Chapter 12
12
Nathan
I’ve been taking my time with Nataly. We’ve just been developing a friendship throughout this time, but even in the little moments, there’s been something different about her. It’s those moments—the easy laughter, the way she listens, the way she lights up when she talks about her passions—that have made me want to take my time and really get to know her. I think back on a conversation we had.
“I think God maybe—just maybe —created the color pink just for me. And maybe Elle Woods,” she laughed.
“Who’s Elle Woods?” I scrunched my brows.
“WHO’S ELLE WOODS?!” She whisper-shouted. “Only the most iconic woman in cinematic history. Legally Blonde?”
“Oh, yeah,” I laughed. “I know her now. Pink is definitely your color.” I grinned at her.
“Only the best color on the planet. I’m instantly happier when I see it,” she grinned back.
She’s not just fun to talk to—she’s someone I genuinely look forward to hearing from. I’ve been really busy with work and I’ve barely seen her around church. Granted, our church is so big and I go to a different service than she does, so our timings and paths haven’t aligned very much. But any chance I get to see her or I think about her, I immediately text her. I like her. All of our conversations have been fun and easy. She’s just so easy-going.
Tonight I’m actually going to the service she goes to, and I’m wondering if I’ll run into her. I’ll be with my friend Eddie, and maybe we can all hang out as I’m sure she’s probably at church with Joy. Eddie’s from South Africa, and he’s got this very outgoing, larger-than-life personality. It’s why we get along so well. My friends are all really outgoing. I love their energy.
I’m not shy, I just don’t have as much to say as frequently. I’m more reserved, and I choose my words. While I’m very proud of Northern Ireland, I also know its flaws. The culture can be a little more defensive. It led me to speak mainly when I felt like I had something to share, or where it was a safe space to share any thought. But I draw energy from people who are full of life.
That’s another reason why I like Nataly. She is so outgoing. There are lots of things that attract me to her. Even though we’re still getting to know each other, I can already tell—she’s kind, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about people. I’m also really impressed by her Youtube channel. The confidence she has as she sings in them, her voice, and her skill in making those videos are all impressive.
I watched them and I was mesmerized. Her voice is so unique, it’s deeper than you would expect when you first meet her. Her natural voice is so bright, so upbeat, that when she sings, you don’t anticipate it. I meant it when I first saw the video of her singing at church. I wasn’t expecting her. She blew me away. I was so impressed with all of her singing and videos, I showed them to my connect group.
And the more I talk to Nataly, the more I want to make sure she knows from all my subtle hints that I like her. I haven’t outright told her yet, that I’d like to spend a little more time with her. She hasn’t mentioned the guy from church again, and I don’t want to make assumptions. Maybe they’re just friends. Still, I’ve been careful. The last thing I want is to step on someone else’s toes. But I feel like the hints I’ve been dropping show how I’m starting to feel about her.
As I step out the door and grab my keys, I pull out my phone. I could wait to see if she’s around church tonight, but I may as well just text.
Me: Hey are you going to this service?
She immediately responds back.
Nataly: Hey! :) Yes I am, I’ll be there with Joy tonight.
Me: Awesome. Want to hang out with me and my friend after the service?
Nataly: We’re actually heading to Tinseltown because I’ve been wanting to try these waffles for a while now, and I hear they’re amazing. I can never resist a good dessert. You guys should totally join us (unless you’re afraid I’ll out-eat you when it comes to waffles).
Me: So you have a sweet tooth? You didn’t get enough of my sweetness?
Nataly: Dessert is my favorite meal of the day. I confess, I have to always look at the dessert menu before I look at the mains. How else am I supposed to know whether I should leave space for dessert or not?
Me: I like the way you think. I’ll text you after the service.
It’s a spring night, and I feel some of the brisk cold outside as I put on my helmet. I’ve just got my motorbike leather jacket, and not my entire gear .
