Chapter 24

“I promise you it didn’t.” She was on her feet, walking towards him. She only ever thought of him as a friend, she had no other feelings for Carter. Nate took two steps back and she froze. He wasn’t ready to be close to her.

“When did these conversations occur?” he questioned, going back over to the bed and sitting down. He needed a break, the adrenaline coursing through his veins were lowering in their dosage. He felt giddy from exhaustion and stress.

“We really only spoke at night—” She explained. She used that friendship as a placer holder for the times she was missing Nate.

“When I wasn’t around.” He turned his head from side to side and laughed sardonically. He didn’t think she had a sneaky bone in her body but he was wrong. He’d finished scrolling through the messages and saw that she didn’t flirt with Carter, but it was obvious the man was interested in her. At the best, she entertained him and that was enough to boil Nate’s blood.

“It was an escape, a friendship to help me pass the time while I waited for you.” She said, her eyes begging him to believe her.

“You see what your sister has been put through as a result of sneaky links and you had no sense but to do the same thing you condemn.” He raked his fingers through his hair and resisted the urge to smack himself on the face. He was finding it hard to stay awake.
Amber could no longer hold her tears back. She inhaled deeply and turned; her profile alone visible to him. She would never live this down if he saw her cry. He was right, she had screwed up and as a result she had no reason to be hurt.

“When did you end your friendship?” Nate questioned, having already read the messages he wanted to hear it from her. He laid all the way back on the bed, the mattress drawing him in deeper and deeper.

“About two weeks ago,” She cleared her throat. She desperately wanted to stop taking about Carter but she had to give Nate the opportunity to receive closure. “He said he wanted to meet up and that he had been developing feelings for me and that’s when I told him we couldn’t be friends anymore.”

“So that message I read, the very first one that brought all this about, referred to him wanting to video chat?” She nodded, a silent yes escaping her lips. He knew that video chatting wasn’t as bad as if she had actually met up with him, but it rubbed him the wrong way that she kept it a secret. If there was nothing suspicious, wouldn’t she have told him?

“Why didn’t you mention a new friend?” his voice was sounding hoarse to his own ears. “I have never asked you to refrain from talking to anyone you want.” He reminded her. He’d thought their relationship was so secure that he didn’t have to worry about her entertaining another man, clearly he was wrong.

“Because I would have to explain how I felt and I didn’t know how to and I also thought you wouldn’t take me seriously.” She responded, looking at his sprawled out body on the bed. She desperately wanted to curl up next to him, she knew he was exhausted and her heart ached.

“All I do, Amber, is work so that I can build a life with you. I have loved you from the moment I met you and I continue to love you. Have I ever done anything to make you think you cannot talk to me?” he was appalled by her reasoning. It made absolutely no sense.

“No, you are right. It was an unreasonable reaction.” She didn’t know what she was thinking, all the thoughts and feelings in her head at the time had made so much sense, now that she was talking about it with him, she realised how dumb she’d been.

“Would you ever have told me?” He propped up on his elbows and gazed at her.

“I did plan too, but then when he revealed his intentions I was scared to say anything.” She was afraid that he’d think she was flirting with someone else, so she decided to keep it as a secret. That of course did backfire; she could have saved them so much heart ache if she’d just been honest.

“Because you were condoning it,” Nate relaxed his elbows and sank his upper body back on the bed.

“I really wasn’t unfaithful to you.” She said again. She may have appreciated the attention but she had no intentions of returning Carter’s feelings.

“But you did disrespect our relationship.” Nate stared at the ceiling fan above head. “I have never once given you a reason to be upset with me with regards to another female, because I know that you are the only one I want.” He muttered mostly to himself. He’d been unapproachable despite his work requiring him to be friendly because he never wanted to give anyone the wrong impression and he wasn’t afforded the same curtsey.

“You are all that I want, I promise and I beg you to give me another chance.” She had found herself on the bed, kneeling on the side of him. She watched him as his eyes roamed the ceiling as if he was counting each tile.

“My job isn’t going to change; there will always be times where you feel as though I am not giving you enough attention, will this always happen?” He wondered if he would ever be able to forget and trust her again. Forgiveness would come in time but forgetting was a whole other feat and he didn’t want to turn into some overbearing boyfriend.

“I know that, and I won’t make this mistake again. I never want to lose you.” She’d taken the chance to hold his hand after he didn’t move away from her this time. “I just missed you, Nate.” She inhaled as he turned his head to look at her. His eyes roaming her face. “I want to have more days of staying in with you, talking and cuddling. I know I am being ridiculous—”

“You think I don’t want that too?” he jerked upwards instantly, still holding onto her hand.

“For an entire month now, I made my application for my vacation and now that I am home for a month, you and I are in this state.” He was staring down at their intertwined hands. He loved her, he felt relieved that she hadn’t actually cheated on him but there was hurt and disappointment that they needed to work through/

“Home for a month?” she echoed, her eyes misting over.

“From today.” He nodded. He’d wanted to propose and start making arrangements with her but now those plans were set back. He couldn’t ask her to marry him when they had to re-establish trust in their relationship.

“I am so sorry. I really cannot lose you.” A single tear flowed from her eyes. He wiped it away with his thumb.

“I have no intentions of leaving, Amber. However, I need a few days to sort out my latent anger.” He squeezed her hands, hoping she would understand.

“I understand.” She nodded, more tears flowing from her eyes.

“I don’t know how to fully trust you.” He revealed, he knew it was hard for her to hear but relationships were about hard truths. She’d pressed her eyes shut at hearing his words.

“I won’t ever keep anything from you again. I made one mistake and I am not asking you to forgive me right away, but give me the chance to prove myself to you.” She fell on him, her arms going around his neck and her head resting on his chest.

“I’ll be staying in one of our guest bedrooms until then.” He whispered, running his hands over her head.

****
“I’ve made my decision.” Mia didn’t bother with any greetings. Once Gabriel picked up the phone she said what she had to say—before she lost the nerve. She also didn’t want to leave any room for him to make any small talk.

“Let’s hear it then.” He snickered, leaning back on his chair as he waited for her response. He was at work while she called.

“I am coming back.” She’d used her lunch break to have this conversation with him.

“And should I take you back?” He questioned, a tiny smile playing on his lips. Mia clenched her jaw as she banged a pen against her desk.

“I think you should. Who else will watch our daughter while you frolic about?” she spat acid. It was enough that he was forcing her to stay in their marriage, now he had the audacity to act as if she was the one begging him.

“Careful pet, you are not in a position to use that tone with me.” His voice was dangerously sweet. Mia could tell that he was enjoying himself.

“When can I come back?” she exhaled, the wording spilling out like vomit.

“Tonight.” He pretended to consider this for a bit, “Our daughter misses her mother.” He drawled teasingly. Mia rolled her eyes. Everything she was doing was for her daughter. She had to remember that.

“I’ll be there after I pack up all of my things.” She said, ready to end the call.

“Don’t be too late.” He said in a sing-song voice that reminded her of a deranged person.