I nod. “Which is why I need to take a step back from your case with Frankie.” His brow furrows. “Kayla, will take over. She has a lot of experience with cases like yours. You know I wouldn’t hand it over to her if I didn’t think she would take care of you.”
He puts a hand on my arm. “Nate, it’s okay. I understand and so will Harmony.”
I swallow down my guilt and smile. “I guess you better get on in there. Hopefully she’ll take to you being there better than she did with me.”
He stands. “She’ll get there, she’s hurting.”
I give him a tight smile and watch as he walks into her room. I know she’s hurting, but I’m hurting, too.
Nate takes ahold of my hand, bringing it to his lips, his gaze not moving from mine as he places a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
The air around us crackles with tension so palpable I’m sure I can almost see it.
I step toward him, laying my hand on his shoulder. “I love you,” I whisper before lifting up onto my tiptoes and pressing my lips against his.
His arms snake around my waist, pulling me against him as he takes control of the kiss.
I can’t remember the last time I was kissed like this. He makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world that matters, like I’m his oxygen and his only way of surviving.
He pulls back and opens his mouth, his lips moving but no sound coming out.
“Nate?” I ask, my smile starting to slip as his gaze bats around us in panic.
He tries to talk again, but no sound comes out.
“Nate?” I ask again, my voice louder this time as I grip onto his biceps. “What’s going on?”
He shakes his head as he slowly steps back, hanging his head as some invisible force pulls him away from me.
“Nate!”
I reach for him, but the closer I try to get, the farther he moves away from me.
His head lifts and his eyes focus on mine, pain and sorrow reflected in their depths before he shakes his head and mouths, “I’m sorry.”
My eyelids spring open, the dream slowly dissipating as I search the hospital room for Nate. His coat hangs over the same chair he’s been sitting in for the last seven weeks, but there’s no sign of him. I must’ve fallen asleep when he left to get me water.
My heart starts to pound faster in my chest the longer he’s not here. It doesn’t matter that I’ve hardly spoken to him, I still selfishly need him here by my side.
I hate to admit it, but after waking up and him not being here, it hits me like a ton of bricks. I need him; more than I ever thought possible. He’s stayed true to his word and hasn’t left me as of yet, but there’s still a niggling voice in the back of my head telling me it’s only a matter of time.
“Hey,” someone murmurs from the other side of the bed
. I jump out of my skin, a squeak leaving me as my gaze lands on Tris.
“How long—” My voice breaks so I clear my throat. “How long have you been sitting there?”
His lips lift up into a small grin. “I’ve been staring like a creeper for the last hour.” I nod, my gaze still batting around the room and landing back on Nate’s coat. “He’s gone to the cafeteria,” Tris tells me, almost like he can read my thoughts. “He only just left.”
I don’t answer him, instead just staring at his gray eyes.
“How you feeling?” He shakes his head as soon as the words are out and runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry, I don’t know why I said that.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper, moving my hand closer to him. He takes the invitation and grasps it in both of his.
Silence wraps around us as we stare at each other before I tear my gaze from his, looking over at the painting for what feels like the thousandth time.
“Harmony?” he asks, and when I look back at him I see the glint in his eye and the secret smile on his face as he stares at it too.