinned and picked her up just as the doorbell rnag.
I freeze and my head whips to the bedroom door.
Angel frowned and pressed a tiny hand to my cheek with a small smile, as if saying You can do it.
I smiled down at her.
"Thanks baby."
I pecked her forehead before propping her on my hip and walking downstairs.
Here goes nothing.
Angel pointed at the door and grinned, showing her two bottom teeth.
The knocking on the door continues before I swing the door open to Nathan...
With another girl?
To say the look on my face was shocked would be a major understatement.
More like confused as hell.
"Hey Nate." I said awkwardly before looking at the girl. "Um...hello? I'm Be-"
"She knows who you are." Nathan said before gently grabbing Angel from me and walking into my house.
The girl rolled her eyes before looking at me with a smile.
"Hey, I'm Natalie. Nice to meet you." She said politely.
"Bethany." I offered my hand and she slapped it away before wrapping her arms around me.
"I'm a hugger." She laughed after pulling away. "Hopefully you don't mind."
I awkwardly forced out a laugh and stepped aside so she could walk inside, before closing the door and pressing my forehead against it.
She's so nice.
I breathed deeply before plastering a smile on my face and joining my company in the living room.
Nathan was sitting on the loveseat while Angel was standing on his legs jumping up and down and giggling.
Natalie is beside him laughing as he makes faces at her.
The minute he saw me, he stopped playing with Angel and his mouth forms a straight line.
Uh oh.
"Natalie, you're welcome to a snack or something from the kitchen if you want. Me and your-..."
What is he to her?
"So me and Nathan can talk?" I finished, taking a seat on the adjacent couch.
"Oh cool, thanks." She replied cheerfully.
She shared a look with Nathan.
She covered Angel's ears before mumbling, "You better talk to her or Ima beatcho' ass."
Nathan sucked his teeth.
"Little girl, take yo ass in that kitchen. You don't run me." He bucked at her and smiled as she rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen.
He turned back to me and his smile immediately drops.
I sighed and pulled my feet under me on the couch.
We sat in silence for a couple minutes before Natalie shouts, "I don't hear talking!"
We both shared a laugh before we make eye contact.
"I'm sorry." I blurt out before he can look away from me.
"Okay." He said and rested an arm across the back of the couch before he looked away from me.
This is harder than I thought it would be.
"Nate...I'm trying to apologize to you, okay? You're making this really hard for me." I mumbled.
"So now I'm Nate? What happened to Nathan?" He stated sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
Even though his face was aggravated, I saw the hurt in his eyes.
I really hurt him.
"Look, I like you a lot and...it scares the hell out of me because I don't want to get attached to another man again. But I can't not get attached to you." I admited and his eyes slide from the floor to my face so I kept talking. "You're such an amazing man. You're kind and caring and you treat Angel like she's your own daughter. And somehow you managed to care for me even though I'm in a really fucked up place right now." I forced out a laugh as my eyes water. "But you...you make me happy. So damn happy that I forget about all of my problems. You make me forget about how unsure I am at times and how I seem to cry from just about everything." I take a deep breath.
"I want that happiness everyday because it makes me happy. You make me happy. And I don't want to lose you. I-I..." I gathered my words and tried again but nothing came out.
"Stop." He commanded quietly, putting Angel on her play mat on the floor. "Stop talking."
"Huh?" I asked, confused.
I just poured my heart out to him and he wants me to stop talking?
"You don't have to keep talking. I know you like me. I know I make you happy. I already know what you want. But how about what I want?" He crossed his arms across his chest.
I realized I never actually asked him what he wanted.
I'm so selfish.
"Well what do you want?" I asked.
"I want to be with someone who feels the same way. Someone who isn't afraid that I'll just up and leave one day because of past experiences with another dude. Someone who isn't afraid to tell me about their past because I would never judge them." He stopped and I looked up to see him staring directly at me. "Never. That's not my character and you know it. I love so many things about you. The way your eyes shine when you're happy. The way you pout when you're sad. God, I love the cute little pout you make." He chuckled which makes me smile. "I love how all over the place you are. I love how when you're about to cry your bottom lip trembles a little bit. Like now...Damn it. And I'm sorry for ignoring you these past few days but I was hurt for real. I only came here today cause I couldn't help it. If you told me to leave you alone and never come back, I'd do it just to make you happy. You got a hold on me girl," He paused and held a hand out. "Come here."
I sniffled and stood up before cautiously walking to sit at the opposite end of the loveseat.
"Bethany bring your ass over here so I can tell you something." He commanded with a small smile.
"I can hear you from over her-"
"Bring. That. Ass. Here."
I sighed and slid closer until I'm sitting against his legs.
"Now what..."
He cut me off by gently pressing his lips against mine.
Even though he's kissed me before this one is...different somehow.
His lips mold against mine and I kiss him back with as much passion he's giving me.
I felt him smile into the kiss.
As much as I didn't want to, I pulled back from the kiss.
"Keep doing that. I like when you smile. You being happy makes me happy." He leaned foward and pecked my lips.
I placed my hands on his shoulders and deepened the kiss.
I could kiss him all day.
"Mm." He mumbled on my mouth before breaking the kiss again.
"I love you." I blurted breathessly.
He stared at me for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"Nah you don't." He states.
My brows furrowed.
"Yes I do." I reiterated.
"You're just caught up in the moment." He shook his head again. "You think you love me because you want to love me."
I opened my mouth but he spoke before me.
"You don't have to feel pressured to say it, okay?" He leaned forward and put his forehead against mine. "I understand."
I sighed.
"I know, alright."
"Look I hear you though. I can slow it down. I'm sorry for tryna pressure you into something more serious, but I was worried you were playing me or something. You're beautiful, I'd be crazy to let you slip by me." He said honestly. "I look forward to getting to know you better."
"Good. I'm glad we talked it out. I'm looking forward to getting to know you as well." I grinned and kissed his lips repeatedly. "Let's just...let it happen naturally, okay? We both enjoy having each other around so we'll just keep doing that.
"Agreed." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him.
I pointed to the kitchen.
"What about Natalie?"
His eyebrows come together before realization flashes across his face.
"Ah. I suppose I should have introduced y'all better." He said quietly. "That's my baby sister. She's visiting with me for a bit. I should have asked before I brought her."
"No no, it's fine. You just, never mentioned a sister before."
He nodded.
"That's on me, my bad." He kissed my cheek. "We good?"
"Yes sir, we're great."
"Good. What are y'all doing today?"
"Getting everything ready for Ang's party tomorrow. Would you like to help me?"
"Of course." He stood to help me up. "We should really go check on my sister. She'll eat you out of house and home."
I picked Angel up and laughed as he pulled me behind him into the kitchen.
I looked down at our intertwined hands.
I was happy, but there's always this self-sabotaging feeling like something is gonna go wrong.
Like my world could come crashing down in one instant.
I'm sure it's just paranoia.
Nate's happy.
I'm happy.
What could possibly go wrong?
Natalie in the media!
Tell me what you think!
I'll be splitting Angel's party into about 4 parts so keep a lookout for that!
Not enough drama so far?
Just wait, it's coming.
I promise this is the calm before the storm!
Keep reading/voting/commenting!
~•Dana•~