I’ve always been into motorbikes. I remember I used to go on a motorbike game in the arcade down in Newcastle in Northern Ireland when I was a kid. I’d ride all the time, it was my favorite game. I finally got my first bike when I was 17, and it felt like I was claiming a part of myself I’d been waiting for. My hands were itching to get on a Suzuki Bandit 600cc. Not just for the speed or the power, but for the freedom it promised. There’s something about a bike that strips everything down to the essentials: you, the machine, and the open road.
I love the adrenaline. It’s the same kind of feeling I get when I take risks, when I chase adventure—and maybe even when I take my time figuring out my feelings for someone like Nataly. The bike has always been more than just a ride; it’s been a reflection of my need to explore, to push forward, to feel alive. When I finally passed my test, that freedom became my reality. And when I passed my test, fully free to adventure around, we planned the most epic road trip.
My dad and I did an 18-country motorbike tour across Europe when I was eighteen, along with a group of guys from church. We started in Northern Ireland, rode down through Scotland and England, then crossed the Channel and kept going—France, Switzerland, Italy, all the way to Albania. Croatia was my favorite stop. The amount of countries we hit felt like a bucket list cross-off. The coast was stunning, the heat unbearable in full leathers, so we’d pull over and dive straight into the Adriatic. As soon as I was able to sink into the warm yet refreshingly cooling sea, there was nothing like it.
One evening, after a long day riding through the sun, we stopped by this no-frills restaurant right on the water. Pizza, sunset, sea breeze. It wasn’t fancy, but it was perfect. We were salty, sunburnt, and happy. That trip was everything I loved—freedom, adrenaline, adventure. And now, years later, it’s that same pull toward adventure that makes me feel as if I’m ready to chase something new… someone new.
Tonight, it’s a lot colder than it was on our trip around the Mediterranean. The air in London nips a little still at night as it’s the beginning of spring. But my leathers keep me warm, and the feeling of being able to lane split in traffic in London just spurs me on. I can get anywhere and everywhere in London as quickly as possible.
I park up next to church and head in with my gear on. Since it’s only my leather jacket and helmet, I put them away in the cloak room so I can get around freely and meet Eddie.
“Hey, bro,” Eddie says as he claps me on the back. “I see you’ve come on your motorbike. Not quite as dapper as the queen’s soldiers, but it’s a good look,” he teases.
It’s his job to outfit the queen’s soldiers.
“Hey, not all of us are living in the queen’s palace,” I chuckle. “By the way, you up for some waffles after the service?”
“Waffles? Count me in,” he replies as we walk into the service.
As we’re leaving the service, I text Nataly right away.
Me: Hey, you guys still heading to Tinseltown?
Nataly: Yep! Joy’s already talking about those waffles like her life depends on it. You and your friend coming?
Me: Wouldn’t miss it. Hope you’re ready to defend your dessert obsession. I take my milkshakes very seriously.
Nataly: You’re on. But fair warning—I’ve never been beaten when it comes to dessert.
I grin down at my phone and then look back up. Eddie’s giving me the look. I haven’t told him yet who we’re going for waffles with.
“So, who’s the girl?” he says, his voice teasing.
“That obvious?” I reply .
“Ha! Mate, you’re always chill and easy-going, and it’s hard to ruffle your feathers. But whoever she is, I can tell from the way you’ve been looking at your phone that you like her.” He raises an eyebrow. “So? Spill.”
I hesitate for a second, but I know Eddie. There’s no way he’s letting this go. “Her name’s Nataly,” I say, trying not to smile too much when I say her name, and probably failing. “She’s from Brazil but grew up in the States. She’s crazy talented. She’s got this YouTube channel where she sings, and man, you wouldn’t believe her voice. She’s really bubbly and outgoing. I think for the first time I’m actually more attracted to her personality than I am her looks. She’s gorgeous, sure—but it’s her personality that really gets me. That’s new for me.”
Eddie grins. “So what’s her friend like?” He winks.
“Shut up,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Anyway, we’re just hanging out. I’m still figuring out how she feels about me. I’ve been dropping hints, but—” I shrug. “When we met, I wasn’t sure if she was dating this guy from church or not. She hasn’t mentioned him at all though. I want to spend some more time with her and then I can go from there.”
