Chapter 27
27
Nathan
It’s been a few weeks since I asked Nataly to be my girlfriend. We kept it off socials for a little while, just telling close friends and family. But now, everyone knows.
Nataly made it ‘Instagram official’ (which is presumably the new Facebook official) at a wedding we attended together recently.
At the wedding, when the bride was about to throw the bouquet, I noticed Nataly slinking back, not really going for it like I would’ve thought she would.
“You should go, Nat,” I grinned over at her.
Her eyes widened. “I don’t want to look overeager.”
I winked at her. “You won’t.”
“So I guess you’re happily stuck with me now?” She wrapped her arms around my waist, looking up at me.
“You can’t imagine how much.” I brought her close and kissed her then .
After months of friendship, of pursuing her, of waiting for the timing to be right—we’re here.
She’s mine. Finally . And to have her by my side now, to be the one she chooses every day? It’s the best feeling in the world.
We’ve been having a lot of adventures. Just last weekend, she hopped on the back of my bike for a road trip with some of the guys and their girlfriends. I’m part of a biker group at church, and we planned a trip to the Cotswolds, which is about two hours from London.
I’ll never forget the feel of her arms wrapped around me, the way her body molded into mine as we cut through the countryside, the wind whipping at us. The quickening of our heartbeats as our adrenaline rose. She’d never seen the Cotswolds before, but she took it all in. She’s already come so far in pushing past her fears.
And now, she’s officially moved out of her dorms. For the next two months, we’ll be long-distance. Two hours isn’t far, but it’s not the same as hopping on a tube, stealing every free moment we could. She’s moving into a house with some girls from church in Canary Wharf at the end of August, and I already can’t wait to have her back in London.
I’m going to miss seeing her so regularly.
So, we’ve made a plan. Every other weekend, I’ll take the bike down to Bournemouth. On the off weekends, she’ll come to London and stay with a friend. And any weekend she can’t, I’ll be there anyway. I don’t want to go more than a week without seeing her.
And today is the first day I’m going down to see her. All her stuff is back at her parents’ place, even though there wasn’t that much to move back since she was just living in the dorms.
Today is also the day I meet her parents for the first time. I’m not nervous to meet them. I don’t really do nerves. I know her dad only speaks Portuguese, so we may not have much of a chance of talking considering the only other language I can say anything in is French. And that’s only “Bonjour” and a few sentences. But, I know her mum speaks English fluently, so I’m sure we’ll get along.
I do want to make a good impression on them though. Because if things keep going the way I think they will—I’ll be coming back here in a few months, standing in front of them alone, asking for a blessing that will change everything.
As I pull up to their flat on my motorbike, I take a deep breath, glancing up at the building. I can’t see the ocean yet, but I know it’s close. I can feel it in the air, the crisp saltiness rolling in with the wind.
I want to see it with her.
I know I can’t take her on the bike while I’m here. Her dad doesn’t approve. He wants his daughter safe . But what he needs to understand is that I do, too. More than anything.
But I also want her to live. To chase adventure. To step into fear and come out on the other side stronger . I want to help her use her wings and fly at every moment I can get.
For now, though, I’ll respect his wishes.
I park the bike and head for the elevator.
As soon as I ring the bell, the door flies open.
And then she’s there.
She launches herself at me, arms flung around my neck, her body pressing into mine like we’ve been apart for years instead of days. She smells just like she always does, fruity and sweet. I let out a low chuckle, wrapping one arm around her, using the other to tilt her chin up. I want to kiss her senseless. But I hold back, this isn’t the time—not the first impression I want to give.
Still, I need something. Just a taste.
“Hey, beautiful,” I murmur against her lips.
“Hey, babe,” she grins, eyes bright. She grabs my hand. “Come on through.”
Her mom is exactly what I expected. Warm, affectionate, easy to talk to . She immediately pulls me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my cheek like she’s already decided I belong.
“It’s nice to meet the man who seems to have captured my daughter’s heart,” she says, grinning.
I grin back. “ Oi, tudo bem? ”
Her eyes widen. “Ohhh, that’s impressive, isn’t it, Lily?” Nataly’s nickname that her parents gave her is Lily, but pronounced lee-lee . It sounds like the last syllable of her name in Portuguese.
Nataly elbows me playfully. “I taught him that, Mom.”
Her dad is more serious, more reserved, but I was expecting that. He offers a handshake, firm and steady. “Hello.”
“Oi, tudo bem?” I say again, this time to her dad as we shake hands.
I’ve shrugged my jacket off, and her mum starts off the conversation, leading us to the dinner table. It’s about dinner time, as I came straight from work today since it’s a Friday. I wanted to spend as long as possible with Nataly.
