Chapter 24
24
Nathan
It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve started seeing each other. Since that night I cooked her dinner, my phone has been lighting up constantly—and it’s always Nataly. I love it. We’re texting back and forth all of the time. Even when work keeps me busy, I find myself reaching for my phone, scrolling through our messages, rereading the last thing she sent me, just to feel close to her.
Work has been extra busy though. Being a project manager for a marble company based in Northern Ireland means I have to be on-site for some of the most highly sought-after hotels in London. The Shangri-La London, Claridge's, the Berkeley. All high-end, luxury hotels fitted with the finest marble. It’s pretty cool being able to see these different places getting decked out.
Managing the projects has also meant I’ve had to make a few trips up north with some marble. I have to take the work van and drive all the way up from London to Holyhead in Wales, get the ferry across, and go from Dublin to Banbridge, just near home. There’s always materials or supplies that they need transported across for each project, and since I’m the guy managing the site, the responsibility falls on me to transport them back and forth.
It means I haven’t seen Nataly as much as I want to. But it’s given us a lot of opportunity to have late night phone calls. We’ve talked for hours each night—under the guise of keeping me awake on a monotonous journey. Each conversation is filled with so many things we want to know about each other.
I don’t normally find it easy to ask people questions. My family isn't the best at communicating. We always try our best, though.
But with Nataly, it’s just too easy to get caught up in hours of conversation. It’s like every new thing I learn about her pulls me deeper. I want to know her favorite songs, what makes her cry, what makes her laugh so hard she can’t breathe. I want to know every detail, every story, every little thought that passes through her mind. And the best part? She wants to know me too. There’s no games. There’s plenty of flirting—but there’s no mixed signals. She makes everything feel easy and uncomplicated.
She’s not guarded. She doesn’t have her walls up, her defenses ready to fight me. She wears her heart on her sleeve in a way that is confident, strong, and emotionally secure. She’s willing to put herself out there and risk rejection. She’s willing to love and lose, because love is worth it all. That’s so different. It’s not often you see that type of vulnerability. It makes me want to protect her. Love her.
As I’m making my way back from Wales and I’m now 30 minutes away from my house, it’s broad daylight. I decided to take the earlier boat so I could be back in London during the day and I can have a good night’s sleep tonight. I can’t help but think back on our conversations. She hung up a little while ago because she had to go to class, but her voice is still ringing in my mind. My hand twitches on the steering wheel, resisting the urge to grab my phone and send her something silly just to keep her talking to me a little longer.
I love that the conversations range from silly stuff to deep and meaningful. I love how much fun she brings to everyday life. Just earlier, we were talking about some of her childhood and embarrassing moments.
“I used to be a sleepwalker,” she said. She gave a little pause after she admitted it. I could hear in her tone she finds it a little embarrassing.
“Sleepwalking?” I asked. I left the door wide open for her to fill in with a story I knew was inevitably coming.
“I have lots of stories. Or , should I say, my friends have lots of stories of me growing up.” I could hear the smile in her voice before she even laughed. The kind of laugh that makes me grin just hearing it. “But my favorite one has to be the one at home, at my parents’ house when I was about thirteen.”
“What happened?” I can just tell by her laugh this will be an entertaining one.
“Well, I fell asleep on the couch for some reason that night. My parents were talking in the kitchen, and they could see out of it into the living room. All they see is me, getting up from the couch, and making my way to the front door of our apartment. Naturally, they’re confused, so Dad comes over to me and sees me pulling down my pants. And he asks, ‘Nataly, what are you doing?’ And I replied with ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ apparently like in a ‘duh’ sort of way. Because of course, why wouldn’t I be needing to go to the bathroom at the front door?” She laughs as she says this sarcastically.
I’m grinning already.
“So, then he says, ‘Nataly, that’s not where the bathroom is’ and I’m like, ‘I HAVE to go to the BATHROOM’ in a like ‘Dad why aren’t you letting me do my business in peace, thank you very much’ and he has to physically drag me all the way to the bathroom, and I wake up on the toilet wondering where I am.”
