Thanks guys for your reviews I really appreciate it, I will sound like a broken record with every update 😅 but I'm so grateful for feedback and just hearing what you think. So keeping this author's note short and sweet here's onto the next chapter…
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing affiliated with One Tree Hill (if only)
Chapter 3
'Morning.' Luke says quietly stepping into their kitchen, he makes his way over to the coffee machine and begins fiddling with the usual buttons. His movements loud in the otherwise glaring silence of their taupe coloured walls.
'Morning…' Haley says before sighing softly to herself. Ever since their unplanned meet and greet with Nathan and Brooke in the supermarket yesterday which ultimately led to Haley's quick and rather reluctant disclosure that she now worked alongside his brother…things had been weird.
She sighs again much louder unwilling to let this continue for any longer than is necessary. 'Luke, why are things weird?'
'They're not weird…' He turns offering her a squinty eyed smile as he takes a sip from his fresh cup of coffee and leans back against the counter.
'They are. You've been unusually quiet and pouty even for you since we got back yesterday.'
'Hey..' He objects. 'There's no need to get personal here…'
A small smile graces her lips, she already feels a touch lighter. 'Tell me I'm lying then.'
'Ok you're not lying.' Lucas admits blowing out a long slow breath.
She hears the long drawl of his breath. 'Luke I can't change the fact that he works in the same building as me…' She begins.
'This isn't that.' Lucas interrupts her softly.
'It's not?'
'No, you can't help that you both work for the same company Haley even if I'm still trying to get my head around that one..' He admits.
'Me too.' Haley softly replies.
'This is…' He sighs in that familiar way of his, eyes looking beyond hers as though he's searching for the right words to fit the page, the story.
'It's Brooke.' He tells her.
Haley meets his gaze curiously allowing seconds that feel more so like minutes to pass between them.
'You know Penelope in my novel?' Lucas says walking over. 'She's based on Brooke…' He says almost hesitantly as he leans across the counter opposite her.
'Oh wow…' A soft admission leaves her as she connects the dots in her head. Of course the protagonist of his first draft of his novel was 'loosely' as Lucas coined it based on himself. She just hadn't realised the girl he had fallen for was Brooke and not Peyton.
'Brooke Penelope Davis..' Lucas says, it's a ghost of a whisper, the type of admission that lingers in regret.
'First love.' Haley counters gently.
'I broke her heart.' Lucas admits with a sad smile.
'It seems like she forgave you.' Haley says.
'She did. It's who she is, Brooke Davis.' He fondly replies. 'All these years later and… I thought the writing process would help me finally come to terms with it but seeing her again…'
'I'm sorry this is so hard for you Luke, seeing her again…seeing Nathan again…' Haley adds on not missing the way he winces at the mere mention of his forgotten brother's name.
'You know the last time I was around the two of them was when we were all in high school. So much has changed and yet when I was there standing across from them last night it felt like nothing had…it was like being transported back in time to that warped way we were. How could it feel like that again so suddenly?'
'Maybe because you haven't moved past it…' Haley replies softly. 'And sure with your writing you've tried Luke but.'
'I have.' Luke interrupts her tepidly, although his resistance to her gentle offering defies that very fact. 'My writing was my way of coming to terms with this Haley.'
'What about Nathan?'
'What about him?'
'He's not in the book Luke.' Haley prods. 'You know what it was like for you telling me about him when we got close. Can you really stand here now and tell me you've come to terms with it?'
'I don't owe him anything Haley, just because he's shown up here on his terms doesn't mean I have to meet him there.'
'I'm not saying you do Luke.' Haley says as she leaves her cereal bowl in the sink. 'But maybe you owe it to yourself.' She tells him patting him on the elbow as she passes him by and leaves the kitchen.
XXXXX
Crap. Crap. Crap. Haley all but chants to herself as her coffee dances out of its cup onto her pale pink shirt as she scurries into Durham & Sons Architecture. It's not like she's even late but her impromptu deep chat with Luke this morning made her wait for the subway much longer and subsequently made her coffee much colder
Disaster James, that's what you are. She reproaches herself with every step.
