7. Susan
Chapter seven
Susan
T he moment we pulled up to the Rivermint Cove Couples Retreat, a gift from Mayor Tom Fletcher, I knew we were in for an exciting weekend. A huge banner greeted us, proclaiming, "Strengthen Your Bonds of Love!" Nate leaned over, his breath warm against my ear. "We may need super glue instead." His joke made me laugh nervously. Were we ready for this charade?
During the introductory session, the counselor asked each couple to share how they first started dating. Suddenly, all eyes were on us. Nate jumped in without missing a beat.
"Well, Susan and I reconnected at the library, of all places. I was browsing the shelves of books when I heard a yelp and the sound of squeaky wheels. This runaway library cart was careening right for Susan! I raced over and pulled her out of harm's way just in the nick of time. You should've seen the look in her eyes when her gaze met mine. It was like, this is my knight in shining armor!"
I had to stifle a laugh. Nate was hamming it up. When it was my turn to chime in, I wracked my brain, trying to play along .
"Oh yes, that day was positively...epic! My hero saved me from the perilous path of that book-filled chariot. I mean, cart."
Chariot? Did I really say chariot? I felt my cheeks flush as the other couples chuckled lightly. Nate shot me an amused grin and I couldn't help but smile back sheepishly. Well, at least our meet-cute might go down in Rivermint Cove history as one of the more creative ones.
We had fooled everyone with our expertly crafted lies, passing the first hurdle effortlessly. But doubts crept into my mind as I caught a glimpse of Nate's playful gaze. I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain this charade while guarding my heart.
Nate offered me his arm as we moved on to the next challenge: "The Trust Fall." I slid mine through his with an exaggerated sigh of relief. "So, my damsel in distress, shall we spin another tale for our audience?" His teasing tone made my heart flutter slightly. It was as if we were co-conspirators on a secret mission.
“Well, I am counting on you during this next exercise, my knight in shining armor.” We both let out a laugh as we arrived at the platform.
Nate's eyes widened comically at the sight of couples toppling back into the outstretched arms of their partners. "Oh, this will be fun," he murmured, his voice laced with sarcasm.
I took a deep breath as I stood at the platform's edge, hesitantly peering down. I was more than a little apprehensive.
"Just fall back, and I'll catch you," Nate encouraged gently. "I won't let you hit the ground."
I bit my lip, knots twisting my stomach. This required a level of faith I wasn't sure I could muster. But Nate's voice was soothing, his presence steady behind me.
Closing my eyes, I leaned back, my body rigid. For a brief moment, I felt a swooping sensation of free fall before strong, sturdy arms enveloped me. Nate caught me smoothly, cradling me against his firm chest before setting me down.
I released my held breath. As I turned to face Nate, his hands lingered at my waist. Our eyes locked, and despite myself, I felt a spark of warmth rush through me. For just a second, I forgot this was all pretend.
"See? I told you I'd catch you," he said, his voice low.
I smiled up at him, a new feeling fluttering in my chest. "I guess I can trust you after all."
We all went inside to have lunch before the next event. After lunch, we went outside to an obstacle course. One person was blindfolded while the other led them through the course.
I took a deep breath as I stood at the starting line, peering down the length of the obstacle course. Nate was blindfolded in front of me, waiting for my instructions.
"Okay, take five steps forward and then stop," I instructed, my voice wavering slightly.
He nodded, putting one foot steadily in front of the other as I counted down.
"Good, now turn a little to your left," I continued.
He pivoted and bumped straight into a foam block with a muffled thud.
I couldn't help the bubble of laughter that escaped me. "Sorry, I guess that was more than just a little left. "
Nate chuckled, a grin spreading across his face. "It's alright; just point me in the right direction."
Buoyed by his humor, I guided him through the next obstacles, my directions growing more confident. Each time he stumbled over a hurdle or veered off course, giggles spilled out of me unchecked. And Nate smiled wider each time as if enjoying the sound.
By the end, my cheeks ached from smiling. As Nate removed the blindfold, his eyes shone brightly, and his lips curved into a delightfully crooked smile. "That was fun."
"Fun? You bashed into almost every obstacle on the path!" I exclaimed, my laughter bubbling over.
"Thanks to your impeccable directions. I can't imagine a more graceful guide. Should I even ask about your yoga skills?” he chuckled.
“Well, unfortunately, you might not be impressed with my yoga moves,” I countered. “Imagine a newborn giraffe trying to stand for the first time, and that is about my skill level,” I laughed as we turned toward the building.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. I knew we had joked about it, but as someone who was not the most coordinated, I couldn't imagine how this would go.
