Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 26 - Let's Talk... Let's Not

He runs his hand through his long hair, brushing it out of his face. "It was okay. Boring." He simply states and I wait for more, but no more words come.

I place the two plates of lasagna and silverware down in front of us and take a seat beside him at the counter.

"Thanks," he smiles and kisses me quickly on the cheek before digging into the food. His small gesture makes me smile and my eyes linger on him for a second more before I start eating as well.

"So, tell me about your day," he asks, raising his eyebrows at me as he wipes the side of his mouth with a napkin.

"It was great. But I would rather hear about your day." I reply.

"Why?" He stares at me.

"Why not?" I ask and shrug. He doesn't look like he's about to speak so I continue. "I was thinking about how little I know about you."

"You know plenty about me." He says quickly in a defensive tone.

This isn't going how I wanted it to.

I look down to my hands in my lap to avoid his intense gaze. "Well, not really. But I know that isn't our arrangement. I just feel like when we do talk... which isn't much..." I wink at him trying to lighten the mood but his face remains a brick wall, making me gulp nervously. "When we do talk, it's usually you asking about me. I want to learn more about you..."

He looks away and fidgets with his knife and fork on the counter.

"Like what?" he asks.

"I don't know. Anything. Something. Where do you work?" I ramble, trying to pull just one thing to know about him to make me feel better. I don't know what brought my curiosity up but his defensiveness at me asking only makes me want to know more, not less.

"What does it matter?" He replies vaguely as he turns back to look at me. Gone is the Nathan from my bedroom. This version reminds me of right before our first date when I heard him on the phone with his brother. 

And I don't like it.

Why won't he tell me where he works?

Maybe he is embarrassed that it isn't fancy or whatever. I've dated guys in the past that were self conscious because of my parent's wealth that they didn't have. The only person I didn't have that problem with actually was Dean because his parents - and now himself - are well off too... no, Emily, don't think about him now, just when his voice left your head.

"I'm not asking for the world here, Nathan. I just asked what you do for work." I say a bit more impatiently, his secrecy starting to bother me.

His face softens a little at my tone. "You're right, sorry." He says quietly and I nod once. "I bartend during the weekdays."

I nod and smile, satisfied. I take another bite of the lasagna in front of me as I search for something else to talk about.

"How is your brother?" I ask after swallowing.

"Huh?" He squints his eyes at me with a puzzled look as he eats the last bite form his plate.

My eyebrows furrow as I look at him, confused. "Your brother. You were arguing, remember, a few weeks ago? Did you make up?"

He blinks at me for a second then swallows. "Oh... yeah... we're good now."

There's a look in his eye that tells me not to press further, that he doesn't want to discuss it, but I can't stop my next words before they come out.

"What were you fighting about?" I ask and his face instantly hardens again. I flush a little under his stare.

"Nothing important." He says vaguely and then gets up off the chair. "Listen, thanks for the food but I have to get going. It's getting late."

The microwave says 7pm...

My face falls as he grabs his coat off the couch. It can't be a coincidence he is leaving right after I asked about his life. If anyone knows 'not wanting to talk about a brother', it's me... but I would never react like this. It must be something else.

"Alright." I don't stop him.

"I'll call you tomorrow." He looks back at me from the couch.

I give him a small fake smile. "Alright," I say again.

"Have a good night." He returns the tight smile and I nod silently.

He disappears into the hallway and I hear the front door open and close a moment later, leaving me alone with my spinning thoughts.

What did I say wrong?

Author's Note:

Hopefully this chapter isn't too confusing/random. I wanted to make it a little confusing because it's told from Emily's POV and she is confused so hopefully it still makes sense.

A reader mentioned to me that there hasn't been a lot of drama since the dinner chapter. SO here is some conflict for you if that's what you like. And more will be coming in a few chapters (hopefully will post those by next weekend - they are written, just have a few in between to write first to catch up)

Next chapter will be a little different. Her friends will be over for a girls night in. I think Emily deserves some girl time... she has enough boys to deal with on the daily.

Thanks for reading!!

Please vote, comment, and share!