Page 68 of The Summer Club

“Oh?”

“Come stay with me.”

“Oh.” Andi didn’t know what to say. Staying with Nate was exactly what she wanted to do. And exactly what she could not possibly do.

“Until Molly gets back, of course,” he added quickly. “I get that whole thing, believe me.”

“Right.” There was no way Andi was introducing Molly to anyone she was dating until it was serious. That part she’d been clear about. But Nate lived on the other side of the backyard fence and he knew Molly already. Hiding it would be even harder when she got back. “God, this is complicated.”

“But why? Your parents know you’re an adult. Who does adult things. Do you think they think Molly was divine conception?” He was joking, but it was just too close to home.

“Let’s keep Molly out of it for now. It’s my parents, yes. The thought of doing the walk of shame home while my father is having breakfast at the kitchen table feels sleazy. And the timing… the whole family is in a bad place right now. It feels insensitive.”

Nate didn’t say anything.

Andi could tell he was upset. “What?”

“Sleazy and insensitive. That’s how you basically described us.” He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, a look of genuine hurt on his face.

“I didn’t mean that about us!”

“Then what did you mean? Andi, the last few days I feel like we’ve been lying to everyone. You wait until late at night and sneak over to my place. And then you sneak back before sunrise. You want me to come over to your place, but you keep ten feet of distance between us when your family walks in the room. Are you embarrassed by me?”

It was the last thing she wanted Nate to feel. She was completely mismanaging this. “No! Look, this is all new to me.” Andi threw up her hands. “I don’t know how to date at my age. I don’t know how to date with a kid and my parents under the same roof. And a wedding on the way and a family crisis! I’m trying to balance all that while also trying to hang on to a shred of privacy. And here I was thinking I was doing a good job, but it turns out I’m screwing it all up!” People were turning to look at them and she realized she was making a small scene.

“Okay, okay.” Gently, Nate pulled her over to a shaded bench in front of an antiques store. “C’mere. Catch your breath. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” She was suddenly so angry—with herself more than anyone. Why was she making this complicated? Nate was right, they were two adults. But she couldn’t help it—it all just felt… weird.

“It’s not you, Nate. It’s my own baggage. My crazy family and my sad, single life. I’m a mess.”

Nate put an arm around her. “You’re not a mess. And you’re right, I forget that this is new to you.” They watched a young family walk by and Andi’s heart ached. They looked happy and together; a nuclear family. Andi nodded in their direction. “That. That’s what I’m grieving this summer.”

Nate followed her gaze. The couple was passing an ice cream cone back and forth between them as the dad pushed the baby stroller and the toddler held the mom’s hand. “Did you have that married to George?”

“No. Not even close.”

“Okay. So let’s talk about grieving that. Ten bucks says that baby in the stroller starts screaming bloody murder any second. And when he does, that ice cream cone is going to get dumped down the mom’s white pants when the dad scrambles to get his screaming kid out of that contraption. Then the toddler won’t be able to go to the toy store because her kid brother is melting down. And the whole happy family portrait will go up in flames right here on Main Street.” He turned to look at Andi, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Am I right?”

Andi had to give it to him. “Not bad for a single guy with no kids.”

Nate laughed. “I’ve spent plenty of time with my sister and hers. Believe me.” Nate paused. “Look, I’ve been single for a while. I don’t have kids. And my parents are in Florida, not living with me in my house. Thank God.”

Which made Andi laugh. “Can you imagine if both sets of our parents were in the beach cottages with us? Just like old times!”

“Maybe they’d entertain each other while we snuck out.” Nate turned and planted a kiss on her head. “So we’ve got some things to figure out. So what? We will.”

Andi looked up at him. How did she end up with a guy like this right in her backyard this summer? “You’re pretty great.”

“You’re okay. I guess.” Nate ducked, fully expecting the punch to the arm she delivered.

When they pulled into his driveway later, Nate turned to her. “Want to come in for a bit?”

She did. More than anything. But there was something else she needed to do. “I have a better idea.” Andi nodded toward Riptide. “Want to come for dinner?”

Nate threw her a look of mock horror. “Will your family be there?”

“Sadly, yes.”