It might help to look ahead of herself instead of at the cup but god help her she can't risk losing another precious drop even if it is lukewarm.
If she thought her life had been in a tail spin since her father passed well it certainly felt like a deeper one now as she all but scurries through the building, a snaggy stain on her shirt and a brain skittled with thoughts of her and Luke's chat, the weird supermarket incident last night and not forgetting the fact she worked with…
'Whoa….'
Luke's brother whom she's all but crashed into. All 6ft 3 of him.
God he smells good.
'Sorry…' Haley apologises realising his hands have come up to steady her.
'Too much sugar in your cheerios?' Nathan teases her watching as she shyly slips a strand of hair behind her hair as she gathers her bearings.'We seem to be running into each other a lot.' He smiles dropping his hands from her shoulders placing them into his pockets in that nonchalant sexy way of his.
'Quite literally…' Haley offers him a tepid smile.
'Everything ok?' Nathan asks.
'Yea just the subway wasn't on my side this morning nor was my coffee.' Haley says making a show of her obvious stain.
'Well in that case let's get you another..' He says easily nodding towards the door she's just come through.
'Nathan..'
'It's just a coffee Haley.'
She knows she's not doing something majorly wrong, they're queuing up in Starbucks at 7.30 a.m. for heaven's sake but still she feels like she could be caught. It is ridiculous. They are simply co-workers in the coffee shop right next to their building.
Expect this had been intentional, he'd offered and she'd accepted. She hadn't just bumped into him here. Well she had bumped into him, literally…..damn why can't she stop thinking? Her mind is working on overdrive and the working day hasn't even begun. And did he really just pay for her coffee?'
'Haley….' Nathan prods chuckling at the dazed look in her eyes. 'Haley…' He repeats himself.
She jolts a little almost knocking the coffee again to which he gives her a very bemused look and she can actually feel her cheeks flaming up.
Why is she so ungraceful and clumsy and ….why can she feel herself going hot all over?
The unwelcome tingles spread down her spine as he ever so gently places his hand on the small of her back leading her through the crowd of people back outside.
Fresh air, at last. Haley closes her eyes allowing the brisk November air to soothe her.
'Better?' Nathan says. When she opens her eyes she realises he is obviously still highly amused by her considering that crooked smile of his adorning his features.
'Yea….sorry..' She doesn't even know what she is apologising for; being an awkward klutz or how about just plain being herself?
Nevertheless, she feels nervous and fumbly around him all of a sudden and that combination worries her. He's having an obvious impact; she just prays he doesn't notice the effect.
'No need to apologise it is early morning.' He tells her sipping on the hot drink. 'Believe it or not I'm not a morning person..'
'Or not..' Haley scoffs taking a sip from her own glorious warm coffee cup. She chances a glance at him again from behind her cup. Black gloves cover his hands as he holds onto the hot drink, a rich woven black breast coat adorns his muscular frame. Who knew winter could look so alluring on a guy?
She has to stop such thoughts; she can't be thinking of Luke's brother like this no matter how good looking he is.
His deep throaty chuckle jars her from her perusal of him. 'I live like 10 minutes from here, that's my excuse.' He tells her. 'Hence Trader Joes yesterday.'
The supermarket is right beside their work building so really it isn't a completely uncommon occurrence to meet people from work in there.
'So Brooke seems…' Haley finds herself thinking back on yesterday.
'Forward?' Nathan finishes for her with a raised eyebrow.
'I was going to say friendly.'
Nathan chuckles and she gives him a curious look. It isn't the most uncommon description for a person. If anything it is safe and accurate. 'Why is that funny?'
Nathan just shakes his head of his laughter. 'No..it's not that…it's just Brooke has a very different understanding of the term friendly.' He says making finger quotation marks. 'She was often called friendly in high school for other reasons..'
Haley just smiles at the meaning behind his words catching his eyes, he is smiling with her now. She wonders how it feels so seamless between them? So automatic. Just like that first night. Stopping herself from such thoughts Haley glances away clearing her throat. 'We should..' She begins.
'Right…yea sure…' Nathan agrees completely forgetting they had been standing outside of the building in the crisp cool air. She is probably getting cold; he feels silly all of a sudden. It's easy to forget himself and everything else when he is around her. 'I didn't mean to freeze you out of it before work..' He tells her with a tepid smile.
