We had just crossed the Arizona-California border. Nate stopped at a Walgreens to steal some more snacks. It's been hours and we still hadn't spoken to each other - he never turned the music down. Once he carelessly tossed a honey bun at me, I was fed up.

"Okay, no." I turned the music down. "You're not gonna act like a fucking child. Do you know how old those pictures are? They weren't too long after the double-date. Yes, Sammy and I had a fling, but nothing more. After that night you saw me eating that pizza, that was it."

"Save it, Liv," he spoke. "I don't feel like talkin' about this right now. Let's just do what we have to do and get it over with."

"And then what? Huh? We get back to Omaha and then what?"

He simply shrugs and starts the car up.

"Unbelievable." I sat back, picking at the honey bun. "And what are we gonna do for the money?"

"I'll handle it, okay?"

"I forgot, you have an answer for everything that magically proves successful."

"Do you really wanna argue right now," he chuckled. "I just wanna keep to myself for the moment, do you fuckin' mind?"

"You're so fucking moody! It doesn't help that you look pissed off half the time, I never know if I please you enough. You're like...the Kanye West of Omaha."

"Why can't you just be my girl? Why you gotta do all that extra shit, man?" He sucked his teeth.

"That comes with the territory! It should feel nice to have someone that loves you and gives a shit!"

"Why do you still have Sammy's pictures then?"

"I told you I forgot I had them."

I held my hands up, looking at him in disbelief. It was like talking to a wall in an endless loop.

"Most of my time was spent with you anyway," I continued. "After all the sex we've been having when in the hell would I have time to go home and stare at a naked Sammy?"

"So you're sayin' if you had time—"

"You know what I meant, Nate. Don't you fucking dare."

"Let's just get to Palm Springs without rippin' each others heads off," his voice just barely cracked.

"What's in Palm Springs?" I asked.

"A friend of mine. It would be nice to sleep in a place that's not a fuckin' motel."

When he said that, a small part of me ached. I remembered a time before we started our trip when Nate told me he couldn't wait to stay in all the motels along the way so we could relive our first passionate moment multiple times. A moment I hold dear to my heart because it was when he first helped me realize how much I needed to love myself and my body. It was the first time he called me Tiger because of my stretch marks and unlike Wesley who was disgusted by them, Nate would trace them with his finger tips with love. The first time I officially figured out that after all the bickering that we didn't hate each other at all; we were crazy about each other.

I spent the rest of the ride with my face toward the open window and the multi-colored sky as the sun set. I didn't want him to see me emotional but it hurt so much. It physically pained me to hold everything in; to not let a single tear fall or to let my breath hitch.

And to make it even worse, he didn't even realize what he said and what it all meant. He just remained silent.

. . .

Nate and I sat in his friend's living room across from each other, still not saying a word but giving occasional glances. His friend, a hazel-eyed girl with curly hair, emerges from the kitchen bringing us cups of fruit punch.

"Thank you," I grinned.

"You're welcome," she said. "Are you guys hungry? I think I have a couple of frozen pizzas."

"Tia, it's cool," Nate held his hand up. "You've already done enough, we'll just get some rest and we'll be out of your way in the morning."

"Take your time," she responded. "I don't leave tomorrow until 12."

"Mommy! Mommy!" A little boy's voice said, running down the small apartment's hallway.

"What are you doing out of bed," Tia asked him in a child-friendly voice. She picked up the little boy dressed in Transformers pajamas. "Since you're here say hello to my friend Nate and his friend Olivia."

"Hi," he said bashfully before covering his face.

Tia kissed him on the forehead and told him to go back to his room & wait for her.

"You didn't tell me you had a kid," Nate said. He almost looked nervous and I slightly squinted my eyes, trying to study him.

"I don't," she replied. "At least not of my blood."

"Oh," he exhaled.

She chuckled and shook her head. "His mom, my former friend, left me with him. She was a junkie and just disappeared. The father is a former junkie but he never has a stable job. And her parents are too incompetent. So...I stepped up. Fought for him in court. And he wanted to stay with me. He hardly ever misses her. She was terrible to him."

"What's his name," he asked.

"...Montgomery."

Nate gulped and gave me a quick two-second look before looking back at her. All I could do was sit still and wonder so many things.

"I'm kidding," she laughed. "His name is Cooper."

"Oh," he nervously laughs.

"Well I'll let you two get some sleep. There's blankets over there in the linen closet."

I passed off a forced smile, thanking Tia again before she retreated to Cooper's room. Nate stood up and got the blankets, tossing mine onto the cushion next to me. He kicked off his shoes, took off his hat, and tucked himself in. I got up to use the restroom and when I got out, I heard a faint Hey come from the nearby bedroom. It was Tia standing by the doorframe, motioning for me to come closer. When I walked in, she closed the door behind me.

"Are you guys together," she asked me.

"Yeah," I answered, even though at that point, I didn't even know.

"I was waiting for him to introduce you as such but he only called you by your name. Fighting?"

