Nate(100)

I laughed at that, but this sucked.

“She doesn’t think I love her.”

There was a beat, then, “THEN, OF COURSE, SHE’S PISSED AT YOU! What were you thinking? I love you, but sometimes it’s like you’re emotionally deficient. But you’re a guy. You’re a normal guy—”

“Not like me.”

Blaise had entered whatever room she was in.

I growled. “I don’t need ‘the boy’ to insert his cocky quips right now.”

Blaise laughed in the background. “Tough shit. I’m awake, and I want to hear the drama. Zeke will want a full update.”

Another growl from me. “None of this is getting leaked to your best bud. Not if you want to remain in the family text group.”

Blaise just snorted. “Let’s hear it, Nathaniel. I want to hear how you’ve messed up your relationship before you even made it an official relationship. You hadn’t, right?”

I seriously hated this kid sometimes. “We were enjoying each other, and we weren’t—it went left all of a sudden. We’ve been in a high-stressed environment, figuring out our shit. Her dad’s been threatening us. Then her dancing. Then the car accident. My family was here. It’s been a lot, okay?”

“Dude. Those are all excuses, like literally all of them. A conversation takes minutes.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.” Blaise was smug. “But get to the meat. What happened?”

“He loves her.” From Aspen.

Blaise snorted. “Of course, he loves her. She’s Nova’s now-mom, and he’s banging her. If you don’t love that chick, then you’re a moron. Wait a minute. Nate, you are stupid as fuck sometimes.”

“Ram a stick up your ass, Blaise.” I thought about that. “And don’t make a sexual joke about that. You are with my sister, and she’s right next to you.”

“Ass,” from Nova.

I cursed under my breath. “Let’s hope that’s not one of her new words.”

Aspen started laughing. “You’re at the stage when you need to start watching your language, pops.”

“Thanks,” I bit out.

Aspen said as if I hadn’t been a sarcastic ass, “Also, Blaise won’t. I have my fingers on his tit. If he makes a joke, he’s getting a titty-twister.”

Blaise started laughing until his voice went three octaves higher. “OW! Aspen.”

She was laughing. “We’re here for my brother, not you. Stop flirting.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Move your hand off my leg.”

Blaise growled. “Nate, talk. I’m up, and the titty-twister got me horny. Let’s figure your shit out so I can handle my shit here. And side note, that’s how you handle females. There’s a problem, you deal with it. But you gotta remember, things you don’t think about saying are exactly what you should be saying to them.”

“That makes no sense.” Also, “Stop cursing.”

“It makes perfect sense.”

I clamped my mouth shut, but the growl was there. I couldn’t stop growling, then I heard a softer growl come from Nova’s chair.

I started laughing.

“Was that Nova?”

“Yes.” I was laughing harder. “She’s picking up my habits.”

She growled again, then started laughing.

A layer of tension eased up, but there was so much underneath. My sister was right. I hated to admit this, but I might need some Blaise-wisdom. He did tend to understand women the best out of our family circle.

“Did you tell her you loved her?” From Blaise.

“No.”

“That’s your fucking problem.”

“Stop cursing,” I said.

Aspen spoke up, “Just go back and talk to her. Tell her your feelings. Tell her everything.”

“Clean her jar. Clean your jar. Clean things that you don’t even think are relevant. They’re probably completely relevant.”

“Clean the jar, huh?” What a fucking phrase. I shook my head but hit the turn signal and slowed down.

It was time to head back. Nova was happy, and I had a game plan.

“If you don’t feel emotionally clean, then it’s not clean. Go with that as your guideline and remember, say the shit you don’t think about saying.”

“That doesn’t help him.” She added, “And watch the language with Nova now picking things up. She’s a sponge.”

“I don’t care. About Nate, not Nova. He has to learn. Why are we teaching him how to be in a relationship? He’s ancient compared to us.”

“Because he’s been a fuckboy most of his life.”

“Aspen.” My mouth was open. “I can’t believe you called me that.” And also, “Language.”

“Sorry. So sorry. It’s—I was around Logan and Taylor a lot last week. He kept telling her he was an eff-boy when he was young, just like you. She kept saying, ‘I know. I don’t get why you keep telling me this.’ And it’d repeat. I have no idea what was going on, so I was quiet, but I picked up the word.”

“You know who else is a reformed fuck—AH! That hurt! Fine. Eff-boy?”