Epoch (Transcend Duet #2)(25)

I laugh. “You don’t care about the color of my bridesmaids’ dresses.”

“True. I just want a distraction from the pain. Sit.” He tips his head toward the other side of his bed.

After a few seconds of me not responding, he peeks open one eye. “I won’t breathe on you.”

I prop up two pillows and ease onto the other side of the bed, leaning back against the headboard. “Griffin thinks I should get a different job.”

Nate grunts. “I don’t like this story. Pick a different one.”

I glance over at him, but his eyes are still closed. “Were you serious about us being friends? I mean … can you be my guy friend? The one I don’t have sex with, but you give me advice about guys that only a guy could give?”

Nate chuckles, but it morphs into a moan as he scoots back down under the covers and rubs his forehead. “Yes to the friends part. And I think it’s frowned upon to have sex with the nanny. As far as the advice goes, I’ll give it, but it will come with a disclaimer. I don’t want to be responsible for you making some life-changing decision that goes awry.”

“Griffin worked on a motorcycle last night for this woman who I’m pretty sure is someone he had sex with before we were together. Is it weird that he would agree to do that for her?”

“Did she pay him?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

“Then I can’t say. Next topic?”

“I’m not done talking about Apple.”

“Apple?”

“That’s her name. Can you believe it? It’s worse than Swayze.”

“Who said Swayze is a bad name?”

“Anyone who is not a liar, hippie, or fan of the original Dirty Dancing.”

“Swayze is a cute name.”

I roll my eyes. “And Apple is sweet.”

“I’m guessing Griffin is in the dog house.” He stops rubbing his head and lets his arm drape over his face.

Drawing my knees to my chest, I hug my legs. “No. We’re just kinda …”

What are we? I don’t know.

“Kinda?”

I sigh. “Going through a rough patch thanks to your childhood friend.”

“Is she giving you trouble?”

I laugh. “That’s an understatement.”

“He doesn’t buy it?” Nate sighs. “Can’t blame him. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t buy it either.”

“I find that hard to believe coming from Professor Albright’s student.”

Nate cracks his eyes open, easing his head to the side, the discomfort etched along his forehead. “How do you know that?”

Rubbing my lips together, I lift my shoulders. “You have her book on reincarnation in your nightstand drawer. And you told me I could snoop, so—”

“That book doesn’t tell you I was her student.”

“True. She told me.”

Nate’s lips part. “How do you know Hazel?”

“Dr. Greyson referred me to her.”

“Why?”

I give him the are-you-serious look.

He nods slowly, eyes fixed on me but unfocused, like his thoughts have taken him to somewhere a long way from this bed. “Is this what you needed to talk to me about?”

I shake my head. “Not exactly. But that can wait until you’re feeling better.”

“Just say it.” He flinches, trying to sit up.

“Just rest.”

“My head hurts too much to rest. Distract me.”

Daisy was murdered is not the right distraction. “Come here.” I straighten my legs and lay one of the pillows on them.

Nate’s gaze shifts between mine and the pillow.

“Head on the pillow, Professor.” I grin.

He eases his head onto the pillow.

“Black.” I run my fingers through his beautiful hair, smiling when it curls around my fingers. This is just one of the many things I’ve wanted to feel with Nate. And just as I imagined, it’s so familiar.

“Black?” He closes his eyes and releases a soft sigh as I stroke his hair.

“I want black bridesmaids’ dresses. I want everything to be simple and elegant. Black dresses and all white flowers, except for my bouquet which will be all red. Sunset wedding. Soft candlelight. Nothing too big, just intimate and … perfect.” I close my eyes for a minute, seeing every single detail with complete clarity.

I don’t know how I can love the comfort and familiarity of Nate’s hair tangled around my fingers but see Griffin standing at the altar with the biggest smile on his face like he can’t wait to spend the rest of his life asking about my days.

“Hmm …” He hums with his face relaxing from the painful grimace that he had just minutes ago. “What else?”

My fingernails tease his scalp before gently working through the tangled locks. “I don’t know. What else will distract you from the pain?”

“Tell me how it feels.”

I chuckle. “Your pain?”

“To be Swayze, but to have these memories of a life before you were ever born.”

I let my fingers slide from his bangs to his eyebrows, brushing the pads of my fingers over the slightly curved line, admiring his long eyelashes resting on his cheeks.