Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (26 page)

“I can do that. You don’t want to touch my gross legs, and that aloe leaves your hands sticky when you’re done.” She tries to protest as I attempt to rub her legs with aloe.

“Charlotte, lay still and let me help you.” I reprimand her as she finally gives up and lets me near her legs. If this were anyone else, they could do it themselves, but it’s Charlie, so that’s all there is to it. I would do anything for her.

“So, I have a question to ask you.” She bites her lip.

“Keep that up and I’ll kiss you, and right now, I’m trying to worry about your wellbeing and not your kissable lips.” Her lip pops back out. “Why do you seem nervous all of a sudden?” I ask her.

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to take a trip with me next weekend.” She starts twisting her hair as I continue to gently apply the goop to her left leg.

“Depends. If it’s back to the lake, forget it. I’m not being held responsible for damaging your porcelain skin any further,” I tease her.

“No, nothing like that. It’s actually another family dinner in Sacramento. I’m inviting you to come with me.” I look up at her and see that her face is full of hope, but she looks hesitant, too.

“In that case, I think I can manage a nice drive with my favorite person.” I wink at her. I go to start on her right leg now in the silence of the room. Why she chooses now to be speechless, I haven’t a clue. I’m confused, so I question her. “What?”

“I just didn’t think you would want to go, that’s all.”

“Of course I’ll go. I said you couldn’t go back up there unless I took you, remember? So—of course I’ll take you.” She looks slightly crestfallen, and my heart breaks a little at the sight. “Charlie, sweetheart, why the long face?” I ask as I tilt her chin up. “I thought this is what you wanted? I don’t understand.” My brows draw together in concern.

“I wanted you to come because you wanted to, not out of obligation.”

“I don’t feel obligated. I really do want to meet your family,” I immediately reply.

She gives me a small smile and rests her head back on the pillow. “I’m overreacting. Sorry. I feel out of sorts today.”

“Charlie, there’s no need to apologize. Now, be a good patient and let me finish with your legs so I can move on to your arms and face before you eat your soup. I’m not leaving until you do,” I warn her. I see her mouth curve up into a grin, and I know I’ve changed her mood again. “That’s better.” I lean down and kiss her, which causes her to wrap her arms around my neck. I pull back a bit. “You’re not being a good girl.” I tease, and then go back in for a few more kisses.

I spend the rest of the evening caring for her, and just spending time with her. I ask her surface questions about her family, and who she thinks will be at her house. We put on the movie,
50 First Dates
, and watch it all the way through before calling it a night. I’m itching to hold her, but I know I can’t, as I fear I’ll make her body hurt worse.

“Come lock the door behind me, little one.” Once we get to the door, I lean in and whisper, “Even with a water-blistered, sunburned body, you’re still hot.” She rolls her eyes. “Now kiss me, so I can leave you to rest.” She pouts but pushes up on to her toes so she can lean up to kiss me. We break apart all too soon, and I kiss the top of her head before leaving. I stay on the porch for two seconds more when I hear the locks click into place, and then lumber down to my truck and straight for my bed.

“Nate is
finally
going to Sacramento with you?” I hear Halley’s shocked voice in my ear, as I flounder around my bathroom, getting ready.

My body is on edge with anticipation of how tonight is going to go. Nate will meet my family for the first time, and I don’t know how he’s going to react. I’m not worried about my family, but more about Nathan. He’s so closed off and secretive about his own family that I can’t gauge what this will mean for him.

“Yes—finally!” I proclaim triumphantly.

“Wow. I can’t believe he’s actually going this time.”

“Well, he did tell me that the next time he wouldn’t let me go alone, and definitely not in the Honda. Though, I didn’t believe he would seriously follow through with it. At the time, I could only hope that he was serious.” I put the phone on speaker, so I can put the finishing touches of my makeup on and double-check my hair.

“Charlie, don’t be so surprised that he would want to meet your family. You must know by now he has feelings for you, and only you. By heavens, he can’t even take his eyes off you when we’re all out somewhere. He’s got it bad for you, in a good way. Why do you still question it?” She chides me.

“Halls, what would you think? He hasn’t even brought me home to meet his family, let alone talk about them at all. I barely know anything, and it’s been months! I feel like he’s hiding behind our friends and good times, to safeguard his heart. Have you noticed we haven’t had a lot of one-on-one time?” I point out, feeling irritated with her.

She doesn’t say anything for a few moments, so I decide to speak up. I’m trying not to ruin my day with this heavy anvil I carry around with me constantly. “Anyway, I don’t want to overthink it right now. I just want to focus on the positive. He’s coming with me, and it’s a giant step for him. So, I’m determined that all will go off without a hitch!”

