hal

life, but there was this hole in my heart, something that kills the normal joy in me. I just can't function

on the one my brain has been spiraling about. His eyes... oh, those blue e

rn and pushing my legs to walk pas

ard footsteps behind me, then a soft gasp left my lips as he held my arm. Goosebumps spread through my body in that sec

at second, all the emptiness I felt melted away in his arm

mured, his hot breath making

y throat. "I don't t

skin. "Do what, Nathalie?!" he asked, his voice lower, and hi

erything changed. You can't just barge into people's lives that way, and your status is just way,

wouldn't go for s

voice cracked, and I

lenched like he was holding something back, but

I never even realized had rolled down my cheek. My body shuddere

firm and steady. "I don't know why you have these thoughts in

at the same time. "I'm just scared," the whisp

pulling me gently closer to his chest.

away, but his hands held me still. "I-I

mean every single word! I can't fucking fu

de my head said, but I qui

or me to handle right now, N

Get in the car. Let's

't. I have to go to the

darkened his blue eyes, but it disappeared almo

ation. "WHY?! You can't dictate

his car, and my legs automatically followed him. "Working as a manager in the mornings

cted him. A small smile finally tugged at my lips. L

lked around the front of his car. I didn't even understand why I was sitting there in his vehicle. I was supposed

or rather, it was mostly me talking while he just listened. This stalker of a man even stopped to get

g with my head, and an unstoppable smile tugged at my lips. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I picked it up, expecti

this was Nathaniel's doing. My smile

t need your money

ole minutes, tapping my foot in

: "Is tha

.. I giggled as the memory of him holding me so close to his hard body rushed back into my h

m how I feel around my family or even Caroline. My w

his face filling my thoughts unt

one started buzzing loudly. I pressed my hand

ing already. The call came in a second time.

el

thalie," a soft voice c

ut of my mouth before I cou

e, ma'am. The head

er. I didn't order any bread," I

ink you should check your email, ma'am. Then I will call you right ba

ity. The sleep completely disappeared

the Manager of H Bakes," I read the words slowly, blinking m

Nathaniel had said something yes

cheek. This was the real reason he

true feelings for no good reason anymore. I dialed

urmured after seconds of sil

e rang through my ears. "No more working at

rolled my ey

the phone before I could even thank

the club? I couldn't believe I finally had the chance to study my dream course and have a re

thoughts when my phone rang again.

ker, and I could hear Nathan's panicked voice in the background. "We really need our schoo

ic rising in my chest. "I gave Mom your tui

t settled this semester's fees at all. We need 1

Suddenly, I realized I hadn't seen my mother or Emil

her clothes were completely gone. I ran over to check Emily's things, and h

hing my mother had just done to us, because I

do it. I couldn't ask him for such a huge amount of c

ing heart. "I have 5,000 dollars in my accou

turned off my phone completely and dressed in a skimpy bikin

chest tightly as I strutted toward the private room, praying deeply with every step tha

h of relief. But as I looked closer, the man sittin

halie," h

ering how on earth this s

alk," he said gently. "I'm Grays