Chapter 62

Nate's POV

It's been almost three weeks since the police arrested big D. They said one of his closet associates outed him and got him arrested at his hideout. Rex on the other hand was badly injured and is at a hospital.

Detective Mason told me to stay put for a while, so they could see if someone would come after me. Since then, I've been hiding at a crappy motel. He called me a week ago saying that the coast is clear, so he sent police escorts with me and I went home.

I've been home for a week and I've not been able to speak to Tory. Apparently, she never knew that the headset she got me was bugged, but detective Mason did say he eventually told her.

I really wanted to see her but according to detective Mason, she's been in a really bad place. Worried and paranoid that Big D would kill me one way or the other.

I lay on my bed that afternoon wondering what I should do about Tory and me. It sucked since she seemed to not want me to leave wherever I was for fear of me being killed, but there's so much I want to tell her.

I mean, I haven't even confessed my feelings to her. I haven't told her that I love her, and it's eating me inside. Besides, I'm sure that everything is fine, no one will come after me.

I have to go see her, no matter what!

I grabbed my car keys and went downstairs to see my mom sitting on the couch and laughing as she watched a TV show.

" Mom"

" Yeah hone - are you going somewhere?" She asked, her tone a little harsh.

" I just need to see Tory"

" You're not sure who's out there, Nate."

" Well, I can't stay here forever. Besides detective Mason says the coast is clear"

" Nate I just don't -"

The sound of the doorbell ringing stopped our argument.

" Nate don't," she said as I moved to open the door.

" Mom it's fine. Just let me see who's at the door."

I opened the door and was shocked to see no one outside.

" Lock it Nate it's a trap!" My mom shrieked and I almost shut it but stopped myself when I saw Mr. Joe in Williams' family car.

" Hi," Tory said to me and I heaved a sigh of relief.

" Oh, Tory it's you. Don't scare us like that!" My mom whined.

" I'm sorry. I was scared some weirdo would come out instead of Nate." She said tucking her hair behind her ears before she looked at me again.

" Can we talk outside Nate?"

" I could go in the room so you two can talk in the sitting room" my mom offered but Tory declined.

" I have to be somewhere so, I can't go in. Nate?"

" S-sure," I said before I gave my mom a reassuring smile and went outside, shutting the door behind me. She started to walk to the side of the house where there were flowers and I followed her.

" Hi," I said as I looked at her from head to toe. She was dressed in an oversized t-shirt and jeans.

" Please tell me you weren't on the verge of going back to sad Tory 2. 0," I said and she laughed.

" I can't believe you're okay..." Her voice trailed off when she saw that I wasn't pleased with how she looked.

" I'm sorry, I sorta expected the worst."

" And you went back to being the old you?!"

" I just - I was scared when I didn't hear from you. I thought Mason was lying when he said you were okay."

" So what made you believe him?"

" I just couldn't take it anymore, they didn't bother me to go see you today so I panicked, thinking something had happened to you." She said licking her lips nervously, a gesture that never seized to turn me on.

" I would've come to see you Rya but my mom wouldn't let me. I was on my way to come see you, I'm glad you're here."

" Me too. I'm not going anywhere, I just lied to your mom because I feel here is a lot more private than in there."

" True," I said as we stood under a tree.

" I need to tell you something Rya.."

" No, let me go first."

I nodded and she breathed deeply, licking her lips before she started.

" Nate, I wanted to apologize."

" What?"

" For not loving you right from the start. I was one bitter little girl who didn't know shit! All you deserve is love Nate and if you and we got off on the right track, we both would've had so much time to be together."

" Well, Tory it doesn't matter now. I'm back, Big D is gone from our lives and we could have as much time as we want." I said cupping her face in my arms, her gray eyes tingled with hope and then it suddenly disappeared.

" Aren't you gonna leave New York, you know... just to be safe."

" What? No! Why would you say that?"

" Detective Mason kinda mentioned it last night before they all started acting weird today."

" Why is he at your house?"

" He's dating my mom, really gross if you ask me," she said with a shudder and I laughed.

" Tory, I never said that and I'm certainly not thinking about it. He just said it to make you come to see me."

" Oh... Thank God." She said smiling happily, her eyes glowing.

" So what did you want to come to see me for?" She asked and I sighed.

" I wanted to tell you something."

" What is it?"

I moved closer to her and held her hands. " I don't know why I never said it before and I honestly don't care if you feel the same way about me but...."

She looked at me expectantly and I smiled before I said, " I love you, Victorya Williams."

She gasped and closed her mouth with her palm.

" You mean that?"

" Of course I do. I love you too much and I can't ever get enough of you. You have no idea how HAPPY I am to know we could still have each other in our lives. "

She smiles before she let out a breath and said, " I love you too Nate McClain."

My heart must've skipped a beat multiple times as she said that to me. There was nothing else I could think of doing but to kiss her so I pulled her closer and kissed her soft, tender lips. Overwhelmed by how long it had been since I kissed her.

She suddenly broke the kiss saying, " wait, wait. I have to ask you something, so I know I'm not wasting my time."

" Okay?" I said completely oblivious of what she's going to ask.

Tory's POV

I watched his brows furrow as he probably wondered what I wanted to ask but I had to try, even if he might freak out.

" I know you said before that dating and committed relationship isn't your thing and you can't go beyond s few weeks but..."

I paused when I saw his eyes widen as I spoke.

" I really would love it if you would be my boyfriend - for two weeks, a week, a few days... Even if it's for a day - even if you just get to be called my boyfriend officially just for a day, I don't care." I said and licked my lips nervously as he stared at me. I knew whenever I licked my lips it turned him on, but I wasn't doing this on purpose.

His face suddenly turned into a frown and he passed his hands through his hair.

" I take that as a no." I said and he looked at me, " Rya, I don't want to be your boyfriend -"

" - why?"

" Let me finish, I don't want to be your boyfriend for two weeks, a week, or even a day."

I swallowed hard at that statement of his. How could he even look me in the eye and say that?

" Rya," he said holding my hands probably because he could see my eyes getting moist with tears.

" I want to be your boyfriend for longer than you can imagine." He said as he tilted my face with his index finger so I would look into his eyes.

" B-but you just-"

" - two weeks isn't enough Tory if that's the longest you can imagine then that's horrible."

" Then how long can you bear dating me"

"Rya, with you It's not a burden that I have to bear. It was with other girls because I didn't love them. Tell me, how long would you imagine that I - who's madly in love with you would be your man." He asked, his green eyes fixated on my gray eyes.

" I can imagine... a year or two," I said cringing a little and he laughed.

" I wanna be your boyfriend for longer than you imagine, being your boyfriend for a day is just torture."

" Do you mean that?"

" Certainly, I'm hoping for the rest of our lives - three years for dating and then we get married and have cute little me and you's everywhere!" He said and I laughed as I pulled him for an embrace.

" I love you Victorya and yes, I wanna be your boyfriend for LONGER than you can imagine."

" And if Imagine four hundred years?"

" You got it, babe," he said before he lifted me and wrapped my legs around his waist as he pulled me in for a maddening make-out session.