Page 22 of Living with Fire
“The last time I thought about it was when I moved in, and I didn’t have a single thing to my name besides my clothes, an air mattress, and some bedding.” I lean forward, my head dropping into my free hand. “It didn’t seem important at the time.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” he says, his voice warm and soft, gently caressing over me like a cozy blanket.
He continues to hold my hand and the comfort I find in that is immeasurable. After trying to survive for so long, looking after myself and ensuring I’m safe, having this man ease my worries, even if just with words, is a lifeline I didn’t know I needed.
“We’ll figure it out.”
My head pops up, shaking at him. “You’ve done plenty. Taking me out and buying me a meal is more than you needed to do. If you could just drop me off at the beach after this, I’ll figure it out.”
“There’s a difference between need and want, Sav,” Nate says gently, and I can’t help the warmth that spreads through me when he shortens my name. “I can’t in good conscience drop you off at the beach and have you fend for yourself. You don’t have anything with you. No phone, no ID, no money, no clothes.”
I want to snap, “thanks for the reminder”, but I refrain, instead pulling my hand out from under his, severing the connection. I miss it instantly and my gut says to grab on and hold tight until he’s the one to let go, but I ignore it.
“What would you propose I do then? Find a bench and sleep on it?”
I can tell he wants to laugh, but he has the good sense to keep it hidden as he slides his hand back to his side of the table and grabs his milkshake, giving it a stir with the spoon in it.
“I suppose that’s one option, but it’s not what I was thinking,” he says, amusement dancing in his eyes before the blue depths turn serious. “Hear me out before you say no. I have a guest bedroom—”
“Nate, no,” I cut him off, my hand coming up to silence him. “You don’t even know me, I don’t know—”
He grabs my hand, and talks louder, overpowering my voice. “Hear me out. Just hear me out, that’s all I’m asking.”
His eyes are pleading with me, and honestly I’m defenseless against them. The way they look at me with such hope, imploring me to just listen and not shut him down right away. Releasing a sigh, I nod in agreement, pulling our hands back down to the table.
“Thank you,” he says, giving me a smile that lights up his eyes. “I know we don’t know each other, apart from today, but you wouldn’t know anyone at the beach if you slept there, either. Jordan and I live together, so she would be there as well. It wouldn’t just be the two of us. You can get a good sleep, and in the meantime, I’ll try to reach out and see if I can get you into your apartment to at least get some of your things.”
Well shit. I know I’m staring at him skeptically, but inside I think he makes a solid case. If I slept on the beach, we both know it wouldn’t be pleasant. It would probably be downright terrifying, if I’m being honest, and I wouldn’t get much sleep. That he lives with Jordan, another woman that I’ve already met in a professional setting, does help ease some of the fear I have about staying with a man I don’t know. Even if I feel deep in my bones that Nate is a good man.
But what really does it for me is his willingness to try and help me get into my place for some of my things if I can’t stay there. I would at least have some money and I could stay in a hotel while figuring out my next move. Staying with Nate eases a weight from my shoulders, knowing the rest of the day and evening, I’m taken care of. That I don’t have to figure out what to do before I figure out what to do.
Plus, I think I’m going to crash the second we’re finished eating, if not before. It’s been a whirlwind twenty-four hours, and I haven’t slept in what feels like forever.
“What do you think?” Nate asks hesitantly, running his free hand through his hair.
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly. If Nate weren’t holding my hand, I’d be picking at a cuticle right now, a nervous habit I’ve had since I was a little girl. “I think… even though I love the beach, maybe a bed does sound better than the sand.”
Triumph erupts on his face, and he looks so jubilant I’ve said yes that I laugh, sharing in his happiness. “I knew I could win you over. You realize how much better I’ll sleep tonight knowing you’re not on the streets, right?”
“Oh, so this was all for your benefit, then?” I ask, laughing.
“Yep. You just happen to be getting something out of it as well,” he tells me with a wink.
Elizabeth shows up then with our lunch, and eyes the two of us, pointedly looking at our hands still joined on the table.
“Just friends my ass,” she mumbles, and Nate and I look at each other with grins.
I can only imagine what will be said if his family finds out I’m spending the night at his place.
CHAPTER 9
NATE
Looking up from my tablet when I hear footsteps shuffling across the hardwood floor in the hallway, I listen as a door shuts. A glance at the microwave from my spot at the island tells me it’s not even six o’clock in the evening. I’m surprised that Savanna’s already awake, but Jordan isn’t home from work yet, so there’s no one else it could be.
We were both wiped when we got back to my house this morning, and after a quick tour we took showers and went to bed. I was tired after the long shift, but I know my fatigue didn’t compare to Savanna’s.
Despite my exhaustion, sleep eluded me. My mind wouldn’t shut down, replaying the last few hours over and over.