Keeping a safe distance

Chapter 5 (Valentina's POV)

Why? Why does he have to have a soft side?

A side that I liked too much 

I knew it was a mistake to ask about his past.

Because once he shared his story with me I kind of felt obligated to tell him a part of my story.

It wasn't the most painful part but it was still pretty bad. And hard for me to share. There weren't many people that knew about my past. There was Anabelle, who knew my story because she lived a similar life once we escaped from her parents, and there was couch Irving, who simply didn't want to give up on me since the day we met.

And I guess now Nathaniel. Sure he knew just a piece of my past but it was still more than other people. Usually, I just let them see my bitchy side and that's it. I learned a long time ago that people hardly ever feel sympathy on your behalf. More often they would enjoy your pain and misfortune. So it's better to hide behind a bitchy attitude than make myself vulnerable.

Guess we had the same idea in mind but chose our weapon differently.

"Wait. I've told you my nicknames. What are yours?"

Since I've shared my nicknames, both flattering and not-so-flattering I guess it was only fair he told me his in return.

A chuckle escaped him and I hate to admit that it was starting to grow on me. His chuckle, not the person behind it to be clear! I would never ever admit to liking a hockey player.

"Well, you already guessed the one people use mostly. That would be: asshole. But those who know me and consider me to be their friend call me Nath or Niel. Whichever part of my name sticks with them. And I don't mind either way."

Damn it. Even his nicknames sounded sexy. But his name was still the most intriguing. I think I don't know anyone with that name. And each time I said it out loud it sent a pleasurable shiver down my back. Thank God it was a pretty cold day outside and I could blame it on the weather if he said anything.

"You do realize there is only one letter missing between your nicknames to make your full name again right?"

Again that chuckle. I was starting to think that I would be ducked if I didn't find a way to distance myself from him soon.

"I never thought about it actually but now that you mentioned it I guess you are right.'

It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him I am usually always right but somehow managed to restrain myself. Believe it or not, I had some self-restraint in me. I just chose to not use it usually. But I learned a lesson in the short amount of knowing Nathaniel. It was better to stay quiet and keep my smart-ass comments to myself. It was probably because we were too much alike in a way.

Let's take a look.

We were both damaged in a way.

We both hid our pain behind cruel masks.

And we both liked to strike with words.

Usually precisely where it hurts the most.

But on a serious note though my comments were rarely intentionally hurtful.

Well, I guess you could say I had a sixth sense for things that would hurt people and used it at the worst time.

For example, I had a "friend" once upon a time. I had no idea she had a dog. And one day we got into a fight and my tongue got the better of me when I told her I wish her dog would drop dead. Freaky part? Her dog died the previous day. So once again bitch Valey to the destruction.

Thank God for Anabelle who took my nasty comments with her head held high and gave back as nasty as she received.

She really was one of a kind. You could say she was labeled as a bitch as well as me and maybe that's the reason why we got along so well.

Suddenly I was pulled out of all the good memories I had with Anabelle by a hand that landed on my thigh.

Now I know you'll think I am stupid, but I could actually feel sparks where his hand touched me.

I quickly looked at Nathaniel from the corner of my eye only to realize he was staring at me. And I was caught taking a peek.

"What? Why are you staring at me?"

For a change, he gave me a beautiful smile, which I most definitely didn't stare at for longer than a second.

"Did anyone ever tell you you're stunning?"

The blush was starting to creep down my cheeks from his stare and his words.

But I couldn't let him know he got to me with his cheesy lines.

"Did anyone ever tell you, your pickup lines are rusty?"

"I think a beautiful woman at the airport told me that approximately 30 minutes earlier, yes. But they are not really pick-up lines if they are the truth."

What is it about this man and me becoming soft around him?

I was known as a queen of icy hearts. Many guys in the past told me that I was either a cold-hearted bitch or a heartless bitch. Use whichever you think suits me better. I liked the cold-hearted description better since I wanted to believe I still had a heart even if it was an icy thing in my chest.

But Nathaniel somehow managed to make me speechless and that was not something I experienced often.

Also, he was breaking my walls and I only knew the guy for 30 minutes.

So I made a decision that would be crucial to me keeping my cold hearted bitch act safely in place.

I would have to keep a safe distance between me and Nathaniel.

For the good of both of us.