After a minute, he hangs up and sighs.
“Fun conversation?” I ask sarcastically.
He shrugs. “Not a big deal. She just wanted to see if I could fly home shortly after the season to show up to some charity event for them at their country club.”
“And you told her you’ll be taking some time off to re-energize?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
He looks down at his fidgeting hands. “I told her yes. I have to see them at some point anyway, so might as well do something for a good cause while I’m there.”
I hate that he does this. Nathan is convinced he’s Superman, and…well, I’m not completely convinced otherwise, but I know he has flesh and blood like the rest of us, and the load he’s carrying can’t be sustained for long. I don’t want to see him crash and burn. I want to strap him down and make him rest.
“How’s work life?” he asks softly.
“Don’t think I don’t know that you’re sidestepping my concern.”
He grins and leans his head back against the headrest to stare at me. “Hoping to. So what’s new at the studio? How are the girls?”
I settle back against the seat, thankful that some of our normalcy has permeated the strangeness of this luxurious environment. This feels more like us. If I close my eyes, I can almost imagine we’re on his couch at home.
“It’s all been good. Imani has a new boyfriend who everyone and their brother can tell Sierra is jealous of, and…” I’m momentarily breathless at the sight of his soft genuine smile. He truly cares what’s happening with the girls in my class just like I do, and it makes my heart twist. “…Hannah’s dad got laid off again, but I was able to waive her tuition fees so she can still attend class because a certain generous benefactor bought the building and lowered my rent.”
I look out the window and see a car full of teenage girls riding beside us, keeping their car at the same speed as ours. The one in the passenger seat is telling us to roll down the window so they can see who’s in here. Gutsy. For all they know, it’s an old balding senator. My eyes slip to Nathan. Not an old balding senator.
“Because of you, these girls are able to continue to pursue their dreams. And knowing what I know now about how you’ve been helping with my rent all along, I realize I never would have been able to keep the doors open for them without you. So thank you.”
He’s frowning now. Not the look I was expecting after that speech. “You kill me, you know that?”
“With my devastating good looks?” I flash him an over-the-top debutante smile.
He doesn’t laugh at my quip. “You kill me when you don’t see your own worth. Bree, those doors are only open because of you. Those girls are achieving their dreams 100% because of you and the work you put into their lives. If I hadn’t bought the building, I know without a doubt you would have found a different way on your own. Probably would have worked a second job just so you could continue doing your first job! So no, don’t give me that credit. All I did was use money that would have been sitting around collecting dust.”
I swallow and clear my throat, not enjoying the sudden seriousness of this conversation. Even more, I don’t like that his words settle a pack of hot coals in my heart. It’s glowing and warm. Nathan makes me feel seen in a way no one else does.
But still, this conversation feels too intimate for our normal vibes, so I chuckle lightly and deflect. “You’re my best friend. It’s your job to say stuff like that.”
“Bree—”
I cut him off. “Hey, I have something I need to give you before we get to the set.”
“Now who’s sidestepping?”
I ignore him, dig the piece of paper out of my purse, and hand it to him. He looks at the folded slip of paper like maybe I’ve wiped a thousand boogers on it. I shake it in front of him with a laugh. “Here! Just open it.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a list.”
He gives me a look then takes the sheet of paper. It’s miniscule in his big hand. Nathan gingerly unfolds it like it’s a snowflake but then scoffs before he reads it aloud. “Rules for survival.” His eyes are annoyed as they slide to me. “A little dramatic, don’t you think?”
I nod toward the paper. “Keep reading! It’s important. If we’re going to make it out of this fake relationship with our friendship intact, we have to have some ground rules.” I scribbled this list after Nathan’s little practice exercise the other night. I can’t handle more situations like that, so it’s time to put some parameters in place to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
I watch closely as Nathan’s dark eyes scan over what I wrote. His jaw flexes and he clears his throat. “No kissing. No touching when not in public. Absolutely no snuggling ever.” I’m silently mouthing the words as he reads. “No flirting when alone. No…” His words trail off on this last one, and he tucks his lips into his mouth to lick them before continuing. “No hanky-panky.” His gaze swings to me, and I c
an tell he’s trying to school his expression so he doesn’t smile. “What exactly is hanky-panky?”
I roll my eyes. “You know what that means. Even my grandma knows what that means.”
He shrugs lightly. So innocent. “Is it a game? Or…I don’t know…a dance move? You’ll have to fill me in here. And please be as specific as possible.”