Denial [ n.s] EDITING

Chapter 60 - Salt & Guilt For The Soul

Chapter sixty.
Sawyer,

-

We were halfway through dinner and everything was as put-together as it could get. I meant that in the best way possible, too. Despite my nervous fidgeting in the beginning, and the odd incident of a waiter noticing Nathan and him getting weird, claiming that he'd been here once of twice before; understandable.

"Lea, love," Nathan's grandmother called, since Nathan corrected her every time she called me Sawyer instead, "You visit often, I assume?"

"Yeah, I mean my Dad lives here as well and I've visited every summer for as long as I can remember," I smile, "only recently though, it's as though I'm here far more often than I am, in the States," I turn to Nathan, cheeky grin on his face.

"Young love," she coos, "God knows, I'd been waiting for the day I'd see my grandson in an actual serious relationship with a beautiful young lady like you, especially with all those rings in his face" Nathan scoffs.

"Oh, he's had one hell of a reputation, I've heard," I chime in, and Jess laughs.

"I've taken all my piercings out! What more do you expect from me," Nathaniel whines.

"Perhaps you could have a full body tattoo removal. If such a thing even exists, I mean seeing as you've got those things everywhere," said Jess.

"Alright, I get it. Every time this results in the whole table picking on me, I'm used to it," he looks down and twirls his fork in his pasta.

"Don't be salty," I whisper into his ear, slowly lacing my fingers with his, "I have a perfectly good reason to be filled with salt," he responds, "and I highly doubt anyone can change my level of saltiness"

"How about," I think, "you joining me in the ladies room, just for a minute, or ten" I tease, and he looks at me in utter shock before that signature smirk is plastered across his face.

"Guess I could change the salt-level after all," I gloat, taking a sip of wine.

"So you didn't mean–well played,"

+++

11:47 p.m

We'd stayed out with Nathan's family much longer than expected, but it was amazing nonetheless. Dinner was mainly Nathan's grandparents gushing over him when he was little and his cheeky habits. They sure did adore him, who would blame them. Oh–can't forget Nathan's constant sexual innuendos during dinner, forcing me to kick his foot under the table.

You'd think we would know better seeing as we're both in our early twenties but–we don't.

The night ended with us going to one of the parks after dinner, which wasn't as odd as it sounds since it was lit up and there were couples having picnics with friends, and just good company, which made it all the more perfect.

I walk into the bathroom and put my hair into a high ponytail before I start to unzip the back of my dress, until I feel his hands on me, "Not another innuendo,".

"Hey," he says, offended, "I was just offering to help you, but that's fine," he mimics a puppy-dog face and walks back into his bedroom and I follow behind.

"I'm sorry," I say, us now faced each other, "you were a perfect gentleman tonight, aside from those jokes of yours,"

He smiles, "How did you feel about tonight? It wasn't too much, was it?" I wrap both arms around his neck, "it was perfect, really" I smile before pressing my lips against his.