Loving You Too Long

Nathan was quite surprised. Seeing Haisley’s smile directed at Loretta somehow made his heart beat faster. The girl looked beautiful, although her appearance couldn’t be considered extraordinary. But Haisley clearly looked beautiful. Even the bangs that were usually teased now made her appearance more graceful than ever.

Nathan enjoyed the beautiful sight in front of him. Beautifully arched eyebrows, a small and sharp nose, Haisley’s rosy cheeks were now etched in his eyes. Not to mention her lips, which were reddish and seemed sweet enough to kiss. Unconsciously, Nathan licked his lips.

“I thought you wouldn’t come,” he said coldly, trying to hide his other desires that seemed to rebel against his body.

“Gilbert invited me specifically. I wouldn’t disrespect that,” her cold reply, directed straight at him, made Nathan grind his teeth.

Nathan was about to respond, but then his sister and her dance partner appeared.

“Haisley, give it a try, you’ll like it,” Reia said, panting. Of course, she seemed to be dancing as if Gilbert’s backyard was a nightclub for the night.

“Later,” she declined politely.

Then a guitar riff started playing a melody that Haisley recognized. “Come on,” Steven said, taking her hands and placing them on his shoulders while his hands rested on her waist respectfully.

“I can’t count the times

I almost said what’s on my mind

But I didn’t”

Steven guided her to move left and right slowly and rhythmically. A smile appeared on his face. To her left, Loretta and Nathan were already standing, both dancing in the same position.

“And just the other day

I wrote down all the things I’d say

But I couldn’t

I just couldn’t”

Steven spun her around so now from behind her, Haisley could see Nathan’s face more clearly, his gaze never leaving her.

Baby, I know that you’ve been wonderin’

Mm, so here goes nothin’

As the song played, their movements synchronized, and for a moment, Haisley forgot about everything else. She was just there, dancing, lost in the music, caught between Steven’s gentle hold and Nathan’s intense gaze.

In case you didn’t know

Baby, I’m crazy ’bout you

In case you didn’t know

In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young – Cover by Boyce Avenue

“Why does this song feel like a mockery to her?” Haisley wondered in her heart. It seemed like this way she was expressing her feelings to Nathan. Feelings he undoubtedly knew, but would never be reciprocated. Haisley instantly shifted her gaze. She turned around, her back now facing Loretta’s back.

One song felt incredibly slow to finish. Haisley felt restless. For some reason, it felt like there were hundreds of tiny needles pricking her exposed back, making her hair stand on end involuntarily. Steve lowered his head, watching her intently.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched on his face. Haisley looked up and flashed a smile. “I’m fine. I just feel thirsty,” she said. And she wasn’t lying because since entering Chayton’s residence, she hadn’t touched anything.

Steven led Haisley away from the couples dancing. Reia and Gilbert were sitting at the bar table, engaged in conversation. Haisley walked closer, and the bartender handed her a hurricane glass filled with red and orange liquid. Haisley grabbed it and took a sip.

“H!” Gilbert immediately stopped her. But because Haisley was thirsty and the drink felt refreshing in her throat, she ignored Gilbert’s interruption and ended up finishing half of the glass. Gilbert still looked at Haisley in panic. How could he not? Although the drink looked like regular juice and seemed refreshing, it contained alcohol. And Gilbert knew that Haisley had never consumed alcohol before.

The music changed back to lively. Haisley chose to sit, leaning her body against the bar. She stood to the left of Reia, who was sitting to the left of Gilbert, now facing the dance floor.

“Will she be okay?” Reia asked Gilbert, making Haisley turn her head and furrow her brow.

“Who will be okay?” she asked, curious. Gilbert and Reia both responded with a mutual glance. Steven, who then walked closer, could sense the strange atmosphere there.

“What’s going on?” he asked Reia and Gilbert in turn. Both of them pointed to the half-empty glass behind Haisley’s back. “Is she drunk?” he asked silently. Gilbert and Reia both shrugged.

However, it seemed the effects of the drink were starting to show because Haisley was now smiling, moving her body to the rhythm of the music. Clearly not the usual Haisley who sat still, untempted to dance.

“Your friend is amazing, G. His voice and music are really good,” praised Haisley to Gilbert. Gilbert merely raised the corner of his mouth in response.

Nathan, who stood at the edge of the dance floor, now looked towards the bar. He was searching for Haisley but couldn’t find the girl. Instead, he saw his sister sitting next to the girl he had danced with earlier. And standing beside the girl, with his back to Nathan, was Steven. Nathan recognized him by the leather jacket he was wearing. Nathan’s gaze traveled downward, and between Steven’s legs, he could see Haisley’s tiny feet standing straight. So, were the two of them facing each other? What were they doing?

Then Nathan saw Haisley’s tiny hand reach out and touch the man’s shoulder. Steven seemed to bow his head, and his face appeared to tilt. Nathan’s eyes widened in shock. What were these two doing in public like this? Were they kissing?

Unbeknownst to Nathan, Gilbert looked at his brother with a mischievous grin on his face.

“H, what’s wrong with you?” Steven tilted his head to look at Haisley, who was now bowing with her forehead leaning against her chest.

“Dizzy,” Haisley replied softly, causing Steven to bow his head even more as Haisley’s voice was muffled by the music around them. However, when Steven was about to bow down, someone pulled his jacket from behind, making Haisley, who was holding onto him, stumble. If only Gilbert wasn’t beside her, Haisley might have fallen to the ground or, worse, collided with the bar table behind her.

“Don’t act indecent in this house, buddy,” the cold-toned remark made Gilbert turn around, and Haisley raised her head. Nathan was standing there, staring sharply at Steven. While Steven, confused, looked back at the man with a furrowed brow.

“What do you mean?” he asked, puzzled. But instead of answering Steven’s question, Nathan turned his gaze back to Haisley, who was now in Gilbert’s embrace.

“Is this how you behave? Gilbert, Dean, and Steven. How many more men are you going to openly date?” he asked in his mother tongue, understood only by Reia and Gilbert.

“What’s your problem, Nath?” Gilbert looked at his brother with annoyance. The man’s hand still supporting Haisley’s intoxicated body.

“The problem is she’s acting like a cheap girl,” Nathan pointed with his finger at Haisley, making Reia cover her mouth in surprise.

Gilbert chuckled. “What did she do? She’s just leaning on Steven because she feels dizzy. Do you call every girl who does that cheap?” Gilbert challenged with a loud tone.

Nathan looked at Haisley, who had now lowered her head again. Then he looked at Gilbert, Steven, and Reia. Unable to say anything, he then averted his gaze and shortly after walked away from the bar table to go back inside his house.

Loretta followed the man despite confusion filling her head. Nathan glanced at his mother, who was still sitting at the bar table with snacks in front of her. He ignored her and walked towards the kitchen to get cold water from the refrigerator. Meanwhile, his mother turned back to look at him with a lifted corner of her mouth. Clearly, she saw what her eldest son did outside just now.