Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
NATALIE
Nora hands me a glass of wine as soon as I’ve set up my things in her home office. Hero is out of town for the night at a signing a few hours away, so in order for her to avoid a babysitter, I agreed to work at her place tonight.
Nora Quinn and I run a marketing company for authors. We work closely with both publishing houses and independent authors. Nora started this business right out of college, and since I was still a bit undecided on what I wanted to do with my degree in marketing, she took me on as an assistant until I could figure it out. I originally thought it would be easier to be hired by a big company that guarantees a salary than to create my own business and venture into the unknown. Turns out, the unknown kicks ass when it involves something you love.
Plus, a part of me thought I’d have joined the author side of this world by this point.
Tonight is just a meeting, no actual client work, so we’ll drink wine. Or rather, I’ll drink wine while Nora chugs water.
We try to get together at least once a week to plan and keep our schedules lined up. Tonight is that night. Griffin is coming in on a late flight, so it made sense to work.
I glance into my cup and realize it’s almost full. Is this on purpose, or was she distracted?
“Did you get any sleep last night?” I ask, taking a sip as she sits down with a big sigh. I don’t really care about how much is in here—I’m drinking it just the way she gave it to me.
“Yes, but I still can’t seem to get adjusted to waking up all through the night. It’s almost as if the moment she sets a new sleep schedule and I get used to it, she sets a new one and the process repeats over and over and over. I’ll get it figured out, though. No need to worry.”
“I can stay longer tonight to babysit if you want a nap,” I offer and then open my computer.
She’s quiet, so I turn to see what she’s doing. She’s staring blankly at the wall behind me.
“Nora.” I wave a hand in front of her.
She blinks and then laughs.
“Thank you, but I’m okay today. Another day though, I might take you up on that.”
“Well, I'll be here for a couple of hours. Plenty of time for you to change your mind.”
She grabs one of the cookies I brought.
“This is reward enough. Did you see the new copy Tobias sent over yesterday morning at like six in the morning? Does he even sleep?”
Less now that it seems he can’t figure out his writing career. I want to bring up the co-writing thing again, but I don't want to stress him out. It just seems like a good way for him to get out of his box.
Plus, I just keep thinking about how writing was always something I wanted to try. Initially, I thought I’d do it alone, but the more I think about it, the more I want to do it with Tobias.
“Barely,” I answer Nora’s question. “But yeah, I was up, too, and already scheduled them. Well, as far out as I could. We did a bunch the other night.”
“Damn. Am I slacking too much? Do you feel like you have to do both of our jobs and still make time to check out venues?”
“Not at all.” I shake my head. “Besides managing schedules for our employees, we have maybe ten clients between the two of us. It's nothing.”
The day Nora and I decided to hire more employees, we both agreed on the clients we would keep, and Tobias was at the top of my list.
“You’d tell me, though, right? If you felt like I wasn't holding up.”
“Yes, I would.”
“Swear it.”
“Yes, I swear,” I say with a laugh.
“Okay, because I feel like I should be taking on more so you can plan your wedding. How did the venue visit go?”
“Good. We booked it for this winter.”
She grins and then grabs a box next to her, handing it to me.
“What is this?”
“Nothing really, just an idea for your bachelorette party.”
I grin and take the box. I completely forgot about the bachelorette party. I wonder if Griffin is having a bachelor party. He’s shown me the plans for everything, and those parties weren’t listed. Maybe because they’re a given?
I pull the white bow off and untie the ribbon.
Inside sits a postcard with a picture of the Maldives on it. I pick it up and flip it over.
Pick a date and we are going! Love, Nora, Willa, Calla, Paige, and Greer!
“What is this?”
“It’s where we should go for your party. Although, at this point, it’ll just be a small group including your sister, and there won’t be too much partying. Just lots of cocktails in the sun and relaxation. Isn’t this where you’ve always wanted to go?”
“Yes,” I blurt out. “It’s been a dream for so long to go there, but that’s a lot for a party for me or whatever we want to call it. I can’t let anyone pay for this.”
