Page 41 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass
He fell into step beside her and took her hand. “This is okay, right? We can still hold hands?”
It was probably better if they didn’t, but it seemed petty to say so. “Uh, sure.”
He intertwined their fingers. “And you’ll come to the bonfire with me?”
She swallowed, realizing that she wanted to say yes but needed to say no. “I probably shouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“We should take a couple of days to adjust to the way things are.”
“So we don’t get confused.”
She nodded, finding it impossible to look at him, so she kept her eyes focused in the direction they traveled. “Right.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“It makes the most sense.”
“I guess it does. We don’t want to get too attached.”
She nodded again. “Exactly.”
“It’ll make things easier when we have to say goodbye.”
Nate was reading her mind. She hated goodbyes. That’s why she avoided them. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Totally. You know, this is actually perfect timing. I’m pretty sure Anna Beckle’s still on the island for a couple more days. Since we’re cooling things off, I’ll probably see what she’s doing tonight.”
She nearly missed her next step.
“That’s okay with you?” Nate asked.
How could she say no when she’d just told him they had no romantic future? “Uh, yes. Yes, of course.”
“Because I want to make sure you’re not going to take that the wrong way—no hard feelings or anything.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I didn’t realize we were worrying about what makes me happy.”
She flicked him a glance and stopped, realizing that despite the easiness of his tone, his eyes were hot with temper. “Nate.”
“This is really what you want?”
“It’s for the best.”
“That’s not what I asked you. I asked you if this is what you want?”
She turned away.
He pulled her back around. “I’m calling bullshit on this whole thing. If I hadn’t spent the night in my office, you would have woken up in my bed this morning.”
She gripped her fingers in front of her, watching Nate clench and unclench his jaw. Confrontation was another thing she avoided at all costs. “I realize that I’ve sent you mixed messages—that this seems—”
“Don’t try and play this off as cool. I see your pulse pounding.”
She slapped her hand over her neck, aware that her heart was moving even faster than it had been before.