I start laughing down the phone.
“That’s hilarious. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of anyone sleepwalking before. Do you still do it now? ”
“No, thank God, that’s something I’ve grown out of. But I hear I’m still a sleep talker.” I can almost hear a blush in her voice.
“Well, I’d love to hear it someday.”
Am I thinking of our future already? Of finding out what kind of ring she wants so I can make this a forever thing? Waking up next to her for the rest of my life?
Yeah. And the craziest part? It doesn’t feel crazy at all. It feels like the most natural thing in the world.
But there’s some people I want her to meet first, and I haven’t even asked her to be my girlfriend yet, let alone my wife. But I don’t do anything halfway. If we’re doing this, I’m all in. And if there’s one thing I know for sure?
She’s it.
Now, time to introduce her to my world.
I’ve been home a day, and I already have to go back again tomorrow. Tonight is a friend’s birthday; my friends are all gathering to celebrate, and I want to take Nataly. We’re still not official, which is exactly why I want her to meet my friends now. They’ll all know her already when I finally make her my girlfriend.
I told her where to meet me—at this restaurant in Central London—and I can’t wait to see her. Tonight she’ll have to dress up for dinner, and I’m especially looking forward to that . I haven’t seen her dressed up since New Year’s Eve.
She should be here any second. My pulse already knows it. It kicks up, thrumming under my skin. I can’t wait to grab her by the waist, to feel her close. I especially can’t wait to kiss her senseless again, but since we’re not public yet, that’ll have to wait until the end of the night when I drop her off. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait that long, but I guess I’ll have to.
I just need to make her my girlfriend. And I’m already working on a plan to make that happen—soon.
I hear a soft, “Hey, you,” and turn around.
Wow.
She’s wearing a black, one-shoulder mini dress with heels to match.
It knocks the breath out of my lungs. My pulse kicks up. My throat has gone dry. The dress fits like it was made for her, hugging every perfect curve. She’s petite and delicate, but her curves show off her Brazilian and Italian heritage—another thing I love about her. I’m itching to press her close to me, to draw my hands up her neck and bring her mouth to mine. This dress is making me crazy.
I smirk. “Hey, beautiful,” I say. Her cheeks go pink, and I hold back a groan. I love making her blush.
I pull her into a hug, though it’s way too short for my liking. Every time I touch her, my heart pounds. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.
“Let’s go on inside. How are you feeling?” I ask, catching her fingers in mine. I know everyone’s waiting, so I let my touch linger just a second longer. We’re keeping things casual in front of people, which means I have to let her go—and I hate it. So I hold onto her just before we step inside.
“Yeah, good! Maybe a little nervous? Meeting all your friends! Everybody knows everybody, so I’ll be the new girl. I hope they like me.” She leans into me slightly, and her perfume, fruity and sweet, wraps around me. It suits her.
“They’ll love you.” Just like I’m beginning to.
We step inside, and I bring her downstairs to where everyone’s gathered. About ten of us tonight, a mix of friends, but I introduce her to my closest ones first.
She flashes them her warmest smile, and I know she’s already won them over.
“Ey, yo Irish, this is the girl!” Jerome claps a hand on my back and grins.
I glance at Nataly. She’s smiling, but her brows furrow slightly .
“This is Nataly,” I say, giving her a grin that tells her I’m not elaborating on that.
“It’s good to meet you, Nataly.” Jerome pulls her in for a hug. He’s great at making people feel instantly welcome. She’ll feel at ease in no time.
“Yeah, he’s been telling us all about you.” Ezra smirks, sending her a wink, and I know exactly what he’s doing.
I barely hold back a groan. Of course, they’re going to tease me all night.
Nataly’s blush deepens.
“Well, it’s great to meet y’all!” she says, and just like that, she’s in. She falls into conversation easily, chatting, laughing, and making herself at home.
