Today was my day off at Novelty, actually it was because Archie and Alice were out of town on a whim since last night. As a result, he forgot to give me the keys to open up the store.
He texted me when I was having dinner with Nate's family. Nate saw my text, so he decided that I should join them for lunch the next day also.
We were about to leave for that lunch at Alex's. Nate was teasing me about my romance novels but he got curious and started reading them from behind me. Then he grabbed my Kindle and started reading the steamy section.
"Damn baby, this is hot. We should definitely do this, and this, oh and also this. Damn, what is the title of this book? We should start reading this and discuss the steamy sections together." He was reading it seriously, making me giggle.
"Come on Nate, we'll be late. We still need to go and pick up some ice cream for Owen, at the grocery store. He reluctantly got up and put away my kindle.
We arrived at Alex's just before lunch. Adriana opened the door and gave us hugs, then Owen ran past through her legs and raised his hands gesturing me to pick him up.
"Wow Nate, I see that you're not his favorite anymore." Adriana laughed as she let us in the house. Owen was already in my embrace as he gave me his kiss and sighed looking very content in my chest.
Damn! This kid is going to break a girl's heart when he's bigger.
"Marissa... see that Owen got his way already. Come, let's start our lunch I'm starving. Addie babe, where's the beer? Sorry, Marissa, I'm on vacation here, need to fill up my belly beer." He grabbed his beer from his wife while giving her a little peck in the cheek.
We were all about to be seated for lunch when the doorbell buzzed. "Nate, could you get that for me, I need to get the lasagna out of the oven." Adriana chimed from the kitchen.
Owen let himself out of my embrace as he tugged me, to follow him as he followed Nate curiously to the door.
That was when a beautiful red-haired woman came into the house, and wrapped her hands around Nate's shoulder, and gave him a deep kiss.
"Aubrey! What the..." Nate was about to say something, but get silenced as she pulled him closer to her.
I was shocked, it was like needles stabbing my chest. Tiny little needles making tiny little stab wounds, my eyes watered instantly. But I couldn't move, I stayed in my place. Until Owen tugged my hand.
"Marissa! Don't cry, Owen not bad." Then Owen started crying with me. I finally had the strength to move, and picked him up, and went back to the kitchen.
I could hear Nate cursing and yelling at the woman. But the needles still making holes in my chest.
"Marissa? Is everything okay? Owen? Who's at the door?" Adriana asked questions I could not even begin to answer. So I told her what I only know.
"Owen is good, he was crying just because I am. I'm sorry Adriana, maybe we should do this another time yeah? Owen...I'm good. You're not bad okay? I'm just not feeling too happy right now. I'm going to leave you with mommy okay?" He nodded and hugged me.
Then I went back to the cottage through the back door after I excused myself to Alex. I could hear Alex was asking questions to Adriana. I walked away from their house and decided to start walking to the beach. A lot of questions entered my mind.
It was not about the kiss. I definitely heard Nate cursing the other woman. It was about my feelings towards him. It hurts too bad, and I know that he still loves me. What would happen to me, when he actually left me for another woman?
I was walking along the coastline when I heard him calling out my name. I quickly wiped my tears away, as I heard his steps behind me. "Hey baby, why did you leave? I'm with you now, not her. You got to let me explain."
"It hurts Nate, I know you love me. But it still hurts. I'm afraid of what would happen when you actually leave me. I'm too fucking scared to lose you." Then I broke down in his embrace. I was sobbing, pouring all of my feelings into him.
"Marissa, baby...sshh...I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of my head as I pulled him tighter in my arms, I kept on sobbing on his chest until I felt him carry me back to my place.
He took out the key from my hiding spot under the broken pot and carried me to my bedroom. I kept my hold on him, not letting him go once. My fingers were getting numbed, from gripping his shirt too tightly.
He gently laid me down and stayed with me. He took off my flats and took me in his embrace. "You can let go of my shirt now my love. I got you. Let go, I'm not going anywhere. I love you, baby." Then I finally let him go, as he kept on holding on to me. I shivered in his embrace, then he pulled the comforter over our bodies.
He kissed the tip of my nose, as he wiped my tears away. He kept on whispering his loving words in my ear until I drifted off to sleep. It was dark when I heard a rumbling sound from my stomach. Then I heard him chuckle beside me.
"Why don't I get some food for us? We haven't eaten since breakfast. Adriana called hours ago. She was going to get Alex to send the lasagna, but I don't want to let you go just yet. So I've been watching you sleep like a pervert, since this afternoon." He smiled and rubbed my cheek lovingly.
I finally smiled at him and nodded. So, he left me to go to his brother's while I took his pillow, and inhale his scent, and went back to sleep. My eyes were heavy from too much crying.
He was back minutes later with a hot lasagna and two glasses of water. He was treating me to dinner in bed. "Mmm...I could get used to this." I told him with a little smile.
"Eat my little one, then we will talk." He told me sternly as he told me to rest my back on the headboard and put the food tray on my lap.
I nodded at him, with butterflies in my belly. I think I just fell deeper in love with him.