Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(105)

“Come on, Nate!” Oliver yelled out a window.

I waved at him as he stepped onto the bus, and then I walked away. I almost told him to call me and check in later, but Oliver would be fine. He would be more than fine.

I stood beside my brother and watched the bus pull out of the parking lot and drive down the street. I was feeling all kinds of things I could easily acknowledge and other things I couldn’t yet name.

“How long are you gonna fight this guy?” Brian asked.

“You warned me about moving too fast and you questioned all the time I let the kids spend with him. Since when are you pro-Nathan?”

Brian looked over at me. “Since he showed up for your son.”

*



It was just after eleven that night when my phone rang.

I rolled over and untangled my arm from the satin sheet. I held the lit screen above me, smiling at the caller. I had been hoping to hear from him.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Did I wake you?” Nathan asked.

Behind his voice, I could hear a cricket chirp. I pictured him surrounded by woods and the darkened sky above sprinkled with stars.

“No. I wasn’t asleep yet. It usually takes me a while when nobody’s here.”

“Olivia isn’t there?”

“She’s at a friend’s house.” I boosted my pillow higher underneath my head and pulled the sheet up to my neck. “She was jealous of your campout, so I told her she could have a sleepover tonight. I think she’s still jealous though. She’s dying to make s’mores with you.”

“Well, I am pretty awesome at it.”

“How’s Oliver? Is he having fun?”

“Oh yeah. He’s having a blast. He’s asleep right now.” I heard sticks snapping. “I just left him in the tent. He made me promise we’d stay up all night and then he passed out about five minutes after saying that.”

I laughed quietly. “What all did you guys do? Did you do the archery stuff? Oliver was looking forward to that.”

“Yeah, that was cool. He’s really good at it too. We showed up this kid and his dad who were next to us. They both sucked.” Nathan laughed. “Uh, besides that, we learned how to kill a bear.”

“What?”

“Nah, I’m kidding. That would’ve been cool though. We went out in canoes for a while and fished. Then some guy showed us how to start a fire without matches, which is something I already knew how to do. Oliver made sure everyone here was very aware of that fact. I think he even reminded them after dinner.”

I smiled and flexed my calves against the sheet. “Has anyone asked who you are to him?”

“No.” Nathan sounded disappointed admitting that. “But I am getting looks, which is weird. Like, who gives a fuck? I’m ready though. Nobody better say a damn thing to Oliver. I’ll throw all of their shit into the lake.”

I cracked up, hand to my mouth. I couldn’t help it.

Muffled voices came through the line. “Oh. Sorry, man,” Nathan said. “My bad. I thought everyone was asleep.”

“You’re going to get banned from future campouts,” I warned. I was grinning now.

“Probably.” He chuckled, his voice growing soft. “I hope not. Oliver’s really into this.”

He was, but Nathan was having a good time too. I could tell. He could’ve said he was really into it and he chose not to. Nathan made it about my son.

I closed my eyes and breathed.

“I should get off here before I get him thrown out of Scouts,” he said.

“Okay.” I stared at my bedroom ceiling. “Thanks for calling me.”

“Do you need anything?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know—you’re alone. I know you don’t like it.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know you. And I can tell…I’ll stay on the line with you if you want. I could walk farther into the woods so I’m not around anybody. I’ll probably get murdered, but—”

“Oh God.” I rolled my eyes and giggled.

“I’ll just get back in the tent, but seriously, Jenna, I can drain my battery. Do you want me to stay on the line? What do you need?”

What do you need, Nathan? The memory echoed inside my head.

“Déjà vu. Remember?” I smiled.

“What are you talking about?”

“On the phone that night when I wanted you to give me permission to ignore my brother, you said you didn’t need anything when I asked you.”

Nathan was silent for a moment.

“I didn’t—I was talking to you.”

“Ask me again.”

“What do you need, Jenna?”

I pictured Oliver in the tent fast asleep and gave my answer.

“Right now? Nothing.”





Chapter Twenty-Six





NATHAN




Six Days Later



Daddy, I get ’nother one?”

“Yep.” I stood from my desk, tearing free another Post-it note, and took it over to Marley, who was seated in the middle of the office with her play gate around her.

Marley took the neon yellow paper and stuck it on her foot, giggling.