Legacy: Wolf Child

Chapter Ten

The destination we decided on was a small restaurant by the sea front. It offered a nice view and was quiet on a weeknight. However I knew that our disappearance from the party wouldn't go unnoticed. Sat on a suede chair overlooking the ocean glimmering in moonlight, it was romantic. The lighting was low and there was a candle flickering between us. However we weren't drinking wine and this wasn't a date as far as I was aware. Nursing a hot mug of coffee was doing me well and I glanced across at Nathan.

"How's your lip?" I asked. He'd been a gentleman, made sure I was okay on the drive down before offering to buy me a drink. He was a tease when he wanted to be but so far I'd yet to discover just why my brother had decided to punch him around the face.

Nathan reached up and touched the offending area, "I think I'll live." He admitted. His eyes studied me as I smiled, looking down into the latte that warmed my fingers, "How are you?" He asked and I could tell it wasn't a general or polite question; he was genuinely interested. And all I could muster was a shrug.

"I've been better?" I admitted, wincing as I did, "I mean, tonight hasn't exactly turned out the way I was hoping."

"Why, who had you been hoping to kiss?" He responded and my cheeks flushed. My eyes widened as I looked back at him.

"Oh no...I..." but as I stuttered I saw he was grinning and warmth spread through my gut before I laughed, "Shut up." I replied. Nathan smirked but reached to take his own coffee. My smile faded as I thought on Luke and I shook my head, "To be fair I'm not sure how I'm doing. I mean..." I frowned, my eyes going distant, "It's like my brother turned up at the party just to punch you."

Nathan sighed and sat back in his chair, "I think he saw us kissing through the front." I looked up at him to see him regarding his own coffee, "And considering how much he dislikes me his reaction was to be expected."

"Dislikes you?" My frown deepened, "You two know one another?"

"You could say that," he replied but then looked out of the front of the restaurant. "More through a third party though."

"What happened?" I asked, curious and also relieved that someone was telling me something about my brother, even if it was going to be a disagreement of some sorts. I'd heard so little about Luke's life over the past year he could have been living in Tibet and I would have had no idea. Nathan didn't respond instantly, seeming to think things over before looking back across at me.

"It involves a girl," he admitted and I felt a flicker of jealousy coil in my gut, but I forced it down as I listened. "But I don't think I should go into too much details. There's two sides of the story and he's your brother. I don't want to talk badly about him to you."

I was left frustrated but I also understood where he was coming from. Without Luke here to explain his side of the story I would only be getting part of it. And he was my brother, anything Nathan said badly about him would only steer me against him and he was here to listen to me. Loyalty to my brother would only ruin this moment, and what loyalty did he deserve after tonight? I sighed, "Fine." Nathan watched my reaction but sat forwards to lean his arms on the table.

"I don't know much about your brother other than to know that he seems troubled," Nathan frowned as he watched my expression turned sour. "Taylor told me that your parents passed away last year. I'm sorry."

I smiled against the sting of tears and I shook my head. I let out a small laugh, leaning my head backwards to try and stop them, "Are you trying to make me cry?" I asked.

"I'm just trying to make sure you're okay."

I stared at the ceiling but then closed my eyes. A tear rolled free and I reached up to wipe it away before letting out a long, shaky breath. Calming a touch, I opened my now red eyes to look at him, "I would like to stop crying in front of you, if that's okay." Nathan smiled at that, gentle and warm.