It's very hard not to lean into his way of being and the hardest part is this unassuming, gentle side of him; it's reserved almost and tender. In some ways it's unanticipated giving a guy of his stature and looks but it's what is most appealing about him. It would be easier for her to repel in the way Luke is if he was coming across as the conceited Scott boy his history had deemed him be.
XXXXX
The following morning Nathan had actually met Haley in Starbucks to his surprise unlike the morning previous when she had been carrying her coffee because it had made the journey across the subway with her.
But all hopes that maybe, just maybe she had come into Starbucks with the hope of bumping into him before they started their work day were quashed when he offered to pay for her drink again to which she had politely declined him telling him this, whatever it was, couldn't become a thing between them.
He'd sighed, rubbed his hands through his raven locks dejectedly and stepped back from her.
She'd looked like she'd been about to apologise until he told her not to, it was nobody's fault. He just wished she wouldn't write him off because of his complicated ties to her best friend.
He was here to make things right with Lucas, to draw a line over the past. He knew he needed to focus on his relationship with his brother – maybe the distance Haley was putting between them was necessary right now.
Realising that and accepting that were two very different things.
He is still trying to figure the Luke stuff out, which is what is currently preoccupying his mind as his boss steps into his office at the end of the day. Brian Durham, his manager although some call him Whitey which Nathan had swiftly been told he hadn't earned that right.
His initial opinion of him was that he came across quite gruff and intimidating especially on the days he wore a suit but he soon learned the man had never been intimidating in his nature and many in the office said that seemed to be a part of his persona he adapted with old age. The man may be nearing his retirement but he was damn good at his job, to work alongside him and learn from him was a privilege. Nathan had rather swiftly assumed a rather easy rapport with his manager.
'That pitcher went extremely well yesterday Nathan.' The man himself says in his familiar gruff manner. If one didn't know him they'd doubt his form of appraisal. His tone rarely matches his words.
'Thanks sir..' Nathan smiles.
'How many times I have to tell you there's no need for that..' He says as he approaches Nathan's desk. 'I'm going to get you an assistant just while you're gathering your bearings here. Look it certainly seems like you've been here longer than two weeks with your work ethic and this Anderson renovation is a big project so this will help..'
'I think Barbara has already taken on the role unpaid..'
Whitey chuckles not at all surprised. 'I actually had Barbara in mind but I figured it might be more beneficial for Haley seen as it's a renovation and she can bring a lot to the table there. She also wants as much experience as possible..'
Nathan glances up at his boss eyes wide and doubtful. His look says it all.
'Is that ok with you?'
'Yea…eh…of course…why wouldn't it be?' Nathan fumbles ungraciously scratching the back of his neck.
'You're giving me that same deer caught in the headlights look Haley gave me…' Whitey tells him.
'You told her already?'
'Yea I figured it wouldn't be a problem.'
'It isn't.'
'Right…' Whitey drawls before smirking at his newest employee. 'You know a pretty girl and a man like yourself can work together in an office without sexual relations…'
Nathan nearly chokes back the water he'd just took a sip of. 'I wasn't…' He begins defending himself only he hadn't a clue what he was defending himself for.
'Relax son, I'm just joking….' Whitey muses at his frazzled employee. 'So you're good with having an assistant up here?'
'Sure, yeah…eh thanks sir...I mean Brian, that would be great.'
'You know you can just call me Whitey..' He tells him once again meeting Nathan's surprised eyes and he chuckles. 'That thing about having to earn that right is a whole load of crap, they're just trying to pull the wool over your eyes son.'
Nathan laughs gruffly shaking his head.
'Right it's time we both get going Nathan. If it works for you I'll have Haley start in here tomorrow..'
'Sure. Thanks..eh Whitey.' Nathan says eyeing his boss wondering if he was just joking about the name-calling. He's a funny man Whitey Durham you never knew which side you were going to get.
He just gives him a nod before leaving Nathan be. Nathan runs his hands over his face blowing out a breath.
So much for staying away from Haley.
