Chapter 166
KATE
I went up to the room when we arrived at his parents' house. Nathan stayed downstairs, looking for someone. I changed clothes and found Stephan in the hallway.
"Kate! You're back already?" He hugged me.
"Yeah, I have to accompany my father to the airport in the afternoon. You disappeared yesterday after lunch. Where were you?"
"Doing guy stuff. Has your friend returned from New Jersey?"
"Guy stuff? Wait... how do you know Lisa is in New Jersey?"
"I've been trying to take her out for a while. How was the trip with Mr. Kindness?"
"Much better than I expected, actually. Why aren't we walking?" He was standing in front of me.
I crossed my arms over my chest, suspecting his restlessness.
"Yeah, did you like the beach?"
"Why are you trying to stall me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Damn. I guess I'm not good at this."
Nathan appeared from the stairs.
"Thank God!" Stephan groaned.
"What?" I didn't understand anything. Nathan seemed tense.
"We need to talk."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"Good luck," Stephan said before going down the stairs.
"Let's go to the room," Nathan said, taking my hand.
"Damn it, just tell me."
"I will."
We entered his room, and he closed the door.
"So?"
"Mia is here."
What? His ex-girlfriend? Okay. That didn't impress me. It seemed that Mrs. Ryan liked her a lot, and it was the Christmas holiday, so it was normal for her to pay a visit, although she didn't know she was in town.
"That's fine." I shrugged. "Did you think I'd freak out about it?"
"It's not just that."
What else could it be?
"Tell me already!"
"My mom invited her on the trip. I think she felt sorry for her because her parents are always traveling."
"And she said yes?" He nodded.
What the hell?
"Does she know that we're together? Why on earth would she accept?"
What kind of woman would accept that, knowing that her ex-boyfriend is with someone else?
"She knows." Nathan shrugged.
I sat on the bed.
"This can't be real."
"Sorry."
"Honestly... I don't know what your mother was thinking."
"Forgive my mother; she was thinking about Mia, not us."
"This is going to be... extremely uncomfortable. Do we really have to go?"
"Sorry, baby."
"I don't know much about this woman, but for God's sake! Who would accept something like this?"
"I don't know why she did it. I understand that she likes my family..."
"Do you think she's trying something?"
"No, I made it very clear that what we had is in the past."
"And you think she accepted?"
"Maybe she just doesn't want to be alone."
Then she can go to hell. Stop being petty, Kate; you don't know her, and he might be right.
"Damn it."
"I'm sorry for this." He came closer, holding my face in his hands.
"I'm trying not to freak out."
"Let's pretend she won't be there."
"But she will be. Can't you tell her not to go?"
"That would be a bit rude, don't you think?"
"I don't know. If I were in her place, I would never have accepted something like this."
What an inconvenient woman.
"Are you jealous?"
"Don't provoke me now."
I went downstairs next to Nathan. Mia was sitting on the garden veranda with Ellie. My father and Robert were talking on a distant couch. I approached to kiss my father and greet Nathan's father.
"Kate!" Ellie called.
I turned to see the two blondes sitting there. I waved my hand before approaching.
"Hello!"
"How was the trip?" Ellie asked. "What do you think of the cottage?"
"It was great. The place is amazing."
"Yes! I love that place. Oh, did you already know? Mia is going on the trip with us."
"Yes, I heard." I forced a smile.
Mia looked visibly uncomfortable. Her beauty was undeniable.
"It's going to be fun! I heard Ben will be there, and Mary, your friend, too."
"Yes."
"Kate?" Nathan came up behind me to save me from there, taking me away.
He told me they had dated for almost two years. It was hard to imagine Nathan as someone's boyfriend, and it was also hard not to worry about the feelings he had for her. But I believed he loved me; I knew Nathan would never say it if it weren't true. So why should I worry? She seemed harmless.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with my father. Later, Nathan insisted on driving to the airport to see him off.
It was always hard to say goodbye. But part of me was happy that he was allowing himself to get to know someone. Even though he would never love anyone the way he loved my mother, he was trying to be happy.
I promised myself I would visit him more often. At least once every two months, if work allowed me to.
I was impressed by how naturally they managed to converse during the trip, considering they both had strong personalities and were difficult to deal with. Well, I loved them both, and they would have to find a way to deal with it.
The boarding announcement was made, making me feel a tightness in my chest. I hugged my father.
"Take care, okay? I'll visit you as soon as possible."
"You too, my love." He turned to Nathan and offered his hand. "Take care of her. If you hurt her, I'll come to New York to kick your ass, Ryan."
Nathan laughed, shaking the offered hand.
"Dad!"
"Now I see where she got that temper from. Trust me, I'll do the impossible to make sure she's okay. Have a safe trip, Mr. Collins."
I hugged my father one last time before watching him leave. Nathan hugged me as we watched him board the plane.
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