Chapter 63
KATE
"Where are the girls?" Mr. Ryan asks. It was strange to think of Nathan's father that way. "Girls?" I thought Nathan only had one sister.
"They should be coming down soon. Do you think he'll mind that she's here?" Mrs. Ryan asks before Nathan appears in the dining room. "Sit down, dear." His family seemed like they came out of a movie. His parents were extremely friendly. I wonder how Nathan can be their son. His brother apparently isn't much different from their parents.
Nathan stares at the empty chair next to me for a few moments but walks to the opposite side of the table and sits down. I considered it a good choice. Soon after, Stephan appears and sits next to me. I notice the exchange of looks between them, Nathan's somewhat serious while Stephan smiles.
"So, Kate... can I call you Kate?" Stephan asks in a tone of voice that only we can hear at the table, and I nod. "What's the secret to putting up with Mr. Nice Guy?"
"You probably know better than I do."
"You're right. But I didn't have a choice." He laughs.
Nathan talks to his parents without taking his eyes off us. I feel like laughing. Is he jealous of his brother? No. Maybe it's just his usual temperament.
"You better get ready for the show," Stephan murmurs.
"Huh?" I don't understand.
"Watch."
"What?" He doesn't answer but nods his head towards the stairs, where two girls are coming down. One is probably Ellie, Nathan's younger sister, according to what his mother said. I have no idea who the other girl is. They're both beautiful. I turn my gaze away from them to Nathan. He's pale, staring fixedly at the older one. When his gaze meets mine, I feel the tension in his expression. I narrow my eyes but turn my attention back to them.
"Nat! I missed you!" The younger one, who must be Ellie, goes towards Nathan. He stands up to hug her.
"I missed you too, Ellie." He says with a smile.
"My angel, this is Katherine, she works with Nathan." Their mother says as I stand up to greet Ellie, who goes around the table.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ellie." She has light blonde hair and green eyes like her mother, she must be around seventeen years old.
"Katherine, this is Mia. A family friend." Finally, Mrs. Ryan introduces me to the other girl. We exchange a smile and a handshake.
Then we all sit down. Ellie sat next to Nathan and Mia in the empty seat next to me.
"She's Nat's ex," Stephan whispers in an almost inaudible sound. What? I almost choke. I stare at him, thinking I misunderstood. He smiles. I turn my face to the blonde-haired girl next to me. "Don't say anything, I already understand everything by your reaction," he says.
"What?" My thoughts become a mess. Ex? Does he have an ex? Ex-girlfriend? Shit! He never told me this. She's so beautiful. Stephan still smiles.
"You can't fool me, not me," he says.
"I don't understand."
"I figured out there's something between you and Nat." I swallow. Damn! How does he know?
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about." I try to remain calm. But I just want to go home.
"Okay. But I'll only tell you more about Mia if you tell me the truth. It's up to you." He smiles. God! What a dangerous brother.
"I observe Nathan talking to Ellie. He's trying to pretend, but I can see the tension in his whole body and expression." Two girls enter, bringing the food and catching my attention. Stephan makes a joke with one of them that only I can hear, besides the two of them.
"Katherine, were you born here in New York?" Mrs. Ryan gets my attention.
"No, Dallas, Texas."
"How long have you been here, dear?"
"I think a little over three years."
"It must have been quite a change! I still remember when I moved here. It was so difficult to adapt at first, but after a few months, I fell in love with the city."
"The city is wonderful. But I confess that I still don't know it very well. The truth is, I only moved here because of the university."
"I understand, dear. And your family?"
"My father still lives in Texas. My mother passed away a few years ago."
"I'm sorry, dear," I notice the sympathy in her expression.
"I heard that the beers there are amazing," Stephan interrupts, smiling at me, clearly wanting to change the subject.
"Yes, they are."
The conversation flows naturally as we eat, and I try to avoid eye contact with Nathan. I was feeling angry at him for making me go through this. After a while, I just wanted to run away from the table. Something weighed on my chest. I was not part of the family nor their friend. As lovely as they were, the fact that Mia was present made me uncomfortable. It made me wonder if it was a cruel joke by the Ryans.
We finished dinner and were waiting for dessert.
"Can you show me the bathroom?" I ask Stephan.
"Of course," he laughs, then looks at Nathan.
"Excuse me," he says, standing up. "I'll show Katherine the bathroom."
I feel relieved as I leave the table, following him up the stairs, and then down a hallway. I would probably get lost walking alone in such a huge house.
"Do you really need to go to the bathroom, or was it an excuse to ask me something?" Stephan asks.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Okay," he winks before continuing to walk. Damn Ryans, so charming. Why are they so beautiful? After meeting Robert, I realize that Nathan was the only one who inherited his father's incredible blue eyes. Stephan and Ellie looked more like Mrs. Ryan, especially in their facial features. Physically, they were all perfect, tall, and muscular. But Nathan was still the best. And as for Mia, I understand why he dated her once, she was simply beautiful, with her long, blonde, and perfect hair. They made a perfect couple.
"Here," Stephan says, stopping in front of a door.
"Thank you."
"If you need help, just let me know."
"I don't think I'll need it." Stephan is a joke, how can he be so perverted when he just met me? I like him. He's totally different from Ryan in humor. His humor is perverted, but it's clearly honest and innocent in a fun way.
I enter the luxurious bathroom and stand in front of a large mirror. What am I doing here? I want to leave. I could make an excuse, but it would be rude of me. Mrs. Ryan is so kind, I can't do that to her.
Someone knocks on the door.
"I already told you I don't need help, Stephan," I say.
"It's me," Nathan says. What is he doing here?
"I'm coming in," he says. What does he want now? The door opens, and I look at his reflection in the mirror.
"Is there a problem?" I ask, trying to pretend everything is okay.
"Is everything okay?" He's still tense.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"I just wanted to make sure Stephan isn't bothering you."
He's not going to tell me? Is that it? He's not going to tell me that the woman sitting next to me used to be his girlfriend? Is he going to pretend everything is okay?
"I'm fine," I say.
"Can we go back now?"
"Sure," I say, passing by him.
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