*Nathaniel*“How much do you usually drink babe?” “What do you mean?” I asked. “Like weekly, how much do you drink? Like how many days?”“I guess everyday. But not like a lot. Why?”“I just worry, Nathaniel. I know you keep a bottle of whiskey here and I feel like it’s been replaced multiple times since we started seeing each other.” Willow stated. “I’m twenty-one years old. It’s not uncommon for me to drink a lot, Will. I mean you can knock back quite a lot of alcohol too.”“I know, but there’s a difference with you Nathaniel. Your family history. Scott says it all the time. Addiction is-”“In my blood, I know. I promise I don’t have a problem, Willow. I just enjoy drinking and that’s it. Tonight I will keep it to just wine.” I assured her.“Good. I want to make sure that you really shine tonight.” Willow smiled. “Wow, you really do care about me huh?” I asked“Of course I do babe. I want the best for you. And like I said before I want to compete with you when you’re at your best
*Willow*“So what should I get Levi for his birthday?” Joy asked. “I have no idea, girl. I am horrible at gifts for boyfriends. What did he say he wanted?”“Nothing. He said that he has everything that he wants.”“Then maybe a nice card will do?” I suggested absently. My focus was Nathaniel across the room. He and Julian were playing chess. There was something so sexy about Nathaniel being strategic. I was finding new things to love about him every day.That had to mean something pretty fucking intense.“Willow! A card?” Joy questioned. “Where is your head at?”“On my boyfriend, honestly.” I winced. “When are you going to introduce him to the family?”“When the time is right. I just want him to myself. And the last time I brought a guy home, it didn’t go well.”“Well Vance was a grown man in his forties, so that’s different I would say…unless this one is forty too?”“No, this one is my age.”Down to the very last second.“Good. You seem really happy.”“Yeah, I am,” I smiled. “No on
*Nathaniel*Lord, what was Shauna going to do to me next?She had been torturing me all week. Tacks on my chair, locking me in the supply closet, spilling coffee on me. She was insane!“Aren't you tired yet?” I asked. “I don’t know, are you?” Shauna questioned. “This is insane Shauna! You realize you are angry at me because I care about my girlfriend?”“You think I’m stupid, don’t you Nathaniel? You only asked me out because you thought it would get rid of me.”I sighed. “Okay, that’s true, but-”“But nothing. I don’t like being played. So you can fix this one of two ways.”“And those are?”“Fuck me again or…fuck me again.” She smirked. “You’re out of your mind.”“Just one time and then I’ll leave you alone.”I couldn't even consider it. That would absolutely crush Willow and I couldn’t stand that. I never wanted to hurt her. I guess I would have to take this harassment instead. It was somehow better.“I can’t do that, Shauna. I’m completely committed to Willow.” I said. “Too bad
*Nathaniel*There were flashing lights. They were blurry and though I knew they were close, they still sounded so far away. I could feel the cool asphalt under me and I could hear someone crying. I tried to turn to see who it was. “Please be okay.” A voice sobbed. I knew that voice. It was her. The woman I cared for more than anything that I used to hate severely. I wanted to comfort her and let her know that I would be okay, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t believe what I had done. Maybe things would be better if we had never slept together. Maybe we weren’t meant to be…--My eyes shot open. I was in my room. I sighed with relief. It had just been a dream. I had not crashed my car with Willow in it. We were going on our date tonight. Maybe I would choose a different place. Just in case Shauna and Orlando really would be there. I hurried down to the kitchen, eager to see Willow.She was sitting at the table, eating a bagel.“Good morning,” I smiled.“Um hey.”“You excited for t
*Willow*Hitting an airbag hurts like hell. Something built in for our safety shouldn’t be that painful. I groaned as my head slammed back against the headrest. It took a moment for me to truly process what happened. I looked over at Nathaniel who was slumped over the steering wheel. His head was bleeding so badly. Oh fuck!My mind was racing a mile a minute. We crashed because Nathaniel had been drinking. No way he would pass a breathalyzer test right now. He would get charged with a DUI and possibly reckless endangerment for driving with me in the car for this. This could absolutely wreck his entire future. Getting kicked out of the internship, incredibly bad press for the Wrenfords, possible expulsion from school, jail time. I had to do something.I undid my seatbelt and opened my door grateful that it hadn’t been smashed shut. As I stood up I realized my head was bleeding too, but I didn’t have time to address that. I limped around the car to Nathaniel’s side. His door wouldn’
*Nathaniel*“Why do you keep smiling like that?” Gerald asked. “What do you mean?”“You have this dopey grin on your face right now while I’m telling you about my crisis!”“Sorry, man. I’m just…I’m in love.” I sighed. “Really?” Gerald questioned. “Yes. I have my perfect match. She’s everything, Gerald. Smart, sexy, funny…caring.”“How hard did you hit your head in that accident?”“Pretty hard, but I swear, it knocked some sense into me.”“I’m really happy for you, but can we focus on me again?”“Sure, sorry.”“Thank you,” Gerald sighed. “I have a list.”“Well let’s hear it.”“A massage therapist.”“Yeah?” I asked. “Does that sound stupid?” Gerald whispered. “It is a few steps below a doctor, that’s for sure.”“Okay um…paleontologist?”“Very limited job market.” I informed him. “Construction worker?” Gerald asked. “Dude.”“This is hopeless. Just tell me about your girlfriend. I need some good news.”“Well she’s-”“Hello,” Willow strode into the room. “What’s up Gerald?”“Nathani
*Nathaniel*“Thank you for picking me up, Nathaniel.”“No problem at all sir, it’s my pleasure.” I smiled. “So will Jude be joining us?”“No, he has a prior engagement. Some other business dinner.” Russell stated. “I see. Um, is Jude married?”Russell laughed. “No, unfortunately not. He likes to play the field. He gets that from me.”“Interesting. I like to play the field myself.” I lied.“I knew I saw myself in you.”“Yeah…Jude said he saw himself in Willow.”“Yes, he does. He has a very deep interest in her and her career.” Russell informed me. “Well, Willow sure is something special.” I commented. “Yes, I suppose she is. I’m sure Jude will be able to help her. He likes taking people under his wing and doing all he can for them.”“How nice of him.”--Seeing Jude’s shocked face was so thrilling to me. He thought he was going to get away with wining and dining my girlfriend? He had another thing coming.“Nathaniel!” Willow said. “Hi…um and hello Mr. Howe.”“You can call me Russel
*Nathaniel*I was becoming obsessive about Willow. It’s like I had to be around her all the time and if I couldn’t, I had to know where she’d be. That made it hard when I had no idea what she and Levi did together. Willow promised it wasn’t anything romantic, but I didn’t understand why those two had a secret that me and Joy didn’t get to know. I would bring it up to Joy, but I wasn’t supposed to know about her and Levi. I didn’t want to make issues between Joy and Willow.But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to meddle a little bit.“Hey, does Levi seem weird to you?”Joy looked relieved I had asked. “I thought I was the only one who noticed it! He’s been so strange right?”“Yeah, it looks like he’s hiding something. But what could it be?” I asked. “I wish I knew. He barely talks to me anymore. I feel like something is driving a wedge between us and our friendship.”“Maybe Willow knows something.”“Why would she know something?”“I don’t know, Skyler and Avery seem to think they spe