The question nags at me more than I’d like to admit. I don’t see her with Joel around anymore. But does that really mean she’s available? Or am I just reading into things because I want it to be true? The thought keeps circling in my mind. I know I’m playing it cool on the outside, but every time my phone buzzes, I hope it’s her. Every time she smiles at me, every time we text late into the night, I want to believe it means something—but there’s always that sliver of doubt. It’s a strange feeling, this uncertainty—exciting, but also unnerving. And tonight, I can’t shake the idea that maybe what happens after waffles will tell me everything I need to know.
Eddie claps a hand on my shoulder. “Sounds good bro. Here, let me show you something real quick. She might like it.”
Tinseltown’s buzzing when we arrive. The smell of sugar and fried dough hits us the second we walk in, and my stomach growls on cue. Across the room, I spot Nataly and Joy. The second she sees me, her whole face lights up—like a streetlamp just flicked on. Except brighter. Warmer.
Since it’s not too far from church and I carry a spare helmet, I gave Eddie a ride to Tinseltown.
“Hey, you made it!” she calls, waving us over.
I introduce Eddie, and we settle in, the conversation taking off right away. Joy’s talking about her favorite dessert spots in London while Eddie’s animatedly comparing South African food. But my attention keeps drifting back to Nataly: the way her eyes crinkle when she laughs, the way she plays with her napkin when my gaze lingers on her a little too long. I order my Oreo milkshake, ready to see if it gives GBK a run for its money in my book. I have to try Oreo milkshakes wherever I go.
“So,” Eddie says suddenly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Nataly, you want to know a secret talent Nathan has?”
I shoot him a look, but he just grins wider.
“Oh yeah?” She turns to me, curious. “What’s that?”
“Well, he’ll just have to show you,” Eddie replies with a smirk. I can tell Nataly doesn’t miss a thing.
I pick up a napkin, a silly trick Eddie taught me, but one that always manages to draw attention. In a minute, a delicate rose takes shape. I hold it out to Nataly, and when our fingers brush as she takes it, a jolt of electricity sparks through me. I hand it over to Nataly with a smile, and her cheeks flush pink. Her eyes, green with that warm caramel center, flick up to meet mine. They linger on me a little longer than normal. The warm caramel center turns into actual gold from the heat that passes through. Joy is looking between her, me, and Eddie. She’s chuckling like she knows.
“Thank you,” Nataly says softly, turning the napkin rose over in her fingers. “That’s amazing,” she says, still blushing. She looks cute with that blush on her, just like her favorite color. “Where’d you learn that? ”
“A friend taught me,” I say, my voice low, and I can’t help the wink I toss Eddie’s way. She laughs, and the sound goes straight to my chest.
We spend the next hour talking, laughing, and sharing stories. Nataly’s easy to tease, and every time she throws her head back in laughter. She has this effortless joy, the kind that’s contagious. And even when she’s not talking, I catch her fiddling with the napkin rose I made, turning it over in her fingers like it’s something precious. That does something to me, making something warm and steady unfurl in my chest.
She wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s so confident and bubbly, and I love teasing her, pushing just enough to make her eyes spark and that laughter spill out. My attention stays locked on her, drawn in without even trying.
At some point, I ask Joy how the two of them met.
“We actually went to school together in Bournemouth,” she says, smiling at Nataly. “I moved over in year nine, and we slowly became friends.”
“That’s cool,” I say. “And now you’re both in London. I had a mate from Northern Ireland doing a similar job to mine for a while—it was nice having someone familiar around at first.”
“Oh yeah?” Nataly perks up, her green eyes shining with curiosity. “How’d you end up in London with this job anyway? I know it’s based in Northern Ireland, but what made you want to move over?”
“Well,” I start, leaning back a little. “I applied for this job back in Northern Ireland, project management in construction. I had the degree, but not much hands-on experience. They needed someone to manage their London sites since most of their work is here. At first, I was flying back and forth every week. Staying here eleven days, back home for a few. But it got awkward after a while. I wasn’t seeing my friends back home because I was always here, and I couldn’t really put down roots in London either because I was always back there. Eventually, I preferred being here so I put in the request, and they fully transferred me over.”
