Page 37 of The Fool

Seemingly placated, Lily merely shrugs and continues packing.

“You know what, why don’t we just say you and Bea are right about everything, and I’m wrong,” I sigh, feeling defeated and frustrated.

“Glad you can admit it, bro,” Cam says before slapping me on the shoulder. “Honestly, Nate, if you were truly serious about her, I would be all for it, we can always work around these things. But if you just want to bang her out of your system, it’s a firm no from me.”

“I second that,” Lils shouts from the kitchen.

“Well, thanks, I guess,” I mutter moodily. “In any case, she’s not interested. Well, I think she is interested but doesn’t want to go there so what else can I do but respect her wishes?”

“Maybe you should just be patient,” Lily suggests, to which Cam and I both frown at one other like she’s talking crazy.

“Not really our strong suit, babe,” Cam states.

“Hmm, well, it sounds like the only choice you have right now,” she points out while wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “So, you think you can keep it in your pants while you give her time to think about it, Nate?”

“Haven’t touched anyone since before London,” I admit with a frustrated sigh. “I hate this.”

“Wow, are you saying you’re prepared to give up all pussy for her?” Cam asks with genuine shock in his voice.

“I don’t get it,” Lily says, “isn’t one vagina much the same as another?”

“No!” we both reply in unison.

“Would you say that about a dude’s penis?” I counter.

“Well, I can’t really comment, I’ve only ever been up close and personal with your brother’s penis,” she says matter of factly.

“And that’s the only penis you’ll ever be up close and personal with!” he declares, trying to act as some sort of authority. “Starting in about half an hour when I throw Nate out.”

“Oh, really?” she says with a mischievous grin on her face, then slides herself around onto his lap where they begin kissing and pawing at one other.

“That’s it, I’m out,” I declare as I stand to leave. “I don’t know whether I’m going to get a hard-on or vomit.”

Of course, they ignore me and continue dry-humping one another, which only has me rushing to get the hell away from the sight of my brother going to town on his wife.

“Laters, enjoy Hawaii,” I call out as I quickly pace toward the door.

“Nate,” Cam shouts, all the while Lily kisses his neck, “don’t let me come back to a complete legal mess if you know what I mean.”

I sigh with a nod before walking out the door.What the fuck am I going to do? Nothing, I’m going to do nothing except try and be nice to her without throwing myself at her feet.

Chapter 13

Bea

After hours of deliberation, hovering my finger over the send button with my letter of resignation attached to an email addressed to Cameron, I finally decided to give Nathaniel Carter one shot – just one. After all, things between Leah and Ben have hit an all-time low; perhaps if I can convince him to move out, that I’m ready to stand on my own two feet, he and Leah can get back on the road to their usual animalistic kind of love. If I have no job and no means of income, then he’ll definitely refuse to move out with her.

So, I get up, get dressed, and go to work as usual. Nathaniel is already here, tapping away on his computer, so I knock on his door to ask if he would like his usual coffee. I figure I can gauge what kind of mood he is in while appearing professional at the same time.

“Good morning, Mr Carter, would you like a coffee?” I ask him in a timid tone of voice.

“Ah, Bea,” he says with a beaming smile, which is a little unnerving. Truthfully, I was expecting him to be back to his usual mood. “A coffee would be lovely, thank you, though only if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Er…no, no trouble at all,” I stutter, trying my best to smile back at him.

“Next one is on me,” he says before turning back to tap away on his computer again.

After that interaction, he went out to get his own lunch but shocked me by offering to pick me up something too. He used ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and spoke politely to me in front of other people in the office. It was unsettling at first, but by close of day, it felt kind of nice. Refreshing, one might say.