Our Way

I pace as I wait out on the sidewalk. Nathan’s building’s security is tight, and this is the first time I’ve come here without him. He’s always at my house. I’ve never needed a key to his. Jolie’s words come back to me.

It’s his booty-call place.

My stomach rolls at the thought. God, I really need to get a handle on myself here. What in the hell is all this ownership about? Moments later, the doorman opens the door to the building.

“Eliza?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.” He gestures to the lift with his hand and then swipes his security pass and presses the button to level ten.

“Thank you.” I smile, and he gives me a kind nod.

I ride to level ten with nerves dancing in my stomach. After being shocked into silence all weekend, I’ve suddenly so much I want to say. Not that any of it makes sense…

The elevator opens to the private landing. The apartments in this building take up an entire floor. The door opens, and there he stands, wearing gray sweatpants and a T-shirt.

“Hi.”

I force a smile. “Hi.”

His hair is wet, and he’s freshly showered. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Being a crappy friend.”

His eyes hold mine.

“It was just such a shock, you know? I didn’t mean to get angry.”

He gestures to the door and I walk past him into his apartment to look around at the swanky surroundings. Why he stays at my little dumpy apartment every night, I’ll never know.

The floor is polished slate with oversized rugs over it, and the walls are all distressed brick with huge colorful abstract art hanging from them. It’s set out like a trendy warehouse apartment. It’s state of the art and it looks more like a funky bar than a home.

Nathan walks in and through to the kitchen. I tentatively follow him, unsure what to say. The kitchen is black, stainless steel with copper appliances. He goes to the tall wine fridge that goes nearly to the ceiling and has a glass door.He takes out a bottle of red wine and holds it up in question.

“Please.” I nod and watch on as he pours two glasses.

He sits down on the other side of the island counter and takes his wine to his lips as his eyes hold mine.

“Can we talk about it?” I ask.

He shrugs, uninterested.

“We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. That’s okay, too,” I offer. “I can just be here, you know, in case you need me.” I hold my hand out over the counter and he stares down at it.

“You know that I need you, Eliza.” He sighs sadly. “That was never in question.”

“I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

I don’t know what he has going on inside of that beautiful mind of his, but I want to be here for him. I love Nathan. I need to swallow my hurt and help him work this out.

He eventually takes my hand and squeezes it in his. He takes a sip of his red wine, and then swirls it around in his mouth as he watches me. The act is almost sensual.

And it’s there again; this feeling that bounces between us. Only now I know for certain that it’s all in my head, and yet I still feel it.