Excerpt from Even If (Chapter 2)

“You gonna go talk to her or what?” Nathan felt his heart skip. Harper caught the way he stared and punched him in the arm this time, grinning. “Go talk to her!” He shook his head, brushing off the suggestion. “No way.”

She smirked. “Come on, Nathan. You can’t keep hiding behind that wall forever.” He opened his mouth to protest, but Harper was already turning back toward the stage, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t make me announce it over the microphone.” Nathan knew better than to tempt her—she definitely would. 

Nathan glanced back at the redhead. Something about her made him want to try. Maybe it was the way she seemed so separate from the chaos around her. Maybe it was just the longing to feel connected to someone. He pushed himself off the wall and started to walk over.

Then, just as he was halfway there, the door swung open. A man stepped in—wearing a worn leather jacket and scuffed boots that made him look like trouble before he even said a word. His dark hair was tousled, just messy enough to seem effortless. There was a rough edge to him, like he’d lived a few stories worth of wild nights and didn’t care who knew it. But then, without hesitation, he slid onto the stool beside the redhead and gave her a smile—half charming, half cocky—that made it clear he was used to getting what he wanted.

She smiled back like she’d been waiting for him all along. Nathan stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. He felt foolish. Of course someone like her wouldn’t be in a place like this alone. He let out a slow breath and stepped back, the weight of another missed moment pressing down harder than it should have.