Chapter 36
“You’re ” Nathan clears his throat. “You’re really good at this.”
I chuckle softly. “This is nothing; I’ve lost count of how many injuries I’ve treated in my life.”
“June gets hurt a lot?”
I stiffen slightly. It’s expected that his first thought is June. But in reality, the cuts and scrapes I treated were my parents‘.
They used to get hammered regularly and got injured in a variety of ways–through bar fights featuring broken bottles and occasionally knives, by slipping and falling everywhere, and my personal favorite: playing darts and using themselves as targets.
Thanks to them, I know how to treat various injuries, even down to stitching wounds.
The idea of telling Nathan all those ugly details of my life makes my stomach churn, and I have to swallow to force bile back down my
throat.
Just as I’m feeling the tiniest bit closer to Nathan Ashford, I have to go and be reminded of one of the hundred million reasons why he and I are worlds apart.
“Yeah,” I say flatly.
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Chapter 36
“How is she?”
I look up to see him glancing at my sleeping sister.
“She’s good,” I reply.
I’ve tried not to think too hard about the allergy incident and all the suspicions surrounding it. I’ve also tried not to look for Nathan to press him for new information after he promised to help investigate.
But he’s here now, and he brought her up.
“Um, speaking of which,”—I shrug, trying to come off as nonchalant –“have you found anything out about her accident?
A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he diverts his gaze from June.
“Not yet.”
I frown slightly. I know I don’t know Nathan well enough to deduce his expressions, but he looks…guilty.
I don’t know if he feels guilty because he hasn’t found anything out or if he feels guilty because he has found something and is lying about it.
I revert my focus to his hand as I apply band–aids to the necessary
cuts.
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Chapter 36
“I’m done,” I say quietly, setting his hand on his lap.
Nathan looks at his hand, and something like awe crosses his face. “Thank you,” he says.
“Anytime,” I answer. “And thank you again–for saving me.”
He nods. “Anytime.”
I chuckle awkwardly. “That’s good to know, in case Peter tries to trample me with any more horses.”
Nathan laughs, and the sound curls my toes. I stare at him in disbelief. I’ve heard him laugh before–countless times in high school, that night at the hospital with June.
But never with me–or because of me.
And I know I need to stop idolizing Nathan because he’s a human boy, not a deity, but I feel like I’ve unlocked a special level that makes me more worthy.
He freezes mid–laugh when he notices I’m staring.
I blink, suddenly feeling scrutinized and exposed. I grab the bowl with suddenly shaky hands and stand.
“Um, I didn’t–sorry, I-”
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Nathan stands at the same time, leaving next to no space between us. The sudden proximity sends all my systems into overdrive, and I lose control of my…well, everything.
With a squeak, I jerk back, forgetting the stool behind me. I lose my balance and begin to fall backward.
I see Nathan’s eyes widen, and he reaches for me, pulling me towards him. Thanks to the bowl of water in my hand, he’s unable to get a proper grip, and both of us lose our footing.
The next thing I know, the world tilts on its axis. The bowl slips out of my grip, spilling water over both of us as we fall.
And then, for the second time today, I land on the floor with Nathan Ashford.
This time, I’m on top.
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Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