XXXXX
The ringing of the doorbell has Haley frowning as she glances at her watch. She's quite literally just thrown her heels off her achy feet and threw on her Yale University hoodie ready to completely switch off considering how crazy the past few days has been.
And to add to that Whitey had casually dropped by her desk earlier to tell her he finally had more substantial work for her to dig her claws into. It was the good news she so desperately needed until she was told where she was going.
God, it was like everytime she came to a decision regarding them something was pushing back harder. Making it more difficult.
She was meeting him at every impossible corner. Nathan.
The ringing of the doorbell jars her from her ponderings again as she tugs on the sleeves of her sweatshirt trying to look the least bit presentable as she pulls it back. She's unable to mask the surprise on her face at the perky brunette on the other side.
'Is Lucas home?' Brooke says like her being here is no uncommon occurrence.
'Am..no he must be working late.' Haley says. 'He's usually home by 7. Had you plans?' She figures she's going to have to run back in there and leave Lucas a very angry voicemail if he's left her in this compromising position where she has to tell Brooke he forgot.
'No I just thought I'd drop by and annoy him.' Brooke muses to which Haley almost expels a 'phew.' 'You mind if I?'
'Oh….sure, come in…' Haley says only recognising the tote shopper bag Brooke has in her hands. She steps to the side letting her in and through their short hallway to the open plan living room and kitchen area. The apartment harbours a quaint essence' teal coloured walls of the living room offset perfectly against a calming sea of almond interior. 'Wow this place is really nice.' Brooke says as she takes a seat in on their sofa her eyes dancing around the intricate details of their interiors.
'We can't take all the credit.' Haley tells her. 'The owner decorated we just added in some of our personal touches I guess.'
Brooke smiles watching Haley, she's so inherently pretty in that girl next door kind of way, there's a vibrancy to her that's soft around the edges something Brooke's in awe of.
'I'm sorry I hope I didn't interrupt anything. I just barged in here..'
'Not at all. Luke is usually home around 7 anyway. I was about to order us some pizza you game?'
'Absolutely.' Brooke says as she reaches into her tote bag. 'I brought the wine.'
XXXXX
Three quarters of pizza and over half a bottle of wine later Brooke and Haley are sitting on the carpet beneath the couch chatting. 'No way…oh my gosh I can't unsee that.' Haley giggles as Brooke tells her about the time Lucas dressed up as Johnny Lee thinking she fancied him.
'I'll never forget it.' She says laughing alongside her. 'In fact it gets even funnier every time I remember it.'
'That's just Luke though, big old romantic.' Haley muses. 'Only he would do that.'
Her words hang softly for several seconds.
'He tell you about us?' Brooke wonders quietly.
Haley nods. 'He told me he wasn't proud of the person he was then. He told me he broke your heart…' She admits.
Brooke circles the rim of her wine glass her finger tracing the delicate pattern. 'We were just kids. We all made mistakes. Sometimes I wonder if they were even ours to make…'
'What do you mean?'
'You know Lucas and Nathan were beginning to acknowledge each other as brothers?'
'I didn't know that.' Haley says softly.
'Yea..' Brooke replies a wistful smile on her face. 'It was magic watching it happen before Lucas and Nathan even realised it was happening I could see it, they had to work together on the basketball court and so that gradually just started to seep into their lives off the court. So much got in the way of that though, they let so much get in the way of them..' Brooke admits taking another sip of her wine as she glances across at Haley. 'What happened between Luke, Peyton and I….that was our mistake to make but Luke and Nate…they were paying the price of Dan's mistake, they've never got past it. Nathan never speaks about Dan, like ever. It's actually really sad and I think maybe if he had Lucas in his life…he might..'
'Lucas doesn't either.' Haley says softly, catching onto every word Brooke relays to her. Nathan had spoken to her albeit briefly about his father the first night they met. Somehow she can't relay that very fact to Brooke right now even with the traces of wine in her veins she feels like it's not something Nathan would want her to give away. Like it was just for Haley. Although maybe she's giving herself to much credit and in reality he told her because to him at that time she was a complete stranger.
She's not so sure anymore, she's conflicted yet curious. It's the curious side that unsettles her very foundation, the side of her that wants to know him more. Her curiosity bleeds risk.