As we have dinner, Nataly and her mum both take turns translating back and forth between me and her dad. Unfortunately I won’t really be able to build a direct relationship with her dad this way, but at least there’s a way we can communicate. I’m thankful her mum speaks English.
“So, there she went, leading the entire school in the High School Musical dance in the fifth grade.”
Nataly groans. “Mom, we don’t need to tell him all of my embarrassing stories tonight.”
“You know you’re secretly proud of your fifth-grade self.”
Nataly grins. “That’s beside the point.”
“Nathan also needs to know that I’ve got plenty of cute stories about you, filhinha .”
“Cute, or embarrassing? The jury’s still out.” She laughs.
I can see Nataly takes a lot of her vibrant personality from her mum. She keeps conversation flowing, laughing with her mum, sneaking glances at me across the table. I can’t stop watching her. Can’t stop thinking how much I love the way she talks with her hands, how her eyes light up when she teases her mum .
We settle into the living room after dinner for a movie, and I sit beside her on the couch.
Too close. Not close enough.
I can feel the warmth of her body next to mine. She absently reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers together. I press my thumb against hers, savoring every moment of contact.
By the time the movie ends, I’m aching to be alone with her.
I don’t want to let go. But I do.
Because she’s here, in her parents’ home. And I’m staying in the guest room tonight. And as much as I want to steal a few more minutes with her, a few more touches, a few more words—some things are worth waiting for.
I settle into bed and shoot her a text.
Me: Goodnight, beautiful. I can’t wait to kiss you properly tomorrow.
A second later, my phone buzzes.
Nataly: Goodnight, babe. I can’t wait either. ;) Let’s get up and head to the beach in the morning after breakfast?
Me: Perfect. I’ll see you in the morning.
I let my head sink back against the pillow, but sleep doesn’t come easy.
I’m so ready to finally be able to get off my chest what I’ve been waiting to say for so long.
The morning sun is still soft in the sky, casting a golden glow over the world as we step out of her building and into the crisp ocean air. The scent of salt clings to the breeze, the distant crash of waves filling the gaps in our sentences. I squeeze her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm against mine.
All morning, the words have been pushing against my ribs, pressing against my throat, waiting to be said.
We cross the quiet road, the morning still slow with only a few joggers and dog walkers in sight. The wind tugs at Nataly’s hair, sending strands flying around her face. I can’t help it—I stop in my tracks, pull her back toward me and cup her face in my hands. Her skin is cool from the breeze, her eyes wide as she looks up at me, questioning.
Then I kiss her. Like I’ve been waiting to all night. Like I have all the time in the world, but not a second to waste.
She lets out the softest little groan against my lips, and something inside me ignites. That sound. It’s like she needs this just as much as I do. Maybe more. Maybe she’s been waiting just like I have.
I slide my hands to her neck, then tangle my fingers into her hair, pulling her impossibly closer. Her arms tighten around me, fingers gripping the back of my T-shirt like she never wants to let go. I deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of feeling into it, hoping she knows. Hoping she feels everything I’m about to say before I even say it.
When we finally pull apart, her lips are pink, her breaths uneven, and her eyes are so hazy and dazed that I know I’ve wrecked her. And I love it.
I grin, pressing a slow kiss to her temple.
“ Good morning, beautiful," I murmur against her skin.
She sighs, a dreamy, content sound as she leans into me. “Good morning.”
We make our way down onto the sand, the golden grains warm beneath our feet. The tide is rolling in, waves rushing up the shore, before slipping back. It’s just us out here and I know, this is the moment.
I turn to face her, sliding my arms around her waist, pulling her in close. She doesn’t hesitate. Her hands loop behind my neck, her fingers skimming the ends of my hair. She looks up at me like she already knows what’s coming .
And maybe she does.
I take a slow, steady breath, but my heart is racing.
“Nataly,” I say, my voice low and thick. “I love you.”
Her lips part slightly, and I see worlds and stars reflected in her gaze.
“I’m in love with you,” I continue, the words flowing out now, unstoppable. “I love everything about you. The way you laugh, the way you see the world. You’re sunshine to me.”
Her fingers tighten against the back of my neck. Her breath hitches.
And then, in the softest voice, filled with something so tender it nearly undoes me, she whispers, “I love you too, Nathan.”
I don’t think. I just move.
I crash my lips to hers again, holding her close, sealing this moment between us. Then, with a wicked grin, I scoop her up, toss her over my shoulder, and head straight for the water.
She shrieks, giggling like crazy, smacking my back as she laughs.
I’m ready for a lifetime of this. A lifetime of her.