New Lives (A Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 26 - Rest Up

Author's Note:  Long time no updates, huh?  Sorry, guys.  Lots of not so great stuff going on with me health wise so writing has taken a back seat...which sucks. I can't believe I haven't updated since May!  This isn't long or perfect...but it is leading up to something so...enjoy!  Also, I can't believe all the new followers on here!  Thank you for deeming me worthy!

"So…mom wants to go to lunch this weekend," Susan said, after swallowing a mouthful of noodles.

"Does she?" Nathan asked, his tone sharp. "Did you call her?"

"She left a message on my phone today."

"Convenient," he muttered.

"Something wrong, Dad?"

Nathan frowned. He looked at Sydney, then at Susan. "Short version of the story is that your mother showed up at the studio tonight and yelled some…inappropriate things in the parking lot. I told her, unless you're the one to call her, if ever I see her near the house again I will be filing a restraining order…"

"And then she calls me?" Susan was wounded and Nathan's heart fell.

"Honey, I…"

"I'm going." She stabbed at her food. "I want to see how she acts now, but I won't let on that I know anything, I promise…"

"Susan, you shouldn't be in the middle of anything."

"She put me there." She looked down at her plate for a moment, then switched the topic. "So, Thanksgiving? Gram-ma said we're having it here?" Celia wasn't mentioned through the rest of dinner.

Sydney went upstairs early, having been quiet most of the evening. When Nathan heard her running the bath, he closed his laptop and went to check on her. He leaned against the doorway of the bathroom, his eyes falling on hers. "You're upset," he said, his tone soft.

"Of course I am, and I'm well aware that it's stupid…but…" Nathan had told Sydney everything once Susan left the dinner table to do her homework. "…she saw us…and she said she wants…" He stripped off his clothes. "…that!"

"Well, she's never getting it," he said, slipping into the tub behind her. "She's…Syd, I don't know what she is, but you know there's nothing to worry about."

"Really? Because I'm worried about our lives turning into a bad Lifetime movie where the crazed ex-wife kills us in our sleep or something."

Nathan kissed her neck. "You know, I'm starting to wish you had wedding things to occupy yourself with."

Sydney leaned back against Nathan's chest. "Me too."

The weeks passed, Thanksgiving coming and going without a hitch and Susan going out with her mother several times. Celia never mentioned Nathan or Sydney, instead focusing on her daughter…and confusing everyone – at first. Susan finally began to think that her mother was really trying with her. Celia never came inside the house if she picked Susan up and Nathan hadn't heard her voice once. Life was peacefully falling back into place.

It was eleven thirty on a Friday night. Susan was spending the night with her friend, Tasha, leaving Nathan and Sydney home alone. The lights in their bedroom dim, their breathing grew heavy. Sydney was on top of Nathan, her back to his chest, his hips moving slowly beneath her, his length filling her. His left hand cupped her breast while his right roamed her stomach, teased her thigh, then finally settled between her legs. He rubbed her in light circles, her breath coming in sharp pants. He knew she was coming for him…and that's when his cell phone rang.

"Now?" he whined, his hips still moving; Sydney, trying not to cry out and failing. The ring then registered and he and Sydney both stopped; it was Susan's ringtone.

Sydney rolled off of Nathan, grabbed his cell from the nightstand, and handed him the phone. Susan never called unless she was going to be late and staying at a friend's for the night couldn't call for that circumstance.

"Susie Q?" Nathan answered, his tone worried.

"Dad…" Susan's voice was almost pained. "…I did something stupid." It wasn't pain, it was shame.

Nathan sat up fully. "Honey, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I…just…can you get me, please?"

"At Tasha's?"

Silence.

"Susan?"

"We went to a stupid party. Please yell at me after you get me, okay?"

Nathan actually smiled, but didn't change his tone. "Text me the address."

"I didn't drink or anything, okay? Remember that while you're driving here. I only had a couple of Diet Cokes and…"

"We'll talk when I get you."

"I'm sorry, Dad…"

"Hey, you get brownie points for calling." Nathan hung up the phone.

"Party?" Sydney asked, already knowing the answer.

"Uh huh."

"You're not actually mad at all, are you?"

Nathan chuckled. "How many teenagers call their fathers to come and get them from a party they know they shouldn't be attending?"

"I'm going to say…not many."

Nathan got up and searched for his clothes. "That would be correct."

"Want company?"

Nathan pulled his boxers up his legs, then returned to the bed, gently pushing Sydney down against the mattress. "I want you right here…" He kissed her neck. "…as naked as you are now…" He slid his tongue along hers. "…because I'm not done with you tonight."

Sydney blushed and snuggled down into the covers. "I'm fairly certain I can handle that."

Nathan's phone let him know that he had a message, it was the address to the party. "She's only fifteen minutes away." He finished dressing and bent down to kiss Sydney. "Rest up, Syd." He winked at her and left.