I wonder if Nate has tried to call or text. I miss him. It hasn't even been a full day and I miss him.
It's disgusting
Will finally boosts himself out of the water next to me and we sit there for a while, dangling our feet, while Will catches his breath.
"When did you get the tattoo?" Will asks.
I gasp and look down, noticing that my bikini bottom has slipped down, exposing my tattoo.
"On Saturday."
"You're not supposed to be swimming until it's healed, you know."
"Oh." I hadn't thought of that. "Well, I won't swim again then."
"What does it mean?" Will asks and looks down at me. I avert my eyes and shake my head, not wanting to answer him. I still don't regret the tattoo, but it's a sore spot for me right now, both literally and figuratively.
"Are you ever going to talk to him again?" Will asks.
Oh God. The thought of never talking to Nate ever again makes my blood run cold. Is that the decision I've made? I said goodbye yesterday. I gave him back his mother's necklace.
It's over.
"Fuck," I whisper.
"I'm sorry, kiddo. Take a few days and calm down. Maybe you'll be able to give him a chance to explain things. If you don't like what he has to say, fuck him. Maybe he'll be able to give you some insight." Will shrugs and looks down at his feet. "I probably shouldn't tell you this…"
"What?" My gaze whips up to his and he scowls and shakes his head.
"He called me last night."
"What? How do you know? You were with me all night."
"No I wasn't. When you fell asleep I tucked you in like a good big brother and let you sleep. He'd left a message earlier in the evening."
I don't respond. I don't know if I want to know what Nate said. I don't know if I can take it. I'm missing him so much, and I'm starting to feel weak in my resolve, and I don't like this new quality in my personality.
"Don't you want to know what he said?"
"No."
"Jules." Will laughs and looks down at me with humor.
"You're so fucking stubborn."
"Learned it from you, big brother."
"You really don't want to know?"
"No."
"Let me just say this, kid. And this is coming from me, your big brother, who would fucking kill for you. Take your few days to lick your wounds and be pissed. You have a right to them. But then give him a chance to explain."
"Let's go to dinner." I start to pull myself up but Will stops me with his hand on my arm.
"Jules…"
"I heard you. I'll think about it." I kiss his cheek and pull away. "I'm hungry."
"Let's go then."