pulled up a chair at the island as Nathan grabbed two bowls and spoons. “Love that word.”
“What? I use big words. Think I’m not smart and shit.” Grinning, he handed me a spoon. “I got into Dartmouth, Juilliard, and Brown, girl.”
I flicked his forehead. “I’ve never been one of these fools who underestimated you. You know that.”
“I’ve never underestimated you either. Dumping food on Delilah, cursing her out, and sending her off crying is very Belle.”
“The story was changed in translation. I was minding my own business and she tipped my drink on my lap. I returned the favor.”
“Power play,” he said. “Her fiancé prefers you and everyone’s got a peek into their fictional sex life. She had to prove she was still queen bee. You couldn’t have given her that one?”
“Nope.” I put my spoon up. We clinked and dug in. “Her fiancé is safe in her hands. I’m not trying to steal him, so why should I take crap for it?”
“Fair point.”
I observed him over our treat. Nathan was picture-ready as always. He wore a tight Henley shirt and black pants. His hair hung free and wild in a style he wanted people to believe was effortless, but actually took about an hour. That he had time to do it backed up his claim that he was sober. But like the rest of the mortals, something could be wrong with him even when he wasn’t drinking.
“You okay?”
He tapped his temple. “Headache.”
“Nathan, seriously,” I said softly. “It’s me.”
“It’s nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary anyway. I called Mom. She didn’t know who I was. She hung up saying she had to get up early for work.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Nathan didn’t sound mad. He didn’t sound like much of any emotion at all. “This isn’t the bad part, Belle. The bad part is when she can’t talk. Can’t swallow. When she needs help walking until she can’t walk at all.” A tremble leaked into his voice. “That’s the bad part. There are still days when she comes back. Worry about me when they’re gone.”
The ice cream was sludge on my tongue. Eyes prickling, I threw my spoon. “Alzheimer’s is such an evil fucking disease.”
“The truest thing you’ve ever said.”
“But I won’t wait,” I whispered.
“Wait for what?”
Green locked with brown. “To worry about you.”
His face changed. Dropping the shield, the raw, open wound exposed to the light. And I cried. Gentle, quiet tears running down my cheek.
“Why do you do this to me, Belle?”
I looked at him, questioning.
“Make me love you.”
My breath hitched. “I— Just a bad habit I guess.”
Nathan grinned. Then he smiled. And then he laughed. Unrestrained, loud belly laughs that pulled giggles out of me. “We all have our addictions,” he got out. “Can’t fault you for yours.” He brushed his fingers over my cheeks, drying my tears. At that moment, I made up my mind.
“Nathan, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.”
“Your inheritances,” I began. “Why do you have to wait until you’re twenty-five? You turned eighteen months ago. Is this something you could fight if you had money? Lawyers?”
He shook his head. “There’s nothing to fight. It was in their will. My grandma willed her shares to me when I turn twenty-five. My dad’s estate and his part of the family business comes to me when I’m thirty. Until then, I have a long-lost uncle in Antigua looking after it.
“They both witnessed what money does to people. And what does an eighteen-year-old know of running a multimillion-dollar company? They put the responsibility on my shoulders when they thought I’d be old enough to handle it.”
“So there’s nothing,” I pressed. “Not even a college fund?”
“Of course there is. But it’s not in my name. It’s in Mom’s. Neither one factored early-onset Alzheimer’s in their plans for me.”
“No, they wouldn’t.” I massaged suddenly aching temples. “He took it. The colonel claimed it all.”
“That’s right. The universe struck down so many people in my life and left him standing. Hard not to feel like someone out there hates me.”
“I know that feeling.” I placed my hand over his. “But it’s not too late for it to pay out the karma points you’ve stacked up.”
“Think so?”
Nodding, I released a long breath. “What if... we got married, Nathan?”
He stopped tracing small circles on my palm. “Excuse me?”
“You said you’d marry the girl who understood your situation and was willing to do what was necessary to give you and your mom a new life.” I leaned in. “I’m willing, Nathan. I want