“Actually, that’s just our excuse. The girls and I decided we needed a reason for a girl’s trip there.”
I raise my hand. “I’ll gladly be the reason. Wow. How did you even know about this?”
Nora and I share a lot, but I don't think we have ever talked about this.
“Look.” I point to a small building in the picture. “I think this is even the resort I picked years ago.”
“I know.”
“How?” I asked again and hug her.
She clears her throat.
“Tobias told me. I asked him what he thought you might like, since I’m a horrible friend who has been so busy lately, and he said he had a postcard. I know it’s lame that I didn’t even think of it, but he wasn’t wrong.”
The smile on my face grows. Why did he have a postcard?
Not that I’m complaining, but wow.
I hug her once more.
“You’re not a bad friend. Never ever. The best of friends are those who can live their busy lives and still love each other as if nothing has changed.”
She tears up and then fans her face, and I stick my bottom lip out. “We will circle back to this, but do you want to change the subject?”
“Yes.” She swipes the tears away. “Tell me about wedding planning.”
“I was thinking more about work.”
She waves her hand around. “We have plenty of time for that. What’s it like having Griffin plan most of everything?”
I’m not saying guys aren't into wedding planning, but the way Griffin took the planning by the horns—well, I feel like I should be more upset he’s doing more than me, but I’m not. Like I said, maybe I’m not a big wedding type of girl.
“It’s good. He’s got his checklist, and he's happy as a clam.”
She studies me a moment and then crosses her arms.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“Nothing. What do you mean?”
“Are you not excited about getting married?”
“Oh, of course I am. I just … he’s so happy planning it all that I don’t mind.”
She nods slowly.
“Do you think it’s weird?”
“Him planning our wedding?” I ask for more clarity.
“That you’re fine not having control.”
I shake my head slowly. “I’m okay with it.”
She keeps her eyes on me but doesn't say anything else.
My phone chirps, and I glance at the clock. It’s six, and that means Griffin is probably about to board his flight and is texting me to check in. It's like clockwork. He’s so predictable, I never have to worry. He’s probably going to ask me about work.
Griff
How’s it going at work?
I stare at his text. I’ve never had a problem with his texts until right now. Even so, I don’t have a problem problem. He’s just asking about my day, but it would be cute if he used a nickname for me or used an emoji. Wait … does he even have a nickname for me?
Natalie
Good. Do you have a nickname for me?
Griff
A nickname? Why would I need one? Your name is beautiful just the way it is, Natalie.
I purse my lips and tilt my head. It’s not a bad answer; it’s just not what I was looking for.
Natalie
I have you on my phone as Griff.
Griff
Okay. Love you. See you when I land.
I huff and put my phone down.
“Is everything okay?” Nora asks.
“Yes. I just … did you get weird about things and overthink everything before you and Hero got married?”
“Like cold feet?”
Oh, wow. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with me. Cold feet. Duh.
“Yeah, like cold feet.”
She thinks for a moment and then shakes her head. “Nope. I knew he was it for me. Why? Are you getting second thoughts?”
She twists in her seat, giving me her full attention.
“No,” I answer. It feels wrong to even think I could give her a different answer. “I think I just miss Griffin is all. He’s been traveling a lot. His current flight lands back here late tonight, and then he has one more trip that’s basically a fly there, have a meeting, and fly back. He’ll get home two hours before the party this weekend.”
“That’s cutting it close.”
“Yeah.”
“A little risky for Griffin if you ask me.”
I laugh. Her remark is more accurate than she knows.
But then it hits me.
If that’s Griffin and he’s the one I’m going to marry, that’s going to be me too.
No surprises.
No risks.
No fun.
Just boring plans and schedules forever.
Have I become boring?
“I’m not saying this is you, but if you are having cold feet, it’s normal. Don't stress it, okay? If you love him and he loves you, no matter what, you’re going to be happy.”
I swallow back any possible tears.
Cold feet.
That’s all this is.
It makes the most sense.