'How do you do it?' Haley asks her quietly then watching as Brooke gave her a curious look. 'Be friends with them both….'
Brooke smiles. 'They're both good guys. If they can't see it in each other, well I refuse to take part in that..while also hoping they'll eventually get their heads out of their asses and come around.'
Haley just smiles at her answer the now empty wine glass hanging between her dainty fingers.
'You can be friends with him if you want, you know? Nathan..' Brooke tells her.
'It's not….we just we work together now and it's….' Haley struggles to articulate herself and their situation.
'He told me about the night you met…' Brooke supplies as she reaches across for the wine and refills her glass.
The trickle of wine holds the space between them for a few seconds before Haley speaks. The wine leaving her inhibitions lose. 'The kiss..it wasn't…it was just a goodbye kiss..' Haley says biting her lip.
'Hold on….the kiss…' Brooke nearly spits out her wine, her eyes dancing in excitement altering the rather calm space between them in a matter of seconds.
Haley inwardly groans, damn her stupid mouth.
'You kissed?' Brooke repeats. Her green eyes look like their sparkling in the demi lit room.
Haley sighs leaving the wine glass down on the table in front of her, she can feel herself sobering up rather quickly as she realises how easily this can get out now. 'I left and he just...he came after me and we kissed...that's all it was Brooke; it didn't mean…'
'Hey you don't need to worry about me knowing I won't say anything.' Brooke says realising Haley was starting to panic over her admission. 'I'm just surprised.' At Haley's look Brooke continued. 'Nathan never said, he usually wouldn't be all shy about that sort of stuff..'
'Yea well it really wasn't anything..' Haley tries to justify.
'Let me tell you something about Nathan and then we can let this go okay?' Brooke says knowing Haley is a little uneased by this whole turn of conversation. 'The Nathan that Luke knew in high school, the surly, defensive, determined nothing's going to get past me…that's the guy I guess a lot of people saw him as, some probably still do. The guy I know is Luke's little brother so much it hurts, he's always kept the world at arm's length you know..'
'That seems to be something they have in common..' Haley ponders sadly.
Brooke just nods. 'But I feel like you might have met the Nathan I know…'
'Why are you telling me this?
Brooke just shrugs with a smile. 'Because not many people meet that guy.'
'Brooke…'
'I'm not trying to turn it into something Haley.' She promises the pretty blonde. 'I just I guess I don't want you to write him off as who you think he is.'
'Sorry Hales, I can't believe the red line is still down on the subw….Brooke…' Lucas says stupefied stepping into the living room where the girls are sprawled out on the carpet beside the coffee table.
'Surprise…' Brooke replies sweetly as she glances back at him. 'Haley and I were bonding…'
'That's a scary thought.' He admits with a squinty smile.
'Hey Lucas Scott you used to be sweet you know?' Brooke calls back at him as he steps into the kitchen.
Seconds later he returns with a bottle of beer in hand. 'What have I missed?'
'Oh you know just giving Haley a rehash of our history…' Brooke teases him smiling at the look on his face. 'I'm kidding, kind of…'
'On that note I'm going to let you two stay up and 'rehash' the past.' Haley teases. 'Thanks for the wine.'
'You won't be saying that in the morning.' Brooke says rather amused.
Haley just shakes her head before playfully knocking Lucas across the head as she passes him by.
'I like her.' Brooke says as Haley goes down to her room.
'Yea.' Lucas smiles. 'Haley's great.'
'Luke…' Brooke prods him then realising he is becoming lost inside his own thoughts as he stares at the beer bottle.
He glances down at her from where she is perched on the carpet next to where he sits.
'I'd like to think the past is behind us right?' It's more so a rhetorical question but still he nods. Sure they hadn't seen each other much over the last few years but they had met up when he was in New York, they had sent the odd Christmas or birthday text neither fully sure why they did so when towards the end of high school their contact had been non-existent. It was like a non-verbal understanding had just grown between them as they matured into their adult years. Brooke supposed in being friends with Peyton again it had in some way healed the hurt with Lucas too.
'Why are you resisting it so hard with Nathan?'
