Eliza
I wake to the sound of the shower, and I drag my hand down my face. It feels late. The sun is up.
“What time is it?” I reach over and grab the phone from the side table. “Oh, it’s Nathan’s phone, not mine.” I swipe it on, put in his code, and look at the time. It’s 7:00 a. m.
Huh, Nathan has usually left over an hour ago.
His phone flashes silently with a notification.
Missed call: Robert.
Hmm, I click out of it in disgust. What, does he call him when he gets to work every morning?
I frown at the thought and click through to his call register.
Mom outgoing
Eliza outgoing
Eliza incoming
Robert outgoing
Robert outgoing
Eliza outgoing
Eliza incoming
Robert incoming
Alex outgoing
Eliza incoming
Robert outgoing
Dad incoming
Office incoming
Robert outgoing
“What?” I sit up, and, suddenly interested in the call history. I look at the times and dates of when he spoke to Robert. I scroll down and go back over a long period of time.
Sometimes Robert calls him, other times Nathan calls Robert.
They speak nearly every day, I look through the call times. Sometimes for five minutes, sometimes up to nearly an hour.
On the second day that I was away, they spoke four times. What the fuck?
I hear the shower turn off. I turn the phone off and put it on the side table, and I pretend to be asleep.
Nathan comes out and gets his clothes out of the walk-in closet. He takes them out into the living room to dress to be less noisy.
I stare at the ceiling. Wow.
There are so many things that are fucked up about this relationship, I don’t even know where to start. I have every right to feel insecure. This isn’t in my fucking head.
Anger begins to bubble deep in my stomach. So, he can get crazy jealous whenever he wants, but it’s okay for him to speak to his ex every day? They’re friends, I remind myself.
Ugh…whatever. I don’t want him to know I snooped in his phone so I can’t even say anything.
I get up and shower as I mouth angry, fighting words to the shampoo bottles.
I can’t say them to him, so I’ll let them have it.
Don’t be the insecure girlfriend.
That isn’t who I am, and I’m not lowering myself. When the time is right, I’ll address the Robert issue. Until then, I’ll carry on as if normal.
Calm, calm. Keep fucking calm.
After many deep breathes and a huge pep talk to myself, I get out of the shower and dress for work. I put on a fitted black dress and high-heeled pumps with sheer stockings. I make an extra effort and put my long dark hair into a high ponytail. I apply a full face of makeup to make myself feel confident.
I look at my lipstick selections all lined up in my makeup drawer.
Red. It’s a red lipstick day. I put it on as if it’s war paint and I’m preparing to battle. Don’t mess with me today, anyone, or you will go down, and it will fucking hurt.
I walk out into the kitchen to find Nathan dressed in a dark charcoal suit. He has a light blue shirt on and a navy tie. His hair is longer on top with that just-fucked messy perfection. He looks fucking edible. Ugh, it’s so annoying.
“Morning.” I fake a smile as I kiss his cheek.
His eyes drop down to my toes and then back up to my face. His eyebrow rises as if angered. “Red lipstick for work?”
“Yeah,” I reply casually as I pour myself a coffee from the coffee machine. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“I wanted to talk to you. I’ll drive you to work.”
I turn toward him with my coffee in my hand. “What about?”
“Last night.'”
My eyes hold his. “What about it?”
“You were acting weird.”
“Was I?” I sip my coffee as I act casual. “Maybe I’m a little over-emotional.”
“Why?”
“You asked me this already last night, Nathan. Why are we talking about it again?”
He steps toward me, and his eyes hold mine. “I wanted to have the conversation again when we were dressed. What happened at that conference, Eliza?”
“What?” I frown.
“Do you feel guilty about something? Is that why you got teary every time we had sex?”
I stare at him as my brain misfires. What the fuck?
I point to my chest in disbelief. “You think I feel guilty about something?”
“You sure are acting like it.”
“Ha.” I scoff as my temper begins to soar. “Of course, in Nathan’s kingdom this has to be something that I’ve done wrong.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” He growls.
“It means that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
“What?” He explodes. “I’ll throw a fucking rock if I want to. Why do you look like that to go to work?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re good to fucking go.”
I lift my chin as I glare at him. I don’t think I’ve ever been so furious in my entire life.
I was emotional last night because I am petrified that I’m going to lose him, and here he is accusing me of being a floozy. “You are un-fucking-believable!” I snap. “Don’t bother driving me to work.”
“Is the lipstick for him?” He growls.
“What?” I scream. “Are you fucking kidding me?” The pressure explodes. “I’m not even seeing him today. I’m at the hospital. And for your information, the lipstick is for me, to make myself feel better so I can act like I haven’t got a care in the world.” I storm into the office and collect my laptop from the charger.
I grab my things and head out the door. Nathan follows me. I hit the elevator button with force, and he stands beside me. “I’ll drive you.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Stop it.”
“Fuck.” I close my eyes. “Seriously… Nathan, leave me alone. I’m not even joking.”
The elevator doors open in the lobby and he pushes the button for the basement. “Shut up.”
The doors open, and I march out to the car. You know, his little jealous alpha thing was cute when we were friends, but this bullshit he’s carrying on with now is infuriating. I have a reason to be jealous, and I’m holding my tongue. Yet he can do and say whatever the fuck he wants.
Like hell.
He opens my car door and I get in. He slams the door hard and goes around to his side. Moments later, he drives off with a rev.
I sit and glare out the window.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asks.
“Nothing.” I cross my arms.
The phone rings in his Bluetooth. and the name Robert comes up on the screen.
He immediately hits decline.
My eyes flicker to him. “Why didn’t you take that?”
“I’ll call him later.”
“Oh, you will, will you?” I sneer sarcastically.
His eyes flick between me and the road. “What does that fucking mean?”
“When are you going to cut the umbilical cord, Nathan?”
He narrows his eyes, and it’s clear he has no idea what I’m talking about.
“Would you like it if I spoke to my ex all the time?” I ask.
“What?” He screws up his face as if I’m crazy. “We’re friends.”
“Okay, fine. I’m going to call Samuel today and…” I hunch my shoulders casually. “Might have a drink with him, since we are”-I hold my fingers up in quotation marks-“friends.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” He punches the steering wheel.
I close my eyes. God, how did this fight escalate to this?
I sit and stare out the window. We drive into the hospital parking lot, and he pulls over into the parking bay.
I look over to him, and we glare at each other.
“Is that it?” he asks.
“Yep.”
He gives a subtle shake his head.
“Is that it from you?” I ask.
“I’ll pick you up.”
“Don’t bother.” I get out and slam the door. He winds the window down.
“Eliza?” he says.
I lean down and look through the window. “Yes.”
“Have a nice day.” His face softens.
Wow. Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde.
“I will. Oh, and Nathan? On one of your ten conversations with your ex-boyfriend today, send him my love.” I fake a sweet smile.
He narrows his eyes, and I turn and march into the hospital.
I walk through the doors on a mission.
Fuck. I’m a bitch. I’m a total fucking bitch, but I don’t give a damn. He deserved it.
Is that lipstick for him?
Of all the fucking nerve. I need coffee. I walk down to the cafeteria. My face is flushed, and I can feel the adrenaline still surging through my veins.
Nobody can piss me off like Nathan Mercer can.
“Eliza!” a woman’s voice calls.
I turn to see Stephanie in her white coat with her stethoscope around her neck.
“Hi.” She smiles.
“Oh, hello.” I’m taken aback. I didn’t expect to see her.
“Have you got a minute?”
“I haven’t actually, I’m in a rush,” I lie. I’m an hour early. I was so pissed off, I didn’t even look at the clock. “What do you want?”