Sharing a Memory

Chapter 12

*Nathan's POV*

"Jack come on, just take over for a minute, I really have to pee," I tried, unsuccessfully, to pass off the tongs to Jack.

"It's almost done, I don't want to mess it up," he looked over and waved to a younger guy who I didn't recognize.

He walked up with a smile on his face and Jack shook his hand and looked at me, "Alex, this is Nathan, my brother. And Nate this is Alex, Paige's little brother."

Alex chuckled and looked at me, "I'm not little, I'm seventeen."

I laughed and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, I didn't know Paige had a brother."

He nodded, looked at me, and narrowed his eyes, "Nathan," he thought for a second, "You look familiar," he crossed his arms, thinking and then nodded, laughing, "You're the guy that came in with Paige the night before last."

Jack looked at me, first confused, then smiled and shook his head, "You didn't tell me that you and Paige had met before the concert yesterday."

I shrugged and looked up from the grill and locked eyes with her, we watched each other for what felt like a long time. She blushed and looked away, seemingly embarrassed and almost fell, nearly dropping the plates she's carrying and I couldn't help but laugh.

I heard Alex laughing and looked over at him, "Does she always stumble around like that? The past two days I've seen her she's almost fallen more than once."

He nodded still laughing, "Oh yeah, you should've seen her this morning after she overslept. Our parents used to say that she was the most graceful, clumsy person they'd ever known."

She looked back over here again quickly before putting the plates down on the table.

"I can believe it," I nodded and couldn't help but smile.

"One time we went ice skating during a vacation and I swear she spent more time on the ground than she did on her feet," he laughed at the memory, "Any time you want to hear more just let me know."

I nodded laughing, "I might have to take you up on that some time," I looked over at Jack, "Take the food off the grill."

He laughed and took the tongs then handed a plate to Alex to hold.

I headed over to Paige, but apparently, she didn't notice me coming because when I put my hand on her shoulder to get her attention, she spun around quickly almost falling again.

I laughed and put my hands on her shoulders to keep her from falling, "Easy killer."

She rolled her brown eyes and smiled, "Shut up."

"So do you try to fall all the time? Or does it just come naturally?"

Her cheeks flushed, "Oh I'm a natural-born clutz, just ask the kid," she nodded toward Alex.

"I already did, he said the same thing. I just wanted to see if you'd try to change your story," I joked in a hopefully casual tone.

"Not this time, I can't deny this one. I assume he's already managed to fit a few embarrassing stories into the few minutes you had alone?"

I nodded, smiling, "Just a few, but he assured me that he'd share more any time I ask."

She shot him a look that was supposed to be stern, her nose crinkled and her eyebrows narrowed but to me she just looked cute. She looked back to me, snapping me out of the trance she'd put me in.

She smiled, "That will absolutely not be happening any time soon."

I laughed and looked over and saw Alex and Jack walking toward us with the food from the grill. A few minutes later Madison and Hayley came out of the house to join us.

I spent most of lunch stealing glances at Paige which hopefully went unnoticed.