"Yeah," I sighed. "It's a long story."

"That's Nathan for you," she shrugged.

"Is he...your ex?"

"No," she smiled. "But...we did used to fool around back in high school. And once again when I visited the summer after freshman year of college. He probably thought Cooper was his."

My eyes fell and I felt a mixture of emotion.

"Don't worry," she said. "Whatever was between Nate and I is long gone. I have a boyfriend, a serious boyfriend. He's in the Navy and I can't wait until he's back in three weeks."

"Where is he deployed?"

"Taiwan. An entire Pacific ocean between us. But we Skype when we can."

"Oh."

"Give Nate some time, okay? He can be very stubborn but if he really loves you, he'll fight it and shrug it off soon."

"Thanks Tia," I smiled. "Well, goodnight."

"Sweet dreams."

I walked back out into the living room and Nate was staring at his phone while lying down. I stood at the foot of his couch and sighed.

"Can I at least get a goodnight kiss," I asked.

He connected his phone to the charger and got cozy. "Get some sleep, Liv. Got a big day tomorrow."

I nibbled on my bottom lip and quickly nodded my head trying to mask my sadness once again. When I laid down on my couch, I made sure to face the back of it. I silently cried myself to sleep. If he heard me, so be it.

. . .

Tia was nice enough to give us some money to grab some real food. She suggested we try a restaurant on the outskirts of L.A. So we decided to check out once we finally got into town.

The place was nearly empty but it smelled divine. There was still tension between us as we ate our meals. He was even annoyed when I twirled my straw around in my ice water. Robert, our waiter, approached our table.

"Anything for dessert?"

"No thanks," Nate said. "We'll just have the check, please."

"As you wish."

I could tell Robert noticed the tension between Nate and I as he took our dirty plates and left. I glared at Nate trying not to get worked up.

"Can we stop this now?" I asked quietly.

"Stop what?"

"This silent game you've got going on," I snapped.

"I'm not silent," he sipped his water. "I'm talkin' right?"

"Don't play dumb."

"Says the girl that suddenly forgot she had some fuckboy's nudes," he shook his head.

"Jesus Christ," I said a little too loudly. We gained a bit of attention from others trying to enjoy a peaceful meal. "Stop acting like you're five and don't know how to let a grudge go."

He took a deep breath and leaned back into the booth.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said. "It just came as a surprise to me."

"It was a surprise to me too. And...I'm sorry for not telling you about Sammy."

"You...you didn't have to. I'm just...I don't know, man."

He paused and then looked at me, proceeding to put his arm over my shoulder.

"I'm just sorry," he whispered. "I love you."

I took a deep breath. "I love you too."

He tilted my chin up a bit and kissed me.

"Just don't hate me for what I'm about to do," he said.

"W-what does that mean?"

. . .

I was losing my breath trying to keep up with Nate. He pulled me along down the street.

"You can't sell it," I cried.

"I have to," he said. "Do you want us to get killed?"

"Sell your watch!"

"My father gave me this watch, I ain't sellin' it."

We walked into the pawn shop and up to the clerk. Nate lifted my hand and pulled my engagement ring off my finger, placing it onto the jewelry pad.

"How much for this," Nate asked.

"Wait," I shook my head. "No, no. What about my necklace? It's a silver locket. Real silver, I promise."

"I get tons of those, Miss," the old clerk said. "This ring though, how much did it cost you?"

"About $600. It's real gold and a real diamond."

The man examines it closely and places it back down.

"I'll give you $400 for it."

"Sold," Nate quickly said without flinching.

My bottom lip trembled as the rest of the transaction went down.

"Let's go," Nate said, taking me by the hand.

I pushed him as soon as we got back outside.

"The fuck was that for," he exclaimed.

"That ring meant something to me," I cried. "We probably could've sold that car off the market and gotten a lot more. Or even parts of the car! "

"Be reasonable, Liv! Besides...nevermind."

"Besides what," I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

"I just...maybe we're not ready to get married anyway. We have a lot we don't know about each other, so..."

"Wow," I scoffed. "Liv, will you marry me? Sike, I take it back."

"Don't start," he warned me. "Just sit down on the curb, I gotta call Foosh."

"Go ahead and call the rat bastard."

I was annoyed and I just wanted to go home. I missed my old life more than ever now and since he wanted to second-guess our engagement, I was second-guessing a whole lot more. But perhaps he was right. We have been butting heads a lot more than before but then again, what couple doesn't?

"What?" I ask him as he walks back.

"He said to just stand by and wait for the address and further instruction."

"Awesome."

"Liv, let's put our problems aside for a fuckin' minute. We have shit to do."

"Like what? He said to wait."

"No, after he tells us what we need to do, I have something that I need you to do."

_________

Author's Note: We're about to hit the ground running! I know it seems like this is happening a little early in the book but the exchange with Bach isn't supposed to be the climactic point. So stay tuned!

I start work back at Starbucks tomorrow, so I won't be able to update again until Wednesday the 17th!

Vote & comment, my loves! xx