Chapter 125
Eliana gave Irene a bewildered look as she watched her laughing so hard she was bent over and shaking “What’s wrong with you? Why are you laughing so hard?”
As she spoke, Eliana couldn’t help but reach up and gently wipe her own face, thinking maybe she’d gotten something on it while searching for someone.
But that only made Irene laugh even harder, nearly losing her breath.
Eliana finally gave up and just waited for Irene to finish laughing
Seeing how serious Eliana looked, Irene finally managed to stifle her laughter and said. “It’s nothing, really. I just can’t get over how you two have this uncanny connection.
“You know, when Nathan asked me to help out before, he pulled the same move. I ended up helping myself to two bottles of his booze,
“Well, I guess what goes around comes around. Who would’ve thought you’d be bribing me with booze just to get me to take
him home?
“Honestly, with you two acting like this, I wouldn’t be shocked if the bar runs out of booze before it even opens, just because you keep giving it all to me,” Irene joked.
Hearing Irene’s obvious teasing, Eliana couldn’t resist clamping a hand over her mouth. “Alright, alright, go pick your drink. Once you’re done, let’s hurry up and get him home.”
Irene followed and helped Eliana get Nathan into the car.
Once she got back behind the wheel, Irene watched as Eliana got into her own car. She quickly rolled down her window and called out, “Wait, for real? You’re actually leaving me to take him home by myself?
“It’s just him and me alone in the car, and he’s drunk out of his mind. Isn’t that a little inappropriate?
“Eliana, aren’t you way too trusting of us?” Irene teased.
Eliana sat in her car and glanced at Irene. “Why wouldn’t I be relaxed about it?”
Then she caught herself, realizing something felt off. “I mean, look at him. He’s so wasted, and there’s no way he’s getting up to any trouble,”
Irene burst out laughing, totally exasperated. “Fine, maybe I’ll jus toss him out halfway. Bet you’ll be crying your eyes out
Eliana just grinned. “Whatever, drop him wherever you want. Her your problem now. I’m outta here.”
With that, she fired up her car and drove off.
‘I swear, there’s just no dealing with her, Irene thought, completely at a loss.
Just as Eliana sped off and frene was about to start her own car, than, in the backseat, suddenly sat up.
Irene caught a glimpse of Nathan sitting up in the rear–view mirror, and for a moment, it almost scared the bell out of her.
She pressed a hand to her chest trying to steady her heartbeat, en turned to Nathan. Are you trying to scare me to death? Serioudy, are you sober now or what?”
Nathan glanced up at her. “I’ve been awake for a while. I woke up when she was shaking me around
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Chapter 125
Irene got curious, her eyes lighting up. “So, you were just faking it? Hoping Eliana might take advantage of you while you were ‘passed out?
Nathan’s face twitched for a second, but he shot back, trying to sound tough. “Honestly, Eliana shouldn’t be worried about you. She should be worried about me. If only she knew the wild stuff you have running through your head all day.”
Worried about you? Please, bro code. I know better than to mess with a friend’s guy,” Irene said, rolling her eyes.
Irene said seriously, “Honestly, your hidden stash of booze is way more tempting than your looks.”
Seriously, you really don’t hold back. Did you bring your whole collection of top–shelf stuff from home?” Irene teased.
Talk about dedication,” Irene added.
Nathan didn’t say anything, just gazed out the window with a hint of grievance in his eyes.
He really had put in all that effort, but the person who was supposed to get it just didn’t.
As for those who weren’t supposed to understand, whatever. At least someone out there did.
With that in mind, Nathan glanced at Irene and said, “Since Eliana gave you the green light, go ahead. Pick whichever bottle catches your eye?
Irene gave a sheepish laugh. “You guys are making me feel kinda guilty here. If you two keep getting hammered like this, am I gonna end up with all the booze in this bar?”
Instead of heading out for a bottle, Irene shot Nathan a look and said, “So, now that you’re not wasted, where am I supposed to take you?
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just get a driver later,” Nathan said, already opening the door to hop out.
Irene shot him a worried look. “Seriously, you’re not gonna get drunk again and crash here, right?
For real, if you get into any trouble today, Eliana’s totally gonna pin it on me,” Irene said.
Nathan gave a wry little smile. “She’s just talking. It’s not like she actually cares about me.”
Nathan, what are you saying? Are you seriously thinking of giving up on Eliana?” Irene blurted out, her voice laced with
worry,
Irene, suddenly anxious, jumped out of the car and rushed over to block his path. “Hold on, you need to spell it out for me. What did you mean by that just now?
“You’ve been so caught up in her divorce lately, I honestly thought you still had a thing for her I’ve been busy trying to set
you two up.
Nathan, you know Kliana’s been through a lot because of marriage. If she doesn’t mean much to you anymore, or you don’t love her like you used to just tell me straight.
I wouldn’t blame yrau, really. It’s been ten years, and Eliana’s got her own family now If you’ve given up on her, that’s totally waderstandable.
All task so at you be honest with me. Don’t make me look like fool, trying to push you two together, only for you to tell we grab don’t even are about try anyinare just step stringing her along and lurting her okay
Aiver Inge tinished Nathu sighed deeply, his coure earsal Offourse I care about hes I never stopped few collit ! sop being tes?
Feat. I dearst By Wathian suid, sighing quietly. Forget Kelly, thanks for core all the way on hers today C diseas
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Chapter 125
pick whichever bottle you want.”
Nathan looked like he wanted to say more but held back, so Irene decided to let it go for now.
Whatever was going on between them wasn’t the kind of thing you could fix with a couple of sentences.
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But seeing Nathan so serious about letting her pick a bottle, Irene couldn’t help but laugh, both amused and a little helpless.
“Forget it, I’ll just leave all this booze that’s technically mine here. I wouldn’t dare keep so much in my rented place. It’s not exactly safe.
“Just let me store it at your place for now. I’ll swing by and grab it whenever I need it,” Irene said.
Nathan nodded and headed inside the bar with her.
Sitting on the couch and thinking back to when Eliana came over. Nathan felt his heart was in total turmoil.
Honestly, in that instant when she shook him awake, all he wanted was to hold her tight and never let go.
But as much as he wished, turning back the clock to ten years ago with Eliana was never going to be that simple.
The journey ahead stretched out before him, and all he could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time.
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