If I Can't Have You || (N.M.)

Chapter 14

After much trial and error, we finally managed to somehow get West situated in the truck (we didn't think it'd be safe to discuss matters out in the open). He sat next to Nate in the front while I took the backseat next to Miracle in her car seat.

"That's an adorable little girl you've got back there, brother," West said about Mir as he turned around and smiled at us both. "Goochie goochie goo!"

He prepared to reach back and tickle her tummy but Nate grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

"Touch my daughter and I'll kill you," he said sternly before tossing West's hand back into his lap like a rag doll. "And don't call me brother," he added in a grumble.

I huffed at Nate's attitude toward West who had complied without argument and was now twiddling his thumbs between his leg nubs. I felt bad for the guy but I knew Nate wasn't going to come around until West could prove his value to us.

We rode in silence back to our motel where Nate helped me and Mir out of the car before begrudgingly going to assist West on the other side.

Once we all made it inside with Nate closing and latching the door behind us, he turned to face me, Mir, and West.

"Alright first order of business for Hot Wheels over here is taking a damn shower," Nate dictated.

"Oh, please will you just stop it already!" I yelled at him, fed up with his rudeness. While it was true that the man didn't necessarily smell like flowers and rainbows, I wasn't liking Nate's tone and if we were ever going to get anywhere with this, he needed be able to communicate with West without biting at him every single time.

"Ah, no need to defend little old me," West said with both his hands up in surrender, "I know I'm an old homeless guy who needs a bath. Just hand me a towel and a fresh pair of clothes then I'll go."

Nate just stared until I nudged him in the arm.

"Go on, give the man some clothes," I quietly directed.

More hesitation.

"Keep standing there and the next nudge won't be in your arm, pal," I said through my teeth as I maintained a fake smile in front of West.

With an annoyed breath and just-get-it-over-with speed, Nate grabbed a towel, a white tee, and a pair khaki shorts then tossed them into West's lap.

"What, you're going to make me go commando?"

"Don't push it," said Nate.

Then with a smirk, West wheeled himself on into the bathroom and soon we could hear the water running.

The sound seemed to flush the tension from the room. Nate and I could finally have the conversation about our next step, but first I had to ask...

"Are you okay?"

Nate was facing a wall and pretending to be interested in a painting that was bolted to the blue wallpaper. I sat Mir down on the bed to eat the snacks we had just gotten her.

Nate didn't respond.

"Hey," I moved closer to him.

He knew I was nearing him but still didn't turn to look at me.

I got close enough so that I could wrap my arms around his torso and place my chin on his back. I was looking at the back of his head as I spoke. "I asked if you were okay."

I waited for an answer, but instead Nate's fists clenched. He brought one of his hands back then forward and smashed it against the picture on the wall. Glass fell to the floor and around the frame.