“He’s sweet, Nolan.” She frowns as she looks down at me. “I didn’t think you were going to be here. I don’t want to be disrespectful to him by hanging with you all night.”
I laugh dryly, shaking my head. “Natalie, do you realize how selfish you sound right now. You can’t have both of us, plus I came here to win you over. I’m trying to do the right thing. I need you back.”
Her lips seal and her grip lacks from around my hand. The gesture causes me to look up at her. She’s no longer looking at me. Her gaze has drifted to her right.
“Who do you want, Natalie?”
She blinks but doesn’t bother to look at me. I bring a hand up to pull her hair back. I’ve noticed it’s darker. It makes her look sexier and—I didn’t even think that was possible. As I lean forward, I kiss her cheek and she finally looks at me.
“How do I know if I can trust you again?” she asks.
“How do I know if I can trust you to leave Tyler alone?” I counter.
“I don’t want him. I want—” Her mouth clamps shut rapidly, her eyes expanding.
“You want what?” I murmur against her ear. I know her answer. I just want to hear her say it. “Stop leading that guy on, Bunny. If you know what you want, just take it back already.”
“That’s the problem,” she mutters. “I can’t just take you back when I don’t know if you’ve been faithful to me.”
“Natalie, I didn’t cheat on you.”
“But you did something with her, right?”
I stare into her eyes for a brief moment before tearing my gaze away. “It was nothing to me.”
She bites on her bottom lip and fidgets on my lap. Her head lowers and her hair falls, creating a curtain around her face. I pull her hair away again to see her. “I just don’t understand. What does she have to give that I don’t?”
“Nothing! Natalie, I was drunk. I was upset that you were ignoring me. I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry that it’s been bothering you but it was just a kiss and I regret it more than anything. I can’t even remember it. I knew she was going to bring it up. I knew she was going to try and ruin us. She’s jealous and she’s upset that I don’t want her back. It was a mistake that I’ll never let happen again.”
I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. I kiss her knuckles but she presses her lips together. “That’s what I mean, Nolan. If we are to get back together and possibly end up taking another break, how do I know you won’t go find some broad on the street to kiss or possibly fuck if it comes to that?”
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Natalie.”
“I mean you already have, Nolan. I don’t want to take you back that easily. You’ll think I’ll take you back every time you fuck up. I don’t want to put myself into situations like that anymore.” Sighing, she pushes from my lap to stand. “I think I’m just going to go grab another drink or something.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” I ask, standing with her.
Her head shakes, her gaze lowering. “No. I need time, Nolan.” She lingers in front of me for only a second and then turns around. With each step she takes away from me, I feel my heart cracking. I feel guilty for kissing Sharon but I know it wasn’t cheating. Natalie and I weren’t dating—and I was drunk.
It was the week after Natalie left—when she was ignoring me. I felt so fucking vulnerable that I stooped as low as Sharon. I know it’s no excuse but I never would have done it if Natalie and I were still dating. She was around when I wasn’t thinking and not thinking led me into trouble—to Natalie walking away from me without looking back.
She disappears within the crowd and I run a hand through my hair roughly. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I make my way through to look for Dawson but he’s in the corner, whispering in Harper’s ear.
I turn to my right and that’s when I spot Natalie again . . . only she’s talking to Tyler. She’s not against him or even in his arms but it’s just the fact that she’s