'Brooke…' Lucas responds almost in warning. 'If this is why you're..'
'No, I'm not here for that. I'm here for us and god if Nathan even knew I was saying this to you he'd berate me for getting involved but I just stand back and watch you continue to destroy a relationship that could single handily impact your life in the best way if you let it…'
'I remember letting it before and it impacted my life in the worst way…' Lucas admits while taking a swig of his beer.
'Can you honestly say in your heart that you believe that?'
When he remains stubbornly quiet Brooke sighs.
'I can't get past it Brooke.' He admits softly. 'That day.'
'We all had a part to play in that day Luke.'
'Maybe. But Nathan he...'
'It's not his fault.' Brooke says.
'Maybe not directly but it was his decision and that decision had consequences.'
'You think he hasn't carried enough weight from that for all of us? He's trying to get past it Luke, why can't you?'
'You remember what Keith said to you about your brother?' Brooke ponders not missing the way Lucas closes his eyes at her words. 'He didn't want you to end up like him and Dan, he said you had a choice to change the narrative.'
'Keith's gone Brooke.'
'Yea he is but Nathan is still here.'
XXXXX
Nathan glances up from his drawings hearing the shuffling into his room.
'Haley….hey… 'He says somewhat shyly, eyeing the petite blonde in front of him. 'Here let me…' He offers as she balances the wicker box between her hands.
'It's ok it's just this box. Barbara has the rest of my stuff' She says with a small smile.
'Look Haley, Whitey said he came to you first and I didn't…' Nathan begins unsure how to handle this situation, it's strange for him to behave so hesitantly; something he has become acutely aware of being in the company of Haley. It's not that he's a cockily know it all like his father had always been but he usually felt confident in situations particularly ones where a pretty woman was involved.
Until her.
'It's ok.' Haley says catching onto his hesitancy. It's kind of adorable to see a man of his looks behaving so. She quickly berates herself for appreciating that very fact. 'I've been looking to move from the front desk for a while. Whitey was waiting for the next opportunity..'
'I know I just thought…' Nathan replies as his eyes regard her curiously.
God his eyes, they're so expansively blue and sincere in that moment. There's a depth to them she's never witnessed in his brother's. 'It's work you know?' She offers lamely forcing her gaze away from him so she can gather her thoughts. She needs to say this because despite her loyalty to Lucas this was still eating away at her. 'Look Nathan I didn't mean to be so blunt about the coffee the other morning..'
'Haley, it's fine I get it. You don't need to feel bad. I understand.'
He's giving her a way out and yet she can't take it. This isn't about him. It's her. She does feel bad. Juggling her loyalty to Lucas with her newfound curiosity and dare she say subtle fondness for his younger brother has had her in a constant tailspin. Brooke juggles it almost seamlessly but then again Brooke hadn't met Lucas on the back of a situation that had caused him a great amount of pain. When Haley met Lucas their first year of college it was only a few short months after he'd lost Keith, after Nathan had all but ran out of his life.
'It does seem like we keep running into each other though…' He says with a low laugh completely unaware of her internal debate.
'Sorry wrong choice of words..' He recovers noticing the frown on her face.
'No…it's not that. It's just Brooke was over last night…' Haley says rubbing her temples.
'Oh she got you.' Nathan chuckles knowing full well what was the source of Haley's pain.
'She got me over a bottle of chardonnay yea…' Haley relents as she drops the wicker basket on her desk on the opposite side of the office space.
'She's easier over Pinot Grigio..'
Haley just gives him a very amused look and Nathan quickly backtracks. 'Oh no….not like that. God, I just realised how that sounded….not that way.' He fumbles wondering when he ever fumbled in front of a woman? 'We haven't….'
Haley giggles softly and he can actually feel himself blushing. Great not only is he a hesitant fumbling idiot, now add blushing to the list, he winces internally.
'It did sound..' Haley begins.
'I know what it sounded like.' Nathan mumbles trying to pull himself together a bit. 'So you need any help with your stuff?' He tries swiftly moving the conversation along.
'No…thanks eh Barbara was getting a fax machine sent up there..'
'Yea I've needed one of those a while.'
