NATHAN
I try to concentrate my anger into a clenched fist.
"Collins?" I say. The guy next to her turns to me first.
"Ryan?" She widens her eyes and waves to the two people behind me. I stare at her, letting her know that I want an explanation. "Michael, this is Nathan Ryan, my boss. Mr. Ryan, Michael Grey, an old friend." Grey? That name... The Grey from the party? The college buddy.
I nod, ignoring his presence and any potential handshake.
"Collins, I know it's not work hours, but I need to talk to you for a minute."
"Oh, sure. Excuse me, Michael," she walks ahead of me.
Once out of everyone's sight, I grab her hand, pulling her into a dark corner, pressing her against the wall.
"Hi..." She looks at me, trying to decipher if I'm about to strangle her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Trying to have some fun. Or do you think only you can?"
"With your ex-boyfriend?"
"Friend."
KATEI finish my shower and return to the room, where I find him sleeping. Damn, I don't have anything comfortable to wear, and I'm not sleepy. Nathan is lying on his stomach, naked. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan did a good job here. I need to remember to thank them someday. I bite my lip as I watch him. *What a wonderful ass, Mr. Ryan*. I try not to laugh out loud and look for his shirt.I'm starving. Can I order a pizza at this hour? Where is my cellphone? When I find it, I sit on the couch and try to find a pizza place open at two in the morning through an app.Here I am again. How did I end up here? So far away? Maybe not as lost this time. Ready to admit many things, like this feeling, and the fear. Fear that everything might be a lie, fear of clinging to something that can destroy me, the same old fear.But I decided to give him a vote of confidence, right? And I can't go back anymore. Nor do I want to. Sometimes I could confidently say that everything is real.
KATELisa drops one of her bags as we leave the store. It had been so long since I accompanied her to the mall for shopping that I had forgotten how much she loves to spend. The truth is, we don't spend as much time together anymore."I didn't remember how much you could spend on clothes. Can we go back home now?""It's Saturday, Kate. You should cheer up. Actually, you seemed pretty excited when you got home earlier.""Let's not talk about that anymore.""Come on, you didn't tell me all the sordid details." I shrug."Don't give me that look, Collins.""What look?""The innocent one. You're a complete badass." I laugh and turn to face her smile."Lisa Dickens, I declare you guilty and incapable of judging me." She shrugs, and we laugh."Katherine?" Someone calls my name, making me turn around again. Nathan's sister approaches with a smile."Ellie? How are you?""Great. And you?""I'm fine. How
NATHANIt was nearly two in the afternoon, and still no sign of her. Calls and messages, but no response. What the hell could she be doing? Her phone indicated she was at home. So, I decided to go to her place. I knocked on the door, and her friend, the personification of sympathy, answered. Hypocrisy, Nathan?"Hey?" she said, wearing her usual stern expression. Why did she hate me? Kate must have told her something terrible about me."Can I talk to Kate?""She's not here.""Are you sure?" This woman wouldn't lie to me. Collins' phone could confirm she was there."If you want to check." She opened the door."Do you know where she is?""She told me she was going to handle a problem and forgot her phone. Maybe she'll get in touch soon.""Do you know where?""No." She was definitely lying."Thanks." An insufferable woman. Where the hell could she be?By evening, I was on the verge of going crazy. It had
One week laterKATE"Okay, Lisa, I'm not a kid anymore. I'll take care of myself. I'll swing by later to give you the keys.""I don't know what got into you to make you decide to leave me.""You'll love it, you'll have more privacy for your romances." She laughs."So, all of this is because of the noise. I promise I'll be quiet. Don't leave me, Kate..." She whimpers. I chuckle."I love you, but now I have to hang up and finish organizing my mess.""Alright, take care, Kate." I hang up.I still needed to unpack the last few boxes with my things and clean the small apartment. Another decision made: to live alone. Well, I really thought it would help me in some way, even though I know I'll miss Lisa. I guess I need this. In the past week, after signing the breakup agreement with Ryan, I already had a lot in mind to do. The first thing was to change my phone number and block Ryan on all possible lines. It was really hard w
NATHANAfter the diploma ceremony ended, everyone, including guests and university students, were invited to the location where a celebration would take place.While one of the ladies who coordinated the internship program chatted away beside me, I observed every move Kate made. She looked amazing, laughing with her friend just a few meters away. I couldn't stop looking at her. Her body seemed different without the graduation gown, more sculpted. The tight black dress with an open back accentuated her curves perfectly. She also appeared healthier, with her hair loose and shiny, her face slightly fuller, her skin flawless and glowing. And those lips... oh, those lips.After a few minutes of pretending to be a good listener, I managed to get rid of the lady. But as I decided to approach Kate, I was interrupted halfway."Ryan?" I turned around to face Kate's annoying friend."Yes?" I tried to maintain a neutral expression."Can I give you some ad
NATHAN "I haven't done anything yet. But moving on..." She closes her eyes, and I try not to go crazy with the sight. Her hand slides from her belly to under the lace of her panties. "Some things are impossible to forget... no matter how hard you try to replicate them, or... find someone with a similar rhythm... there seems to be only one way... right." Within seconds, I was already pressing my body against hers, taking the place of her hand."You don't have to look for anything. I'm right here." The soft skin under my fingers was exhilarating. I urgently sought her lips. It all made sense now, why I couldn't forget.It felt otherworldly how her lips fit perfectly with mine. I explored her mouth with my tongue. I could barely hold on, as desire consumed my body. I just wanted to enter her without any gentleness. I explored her body with my free hand while teasing her clitoris with the other.Breathless, she quickly t
KATELisa was sitting to my right, and Brad and Matt to my left. They were incredibly cheerful. I should be too, but knowing that Ryan was here today stirred up an unusual feeling in me. I couldn't feel anger anymore, didn't know if I really believed in it or if I still cared. But when I saw him arrive and sit with the other guests on stage, my heart raced. And when he looked in my direction, I had to look away. But I could still feel his gaze on me, and I loved that somehow.We listened to Mr. Spencer's speech and all the other guests, and when Nathan walked to the center of the stage, I heard whispers behind me. Some girls giggled, making me think, he's all mine. But my conscience screamed: No, he's not, you idiot! Thanks to yourself! I tried to convince myself that I was better now and that I would never let a man make a fool of me again.Lisa squeezed my knee with a tender look."Are you okay?""Of course!" I smiled.When it was time to
KATEI open the door and ask him to come in. After locking it, I walk over and sit on the couch."Well, I'm all ears, Ryan!" I lean forward to take off my shoes. He remains silent for a while."It would be great if you at least looked at me," I stare at him, almost laughing. Seriously?"Sorry, I forgot that you love attention. Please continue." I just realized that bringing him here was a terrible idea. I wasn't in the mood to listen to him, maybe my interest was elsewhere. And he continued to be silent. "So?""I...," He didn't seem like the usual Ryan at the moment, the one who always knew what to say and command."Do you have something to say or not?" I wanted to be tough with him, there was still some resentment."Do you still really believe in that?" Finally, the words came out of his mouth. After all this time, it still mattered to him. I didn't know what to feel about that, but I didn't want him to think I cared."So, is it