Head Over Boots

13. Crash My Party

"Jesse and Rachelle should be here in ten," Nate tells me as he walks back into the kitchen.

"Okay, what snacks do you want? I've already got popcorn," I indicate to the bowl sitting on the counter.

"Rach will definitely want chocolate, but if you don't have any Jess and I can run to the store," he shrugs.

"Already sorted!" I point out the Hershey's kisses, next to the popcorn.

"You think of everything huh?"

"It's a tradition for me and Tess; Hershey's kisses, popcorn and a movie." I reply as I turn around from getting drinks out of the refrigerator.  "Tonight went well for Charlie, you think?" I ask.

"Definitely," he hums, leaning back on the counter. "Coach wouldn't normally pick the captain this early, so he must see some real promise, he's definitely got the enthusiasm for it too."

"Oh a hundred percent, that boy lives and breathes football. He doesn't seem as interested in the girls and partying as a lot of other football players I've known either. I'm just worried about him going to college so far away. That first year with Luke here, so far away, was hard, really hard." I admit the silent worries I've held since I knew Charlie had the determination to succeed and that nothing would hold him back.

"I get that, it's part of the reason I stayed in Georgia." Nate moves towards me, putting his hands on my shoulders. "It's obvious you guys are close and protective of each other, but he will always have you, no matter the distance." His brown eyes burning into mine.

"Thank you, not just for the pep talk, but for staying tonight and offering to come and get Charlie as well." I hadn't voiced it earlier, not wanting to disrupt Charlie and Luke's plans, but I wasn't keen on picking him up late at night, alone, in an area I didn't know.

"You spend so much time looking after everyone else: Jen, your brothers, your mom. It's time someone looked after you." The tension in the air was snappable. His head angled towards mine as his hands cupped my face, I stood there frozen. Not moving towards him, but not moving away. His head slowly inched towards mine, until a knock at the door interrupted him, causing us both to sigh as he rested his forehead on mine.

"I'll get that, it's probably Jess," Nate pulled away reluctantly, making a cold feeling wash over me.

I braced myself on the counter, taking a few deep breaths, trying to remove the blush from my cheeks.

"Hey, Jess forgot any beer so they've gone to the store," Rachelle walks into the kitchen with a smile on her face. "How are you? Did dinner go well?"

"I'm good. I don't know loads about football but Charlie seemed excited and Nate seemed to think it went well so.." I shrug. "Do you want to get a head start on picking a movie? I've got Netflix but no idea what anyone likes."

"No one is particularly fussy to be honest," she tells me as we pick up the snacks to take into the living room.

"So, what's going on with you and Nate?" Rachelle asks as we sit on the couch, scrolling through movies.

"Jeez, start with easy questions why don't you," I roll my eyes as she laughs.

"No, but, seriously. Are you dating? Just friends? Friends with benefits? Tell me! I know about your daily breakfasts and lunch time visits!" She begs.

"Honestly, there's nothing to tell. We're friends. I visit at lunch time because Jen wants to and it means I get ice cream." I decide to go with the "it didn't actually happen so there's nothing to talk or think about" mentality for the maybe almost kiss in my kitchen.