When I'm with You (Hope Town #3)(52)

“Hey,” he hums in my ear as the sound of shuffling papers comes over the line.

“You know, pretty soon I’m going to be sleeping on roses.”

He laughs.

“Thank you, honey.”

“You sound happy,” he muses softly.

“And you sound tired. Do you need anything?”

He’s quiet for a second, more paperwork shifting around. “Just you, Em. I’ll be over later, but don’t wait up.”

“It’s wine night with Nikki, so there’s a good chance I’ll still be up when you leave Dirty.”

“I hope so. I miss my girl.”

I laugh. “It’s been two days, Nate.”

“Two long-as-f*ck days.”

I don’t respond because he’s right. Instead, I change the subject.

“My mom asked if I would be at family dinner tonight. I told her no, but … uh,” I trail off, not sure how to word what I really want to ask. Something I’ve been wondering, but not willing to ask and add to his stress.

“I got the same call from my mom. Not a surprise, but her question was actually whether we would be at family dinner.”

“Uh …”

He chuckles deeply. “Em, what did you think was going to happen? You’re not just some new girlfriend she’s gotten wind of.”

“Girlfriend,” I echo on a squeak.

His hilarity grows, but I sense it’s more sarcastic at this point. “Yeah, Ember. Figured that was clear.”

“You just hadn’t said and I … well, I didn’t want to assume any titles had been placed.”

“Yeah, I have, and now, I’m working on showing. Titles were placed the second you came on my cock, Ember. See you later, baby.”

His disconnect is instant, and I pull the phone away wondering if I just screwed up by being all nervous and unsure.

My next call was to Nikki.





“So let me get this straight … he sent you almost five hundred roses this week?”

I take a sip of my third glass of wine and look over at Nikki. She’s about to fall off the couch as she leans forward with wide, excited eyes.

“Actually, it was four hundred and thirty-two. Not that I counted or anything.”

“Holy shit.” She gasps.

“I know. What does that even mean?”

“That’s so romantic!” she screams, ignoring me.

I thought Nikki would be able to help me figure out what my mind couldn’t, her experience with men being a lot more than the few short-term boyfriends I’ve had since high school, but I didn’t think she would turn into a squealing and screaming freak fest.

“Yeah, but what does it mean?!”

She stops bouncing and narrows her eyes. “What does it mean? Oh my God, Em! If that isn’t the grandest of gestures to show someone you love them, I don’t know what is!”

“Love?”

Her expression gets a little crazy at that. Her eyes turn into angry little slits, as her head tilts to the side, and I can picture the wheels churning in her head. “Are you blind! Hell, I shouldn’t be shocked you’re confused when just last week I had to remind you of what the chemistry between the two of you would be like. Something, I might add, I was right about if the sounds that woke me up that night are anything to go by. Stop questioning his actions and just see them for what they are. He’s trying to make up for the past by showing you how he feels first. My guess is that he’s now the one worried about saying he loves you.”

“Nikki, we haven’t even been together for a month.”

“And you’ve loved him for years. He made it very clear that he has had feelings for you just as long. Stop overthinking it and just enjoy the ride. You guys are being forced to date a little unconventionally with him being the uber-busy owner of the brand new most popular club around and all. If this were a normal beginning to a relationship, you guys would have been on a bunch of dates and you would be able to see how right I am.”

I let her words sink in, and I have to admit she’s right. It’s been almost three weeks and had he not been so busy, my reservations wouldn’t be warranted.

“Maybe he’s waiting for me to say it?”

“So say it.”

“You make it sound so easy.” I laugh.

“What are you really all worked up about because I know it isn’t the fact that he’s sent you a ridiculous amount of roses.”

“God, Nik. When he mentioned his mom asking about both of us, I freaked. I mean I know it’s going to happen with us what we are now, but he had made it such a big deal when he rejected me. He said they wouldn’t understand. How is it any different now?”

“Yeah, well, when he said it, he was probably right. A lot has changed in three years. You’re not just a teenager fresh out of high school. You’ve been to art school, finishing well ahead of time. You have one hell of a career as an established artist now. You’re an adult and even if your parents or even his thought something of you two being together, they have no say in it.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll have a say in it.” I can picture my dad having a lot to say about it, actually. “I guess I’m really worried that he’s going to cut and run when it comes down to standing up together in front of them.”