“And what made you want to move over?” she asks, her voice soft. But there’s this curious edge to it, like she’s trying to figure me out.
I think about it for a second. “I like adventure,” I admit. “I was ready for something new. I’d never really moved away before, not properly. Spent a few months in America a couple times, but it didn’t feel like moving away. When this job came up… it felt like a God thing. So I said yes.”
Her smile grows a little. “And do you like London compared to Northern Ireland?”
“I didn’t at first,” I say honestly. “Didn’t know anyone, felt a bit isolated. But now I love it. Northern Ireland will always be home, but London’s got this energy. There’s always something happening. The adventure of it… it’s kind of addictive.”
We carry on talking, the conversation flowing so easily it’s almost effortless. We bounce between stories—my motorbike trip through Europe, their first year of university, the chaos of moving cities—and I keep catching the way Nataly looks at me when she thinks I’m not noticing. And every time she laughs, that feeling in my chest only gets stronger.
At some point, Joy checks the time and realizes she has to leave. “I should head to the station,” she says, standing up. Nataly checks if she’s okay getting there on her own, and when Joy insists she’s fine, we say our goodbyes. Eddie takes off not long after, leaving just me and Nataly.
And I won’t lie, I love having her to myself.
We walk back toward my motorbike, the night air crisp but not too cold. There’s this buzz between us, this thing I don’t think either of us is quite saying out loud yet. But I feel it. It’s in the way she keeps glancing up at me, the way our arms brush as we walk. The air feels electric, and I can’t resist.
“How about a ride on my motorbike?” I ask, my voice low as I step a little closer.
I see her breath catch. That blush rises on her cheeks again, and I can’t help but hope she says yes, because the thought of her arms wrapped around me as we speed through the city makes my heart pound.
“Oh, I’m not sure…” she says after a beat. “I might have to take a rain check. Also, my parents would definitely freak out if they knew I was on a motorbike.”
“I promise I’ll keep you safe,” I say softly, my eyes on hers. “In every way.”
The words slip out before I can stop them, but I don’t regret it. Because it’s true. And I want her to know it. Not just about the bike, but about this . About the way I feel when I’m around her.
The blush deepens, and I can see she’s glowing.
“Maybe some other time,” she whispers.
I try not to let my disappointment show, but I think she catches it anyway.
“I love the thought of the adventure,” she adds quickly. “And I’ll maybe take you up on it sometime. But my dad’s… well, he’s extremely cautious. He’s freaked me out about everything since I was a kid, so maybe I take his warnings with a pinch of salt.” She laughs a little, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I think I’ll have to warm up to the idea of getting on a bike.”
She seems like the kind of person who likes to follow the rules. But there’s this spark in her, this restlessness just under the surface. Like she wants to break out of her comfort zone, but she’s not quite ready yet. I can’t help but wonder what it would take for her to take that leap.
Her phone buzzes then, and she glances down at the screen. For just a second, something flickers across her face—something I can’t read. Is it hesitation? Guilt? Conflict? I don’t know, but it leaves a shadow behind.
Whatever it is, it’s gone before I can figure it out. She looks back up at me with a small smile, but the moment leaves me wondering.
“Well,” I say, deciding not to push it, “you owe me a motorbike ride now.” I flash her a wink, going in for a hug.
She smells fruity and sweet, and it’s so her . It’ s warm and bright, and when I pull back, the scent lingers on my leather jacket. I don’t mind at all.
She waves one last time before heading off, and I watch her go, my heart still racing.
I’m pulling my jacket back on and getting my helmet ready when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out, and my stomach flips when I see her name.
Nataly: Maybe I will take you up on that ride someday.
I chuckle, sliding my helmet on with a grin I can’t quite shake.
Me: I’ll hold you to that.
As I start the engine and the familiar roar of the bike fills the night air, I know one thing for sure: I’m already counting down the days until that someday comes.