'I don't know about that I think she'll miss you stopping by the desk every day now.'
'I wasn't stopping by for Barbara I think she knows that.' Nathan teases easily reclaiming his former composure. Well, what little composure he has around her. Their eyes meet holding each other.
'Well isn't this cute…' The buoyant brunette says as she steps into the space breaking the pair apart from each other. 'I was talking about the office…' She gives a knowing wink Haley's way.
'Hi Quinnie, paper jam again this morning?' Haley teases knowing her sister's usual habits lottering around the photocopier to pick up the male species in the building.
'Haha….' Quinn deadpans. 'Morning to you too sis. Now where's all your stuff?'
'Barbara has it. There really isn't much more' Haley tells her.
'Sister?' Nathan says evidently surprised by this information.
'The one and only, Quinn James.' Quinn says as she walks over to shake Nathan's hand properly. He steps up offering her a hand shake and an easy smile. 'At least it's not as awkward as when Haley realised you had a brother eh?' She tells him.
'Quinn…' Haley mumbles under her breath. Completely inappropriate. Not that she'd expect any less from her meddling sister.
'Right I can see it now.' Nathan says observing the two of them.
'What?' Haley wonders with a quirk of her eye. Quinn just has that same amused expression on her face.
'She's got that same snarky sarcasm you have.' He teases Haley. 'No offense.'
'None taken.' Quinn muses unashamed.
'I'm not snarky.' Haley says resting her hand on her hip for extra effect.
'You kind of are baby James.' Quinn muses.
Haley just gives her a look. 'Well he said you have it too..'
'That's a compliment in my world.'
Haley just rolls her eyes.
'You coming to the spritzer tomorrow night Nate?' Quinn says shortening his name like she's knowing him for years. 'It's like a rite of passage in this company. Haley would know all about that? Wouldn't you….'
Haley looks like she's about 2 seconds away from pulling on the ends of her sister's hair to which Nathan is very amused.
'Our Hales consoled Tanner up on the 4th floor who had just broken up with his girlfriend by telling him her boyfriend could never get her to orgasm from sex either…'
'Quinn….' Haley intercedes her cheeks burning a bright red.
'Have you had one since?' Nathan teases Haley.
She turns her glare on Nathan this time who is chuckling. And there's Quinn laughing alongside with him.
'Screw you both.' Haley mumbles placing her head in her hands her forgotten hangover tracing its way back into her memory. Why must their laughing be so loud?
'Love you sis..' Quinn hollers out as she leaves the office space.
'My sister Quinn James.' Haley says pulling her head up from her hands hoping Nathan wouldn't dare venture into what Quinn mentioned then. She's going to kill her sister later.
'Yea I didn't…'
'Yea I get that a lot.' Haley says knowing what Nathan's next words are going to be. How's her short 5ft2 ass related to Quinn's 5ft8 modelesque stature? It's nothing she hasn't heard before.
'Oh no….I didn't mean….' Nathan backtracks once again flustered with how to tell the blonde just how much he thinks of her. He couldn't do that; Haley has strictly drawn lines ones he felt were already coming a little blurry in the nature of their roles in work. 'It's just she's so uninhibited and you're…so demure I guess.' He says honestly. Gosh must he be so terrible with words?
'Right…' Haley replies quietly not sure how to take his words.
'It's nice.' He tells her earnestly as brown meets blue again.
She has to stop catching his eyes like that but it seems impossible.
'Eh….oh before I forget I copied your designs onto A3 card yesterday. I thought it might be better for presentation you know as opposed to flimsy paper but if it's not right…' Haley begins to ramble wondering why all of a shot she feels completely frazzled as his tall frame towers over her. 'I need to go get them from reception.' Truthfully she just needs a distraction.
'That's perfect thanks.' Nathan replies walking back around to sit at his desk. 'Haley…' He calls out just as she reaches the door. 'Thanks for everything, I know it hasn't been easy on you basically being shoehorned assisting me especially with your ties to Luke.'
'It's fine, it's my job right?' She smiles.
'Right.' He agrees with a timid smile.
And then she leaves him alone with his thoughts once more and he wonders how the hell this is all going to play out?