Begin Again || Nate Maloley

|| Chapter 15

"Wait here one second, I'm gonna change clothes, okay?" I made my father take a seat in the living room and I hurried off to my side of the house.

When I made it back to my room, Nate was sprawled out across my bed. His hand rested on his stomach and nothing was covering his naked body...at all. He was completely knocked out and I hated to have to wake him. Honestly, I just wanted to watch him sleep as sunlight peeked around the edges of my drawn shades and onto his chest.

"Nate," I sighed. No response, so I nudged him. "Skate."

He groaned and did a fake cry. "Damn lil mama, didn't you have enough? That was like...4 rounds." He turns over, burying his head in the pillow.

"...Yes," I said, but not in response to him. It was an automatic response to the sight of his perfect ass. I really didn't know, it was the first word that came to mind and my eyes were glued to it. I shook out of it and nudged him again. "Seriously, get up. My dad's here."

His head shot up. "What?"

"My dad," I exclaimed.

"Shit."

He got up as I undressed, giving him his clothes back. He smiled as he viewed my naked body.

"I'm glad you're so comfortable," he chuckled.

"Shut up." I quickly threw on a bra, underwear, sweater & pants that were draped on my yellow chair. "I'm far from comfortable right now."

"Somethin' I said?"

"Not at all. It's my father. If you think my mother is nice then you're in for a rude awakening with him. He's always deadset on getting his way. It's about to be like Meet the Parents up in here."

Nate's face went from sleepy to full of panic. "Shit, okay. I'm gonna run across the hall and find somethin' better to wear. Just...calm down. If you're calm, I'm calm." He kisses me on the forehead before heading to his room.

I sprayed perfume on myself...and in my room. I even cracked a window open because it smelled like Nate's cologne mixed with his sweat. Soon I heard arguing...mom was home. We can't have a single day with those two in the same room without bickering going on.

"Liv!" I heard her shout. "I ordered take-out! Sorry I'm late!"

"Be there in a minute!" I shouted back.

Like magic, Nate and I stepped out of our rooms at the same time. He put on a nice blue button-up and quickly combed his hair. I nod with approval and squeeze his hand as we walk down the long hallway. The anxiety was setting in and killing me.

"Oh Nate, don't you look nice?" My mother said as we emerged from the hallway.

"Who's this," my father asked with a quizzical brow.

"This is-"

"Her boyfriend," my mother interrupted with attitude. "And he's spending Christmas with us."

My dad stood up and walked toward us. Now it was Nate doing the hand-squeezing. Who would've thought tough-boy Skate had so many fears. But I understood, like he said, he never 'met the parents' before.

"Hello Sir," Nate spoke with little to no emotion. "Pleasure to meet you." Nate extended his hand but my father didn't shake it. He looked him up & down.

"You two were alone in this house?" He asks us.

"Dad," I shook my head. "We're both 21, I think we're allowed to be alone in houses."

"You're 21 when I say so, young lady," he replied.

"Enough nonsense," my mother called out. "Liv, Nate, can you come help me set everything up before your brother and aunt get here? Leave them alone, Silas."