Page 49 of Rescued Love
“Nathan,” her voice is soft, “maybe it’s none of my business, but I don’t want to see my best friend get hurt. What happens when you have to leave and go back to work?”
I gasp and give her a sharp look, but she ignores me and doesn’t look my way. “Hailey,” I scold her, knowing this is not the time or the place.
Why can’t I bask in the glow of this moment without having to think of the next one?
Before I can say anything else, Nathan’s hand moves to my thigh and gives a squeeze. When I look at him, it’s to meet his love filled gaze. I can only hope he’s not about to break my heart right here and now, only moments after causing it to swell with joy.
He turns toward Hailey, his voice even and sure, “I’ve been thinking a lot about my life in the city since I arrived here.” He gives a sheepish smile and rubs the back of his neck. “If I’m being honest, I’ve been thinking about my path and my place there for a lot longer. I’ve felt out of place and unfulfilled for a while. I didn’t understand why until I was forced to take some time off and was able to finally step back.”
He shakes his head and huffs out a breath. My heart starts to pound in my chest, but not out of fear, out of pain for him. For amoment, just a second in time, he looks so fucking lost. I cover the hand he has resting on my thigh and squeeze in support, in commiseration, in love.
“I’m not happy there,” he admits. “And that’s not easy to say because I’ve devoted so much time and effort into becoming what I thought I was supposed to become. Either I’m too old to be having a crisis of self or too young to be having a midlife crisis; whichever way you want to look at it, but the bottom line is that it’s not the life I want to live.”
My heart soars. He hasn’t said that he’s staying, but the fact that he’s thinking about not going back, about not continuing down the path he’s set for himself there is enough. For now.
“I’m not sure exactly what the future holds,” he looks at me and adds, “yet, but I do know I’m really fucking happy I came to visit my grandpa.”
I turn my face upward and grin at him. Before I know what’s happening, he’s kissing me, instantly deepening it. The sound of those around us become a tapestry of static and movement, not at all registering as my man takes my mouth the way he needs.
He didn’t have to share all of that, least of all with two people he doesn’t know all that well, but I know he did it for me. It was to ease my best friend’s fears for me, and mine at the same time.
When we pull apart and turn toward the couple on the other side of the table, Hailey is beaming at us and clapping her hands together. I stick my tongue out at her which makes Nathan chuckle next to me.
“As long as you don’t think you’ll be carting my bestie off somewhere, then I’m good.”
“Never,” Nathan growls and my heart sinks.
He wouldn’t want me to go with him if he was leaving? Fuck, these ups and downs are a bitch.
Before I can get too deep in my morose thoughts, he gives my thigh a squeeze. “The rescue, her passion, is here. She does so much good for this county, and the people and animals in it, I would never take her away from that. It would dim her light and that would be a fucking travesty.”
Oh. My. Heart.
Hailey’s eyes are soft as she looks at my man and gives a nod of approval. Yeah, he just won my best friend over, not that she wasn’t already there because he’s been making me happy for days. But that?
Him showing that he knows and understands me and wants to support me?
Talk about a swoony moment.
I tilt my head and rest it on Nathan’s shoulder as we fall into conversation. It’s light and free of drama. Nathan tries to get to know my best friend and the man she’s fallen in love with. It’s beautiful to watch.
By the end of the night, my cheeks hurt with how big I’ve been smiling. This is perfect.
This is everything I’ve ever wanted.
Am I a little afraid that it’ll disappear or be taken away from me? Yes, and I’m not going to lie about it.
But I’m trying to embrace what I have right now, the same way I hold dear the moments I get with the animals at the rescue, no matter how fleeting or long that time is.
Nathan doesn’t stop touching me all night and I’m constantly turned on. It’s frustrating, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
When Hailey yawns one too many times, Wesley stands up, the one beer he’s had still half finished on the table in front of him, my man’s beer the same. “I think it’s time for bed, you’ve had a long day,” his voice is gentle and coaxing.
Hailey huffs and narrows her eyes before insisting, “I’m fine.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. She’s clearly fading fast. I can’t blame her; she worked today, and I know how much energy she puts into her classroom.
I yawn and give Nathan a sleepy smile, not entirely fake, but not entirely real either. “I’m pretty tired myself,” I tell him.