Nate tensed before he walked over to her, squatted, and grabbed her hand when she tried to pull away. “Look at me.”
She raised her head.
“You don’t want to be with me anymore?” he asked.
“I do, but I don’t think it will work.”
“For God’s sake, why?” he asked.
“Why do we have to talk about it? Why can’t you just let me get on with my life?”
“So, you’re planning on leaving me?”
“Nate, come on, I never had you to begin with. I’m here for one reason.”
“Which is?”
“The only reason I’m here is because you feel obligated to my brother, and it makes me feel pathetic. I don’t need you or anyone to take care of me, and I know my brother would rather see you happy than stuck with me.”
Nate sat back on his heels. “Where in the fuck did you get that I felt obligated?”
“Besides the fact we’re just roommates, I heard you say it.”
“When the fuck did I say that?” he asked.
“I heard your phone call yesterday.”
He was totally confused. He couldn’t remember saying anything close to that.
“Tell me what you heard.”
“You were talking to someone, and you told them I was still here and that you thought I was sweet. You then explained that you got stuck with me because you were the only one in Little Rock. What do you think they would have done if it had been someone else? Was it all a game to you?”
“Nothing about this is a game, baby. If my words made it sound like I was sad or angry being stuck with you, I’m sorry because it’s the farthest thing from the truth.”
“You said you’d care for me as long as I need you. Do you remember saying that?” she asked.
“Yes, but you’re taking it the wrong way.”
“There’s no way I can decipherI’ll take care of her as long as she needs me,any differently than that.” She looked away. “Just let me go, Nate. As much as we might want it, we don’tbelong together.”
“Why the fuck would you say that shit?”
“Because I doubt you dreamed of having one of your team members’ kid sister living with you.”
Nate growled. “I want you to be here.”
“Why in the hell would you want a roommate when you could have any woman? It’s kind of hard to bring anyone back here when we’re sharing a bed.”
“Jesus Christ, I fucked this up so bad.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve done nothing wrong, Nate.”
He spun back to face her. “Yeah, I did because the woman I’m in love with and plan to have in my life forever doubts I want her. So, I’d say yeah, I fucked up. Now, how do I fix it?”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Why?”