"Okay, everyone, find a mat and set it up with your partner. We're going to start with some simple poses to get our bodies warmed up," the yoga instructor said, her voice floating melodically over the rustling of mats.
I glanced at Nate, who gave me a slight nod as we moved to claim two vacant mats near the back. As we settled into the first pose, a basic downward dog, I felt my muscles begin to loosen.
"Now, slowly transition into a low lunge, reaching your right arm towards the sky," the instructor guided.
I followed her lead, stretching my right arm up, palm to the ceiling. Beside me, Nate did the same.
"Great, now reach your left hand over, finding your partner's right. Gently lean into one another, feeling that connection."
Hesitantly, I lifted my left hand, stretching it across the gap between our mats. Nate met me halfway, his larger hand enveloping mine. As we leaned, I felt my balance waver. Before I could catch myself, I stumbled sideways, colliding with Nate and sending us both tumbling in a tangled heap.
"Oof!" Nate grunted as I collapsed on top of him.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" I squeaked, my face burning. As I started to push myself up, my gaze met his.
His eyes locked on mine, crinkling at the corners with suppressed laughter. My breath caught in my throat. We were so close I could make out the faint scar above his left eyebrow and the light stubble along his jaw.
Everything around us seemed to fade away. The room, the other couples, the instructor's voice reminding us to breathe. In that suspended moment, all I saw was Nate. And the surprising warmth in his eyes.
"Ahem." The instructor's delicate cough broke through our trance. She gave us an amused smile as we untangled our limbs and returned to our mats.
"Not to worry, it takes time to find your balance. Just breathe and try again."
Nate shot me a crooked grin, eyes glinting with humor. I smiled back sheepishly. Maybe I could get the hang of this whole partner thing after all .
I took a deep breath as the instructor announced the next activity - a rousing game of "How Well Do You Know Your Partner?"
Nate gave me an encouraging wink. "Ready to wow them with how in sync we are?"
I laughed. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We joined the other couples in a circle. The instructor started by asking each pair simple questions - favorite colors, dream vacations, ideal pets. Nate and I ad-libbed answers, building on each other's responses.
"Okay, let's get a little more personal," the instructor said with a playful smile. "What's the most embarrassing moment your partner has ever had?"
Nate jumped in without missing a beat. "Well, there was the time Susan accidentally gave a presentation in college with her sweater on inside out. She didn't even realize until after the presentation when her roommate pointed it out."
I stared at him, bewildered. How could he pull that story out of thin air so smoothly? But I composed myself and went along with it. I could envision myself doing that. Maybe Nate knew me better than I gave him credit for.
"It's true. I was so nervous about that speech that I dressed in a total frenzy. It made for a good laugh afterward!"
Some of the other couples chuckled sympathetically. When it was my turn, I said, "For Nate, it had to be the time he was singing in the gym shower, and he didn't realize that someone had connected the speaker to the gym PA system. I heard that the whole gym erupted in laughter at the sound of his passionate rendition of 'Can't Help Falling in Love.' "
Nate threw his head back and laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Busted! I couldn't show my face for weeks without people pointing and laughing."
I smiled, amazed at how easily the fabrication flowed. The rest of the group roared with amusement at my made-up faux pas. I wasn’t usually this quick-witted, but it was like I fed off Nate's confidence.
As the game continued, Nate shot me an impressed look. "Quick thinking," he murmured.
After the game ended, Nate and I found a spot on the grass to gaze at the night sky. The inky blackness was freckled with dazzling stars.
"When I was little, my dad taught me the constellations before he got consumed with work and traveling," Nate said. "That cluster there is Orion. And you see those three stars in a row? That's his belt."
I followed his finger, picking out the majestic formation.
"What else?" I asked, intrigued by this new side of him.
He pointed out Gemini, Taurus, and the Big Dipper. I listened, enraptured. Under the sweeping Milky Way, he told me about his dream of becoming a jazz singer when he was younger.
Lying next to each other in the grass, I felt a sense of comfort I hadn't expected. When he started humming, " Fly Me to the Moon ," I closed my eyes, a smile spreading on my face.
Being with Nate almost felt… like it was meant to be. After a bit, we got up and headed back to our room. Nate made a pallet on the floor next to the bed. As I drifted off to sleep that night, I found myself wondering what it would be like to really be engaged to Nate .
I fell asleep to the gentle rhythm of his snores, a new sense of hope kindling inside me that maybe I could find true love after all.