“I’m sure whatever is lurking behind his barriers will come out soon. You just need to be patient. He’s happy, and from what Holt says, it’s been a long time since he’s been like this. That means something, Charlie. Don’t make it less than what it is. It’s good, so let’s keep the streak going.”

All of the fiery heat I was building up with this conversation goes right out of me at that. “Right,” I quietly admit. “He should be here soon, and I need to finish up with my hair. I’ll call you later, or tomorrow, depending on when we get back tonight.”

“Sounds good, Charlie. Have fun. Tell your family ‘hi’ for me. Maybe next time, Naomi and I will get an invite to the family table.” She pushes with no subtlety whatsoever.

“I’ll pass the word along, Halls. Why don’t you go out to dinner with Holt?” I try to bring the man issues back around her way. Deep down, I want to be nosey and dig for a little more information about them.

“Maybe. I can’t promise you anything. I can’t even get him to promise
me
anything. It’s —” she’s cut off by an incoming call.

“Hey, that’s my other line ringing. I need to take it. I call you later. Bye!” I don’t wait for her reply, as I click over, knowing exactly who’s calling on the other line.

“Hey—you’re not getting cold feet are you?” I blurt out before he can say anything.

“Hey, little one. No. Why would you think that?” Nate hesitantly asks.

“Oh. Well—” I stammer, worrying my lower lip. “I thought you would be here by now, yet you’re on the phone, calling instead.”

“I’m calling to say I’ll be a few minutes late. I had to stop by my dad’s on the way over.”

“Oh.
Umm
. So, uh—is everything okay?” I don’t even know how to approach that topic, since I feel like I have no right to even ask.

“Yeah, all is well, I was just checking in on everyone. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve been there so—yeah. It was just time, is all. Nothing truly pressing or important. So, hey, listen, I just wanted to say I’m on my way, and to see if you were ready yet?”

“I’m almost ready. Just last-minute touches. Just text when you get here, and I’ll come right down.”

“Charlotte, there will be none of that.” He scolds me. “I plan to come up to the apartment to get you. I better not find your cute butt downstairs waiting.”

That makes me laugh into the phone. “Aye-aye, cowboy. I’ll be good, and wait up here.”

“Darn straight. See you in a few.”

The line goes dead, and I slide the phone back to the counter. I finish up my hair in record time, and then brush my teeth again. I feel a little OCD at the moment, wanting everything to be just right. Not like my breath is a deal-breaker, but still, I can’t help it.
I’m nervous
.

Not too long after, Nathan is at my door, pulling me into a hard, closed-lip kiss. Then we’re locking my door, and walking down to his truck. He lifts me up into the passenger seat, and moments later, we’re on our way.

“Slide over, Charlie.” I gently order her.

She does, and makes herself comfortable next to me, placing her hand on my thigh. Right where I usually place it when we’re together and she’s in this same spot.

“Are you nervous?” She nibbles on her lip, looking up at me.

“No. Should I be? They don’t plan to do any secret initiations, do they?”

She giggles. “No.”

“No secret handshakes? No weird chants? No weird food to test out on me?” She just laughs, and shakes her head. “No weird board game matches with your whole family?” She busts up laughing at that.

“No. Just my sisters, who will try to find out all of your innermost secrets,” she teases.

“
Phew
! Glad I don’t have to turn around and head for the hills, then.”

She nuzzles her head into my arm, then reaches over to flip the stereo on. We drive to her folks’ house in a relaxed mood, ready for whatever the evening has to offer.

Almost an hour later, I pull up to the curb at her parents’ place, and help Charlie out. The minute we set foot onto the porch, the front door swings open, and an older version of Charlie reaches in between us to pull her into a hug. She then hooks me into a hug, as well.

“I’m Natalie, Charlie’s mom.” She says, as she steps back.

“Wow,
Mom
—” Charlie sounds embarrassed. “Couldn’t you have waited until we actually made it
through
the door?”

She winces as she turns to me with an apologetic look on her face.
Can she tell that the hug made me uncomfortable? That I haven’t had a hug from any type of mom in eight years?
I give her a placating smile, and shrug my shoulders as if to say, ‘it’s okay,’ and ‘what can you do about it?’

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to be so forward. I was just so excited to meet you. Charlie never brings
anyone
home.” She gushes, and I automatically tense up. I hope Charlie isn’t paying as much attention to my posture as she is to her mom overdoing the welcome committee routine.