Eddie steps up beside me, watching her with a knowing look. “It’s good to see things finally going the way you’ve wanted.” He nudges my side.
“We’re not official yet,” I admit, watching her laugh at something Jerome said. “But I’m working on that.”
Eddie grins. “Well, it’s just good to see you happy, man.”
Conversation flows around us, and Nataly is in her element. She told me once she’s an extroverted introvert—something we talked about on one of our late-night calls.
"I love people. I need people. I get so much energy from being around them. But I also have a social battery, so if I’ve been around people for too long, I need time to myself. And if I’m meeting a big group I don’t know, my introvert side takes over. I feel like I’m ten again, walking into a new class, being the new girl.”
She always speaks and carries herself with confidence, but I’ve learned to pick up on her subtler mannerisms. I can tell when she’s a little nervous, when she’s overthinking.
Right now? She’s fine. She holds her own. Friendly, warm, effortlessly drawing people in.
We’re busy eating and drinking and laughing throughout the night. At one point, I slide a hand onto her knee under the table. I feel the way she jolts at the sudden contact. The way her breath catches.
Her fingers hesitate. She’s debating whether to grab my hand back, but she plays it cool. I can tell it takes everything in her.
By the end of the night, she’s cemented herself as a favorite. It’s getting late—around 10 p.m.—and I still need to take her home.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Ready.” I squeeze her knee. Good thing I’ve got the work van tonight. Her dress and a motorbike wouldn’t mix. And I’ll finally be able to tuck my arm around her like I’ve wanted to do all night.
We’re walking out to the van after saying goodbye to everyone, and I press my hand to the small of her back, leading her the right way. I see her shiver a little. I notice her lean in the tiniest bit.
“My friends loved you,” I say.
She bites her lip. I can’t wait to do that myself. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
“Good, I loved meeting them. They were fun!” she says, brightening.
I help her climb into the van. Her long, thick dark hair catches the light and makes her glow. The heels she’s wearing make her legs look longer.
I walk around to the driver’s side, but the second I sit down, I can’t take it anymore.
I reach for her, my hands finding her neck, sliding up to cup her jaw. I feel her breath hitch. See the anticipation in her eyes.
“You have no idea how long I’ve been thinking about this,” I murmur against her jaw, pressing my lips there.
“I’ve been waiting all night to be kissed.” Her breath catches, and I take my time. Kissing along her jaw, up to the corner of her mouth, hovering.
Apparently, she’s the impatient one. She grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in.
I chuckle against her lips before tugging at her bottom lip, deepening the kiss. She sighs into me, and it feels so right to have her in my arms again.
Minutes later, I force myself to slow the kiss down. I have to, otherwise I’ll want to do things I shouldn’t.
I pull back, grabbing her hand in mine.
This girl makes me want to give her everything.
“So, I have a proposition for you.”
“Hit me.” She grins back.
“Tomorrow morning. 7 a.m. Come with me to Northern Ireland.”
I see her eyes widen. I knew this would come on spontaneously and impulsively to her. I love pushing her outside of her comfort zone. And I want her to meet my family. I see some hesitation in her eyes, but she hasn’t said no yet.
“I’m only there for 2 days. Saturday and Sunday, then we’re back on Monday.” I say, to emphasize that it doesn’t have to be a big deal and she’ll be back in no time.
“My dad would freak .” I can see she’s contemplating.
“You can tell your mom,” I say, hoping that makes her feel more at ease.
She pauses and the air feels thick for a second. She’s clearly debating in her mind the pros and cons. I know enough already to know that’s how her mind works. I hope she chooses the pros, because I really want her to come.
“Let’s do it!” She says brightly, though I can sense she’s still nervous about it.
I grin, starting up the van. “This will be the best trip up yet.” Tomorrow morning, she’ll be in this same spot, heading up to Northern Ireland with me. I can’t wait.