* * *
Griffin’s truck is in the driveway when I get home. I wasn’t expecting him for a couple of more hours, so I hurry inside.
As soon as I step through the doorway, I freeze and suck in a breath.
Flowers line the living room, and Griffin is waiting on the couch.
“What is this?” I ask.
“Oh, I just wanted to surprise you. I hate that I’ve been gone so much lately.”
I rush to him and pull him in for a hug.
“This is amazing.”
“It’s also my apology.”
“For what?”
“My flight got rescheduled to first thing in the morning.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I just wanted to come home and have one night with you. I’m so ready to crash. Should we get?—”
He’s cut off by my cell phone. I pull it out of my purse to see Tobias calling.
“Before you answer that, I have to tell you something.”
The concern in his tone makes me pause.
“What?”
“I met with Tobias tonight. You know, that beer he asked me to get.”
“How did it go?”
He grabs my hand and sits on the couch, pulling me with him.
“Look, Natalie, I know he’s your friend, but he went into our meetup with an agenda.”
“I know.” I sigh. “I asked him to make more of an effort to be your friend. Is that weird?”
He shakes his head. “What’s weird is, he did the total opposite.”
“The opposite?”
“Yeah, he came at me, telling me I wasn’t good enough for you and that I needed to end this. He doesn’t like me, Natalie. I tried. I swear I tried. I told him that we needed to try for you, but he wanted none of it. He just told me to get bent.”
“What? That doesn’t sound like Tobias.”
“Trust me, I was shocked too. Maybe he’s going through something, and he wanted to take it out on me.” He sighs. “You care for him, so I’ll give him another chance. I just hope whatever he’s going through, he doesn’t start to take it out on you.”
My phone rings again.
“I love you,” he says and kisses my forehead. “I’m headed to bed to give you two some privacy to talk.”
He heads down the hall, closing our bedroom door when he gets there.
My phone keeps vibrating, so I glance down at the screen and stare at Tobias’s face.
My mind is blown right now. I know Tobias hasn’t always cared for Griffin, but to just attack him like that … I can’t understand it.
“Hello,” I say softly.
“Natalie, are you at your house?”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming over. We need to talk.”
“Now isn’t a good time.”
“It really can’t wait.”
“Is this about the drinks you had with Griffin?”
He huffs into the phone.
“Yes.”
“He already told me.”
“Shit. He did? Are you okay? Wait, what did he say?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. It matters. I want to know that he told you the truth.”
“And what’s the truth?” I ask. It only makes sense that I hear them both out.
“Is he there now?” Tobias asks.
“Yes.”
“Fuck. Okay. I didn’t want to say this to you over the phone, but I think he’s cheating on you.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I can’t prove it, but I get this feeling that he’s doing something shitty, and you deserve better than him.”
Oh god. Griffin was right.
“I asked you to make friends with him, Tobias, not fight with him.”
“It was hard to—can I just come over? I hate having this conversation over the phone.”
I take a breath to hold back the threatening tears.
“Why would you …” I can barely get the words out. “Is this because of the writing thing?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Are you acting like this because you’re confused and want to vent your frustration on someone else, so you picked Griffin?”
“What? No.”
“Because that’s a shitty thing to do. He’s not cheating on me, Tobias, and it’s even shittier of you to make that accusation when, as you said, you don’t even have proof.”
“Nat, just let me come over so we can talk.”
“No. I don’t want to be the next person on your list. Just because your life isn’t going how you wanted it to doesn’t mean you need to bring me down with you.”
I place my hand over my heart.
Why would he say something like that to me? Why would he want to hurt me?
“All right, look. I’m not sure what he said to you, but let’s talk about it, okay? Maybe you can take the night to cool off and we can talk tomorrow.”
“Sure, fine.”
“Nat, come on. Talk to me.”
“I have to go,” I say, hanging up the phone.
My heart is still racing with adrenaline a minute after the call end.
Did he really just say those awful things to Griffin? It’s not like him. And then to accuse him of cheating!
I can’t …
Then again, it’s not like me to say the hurtful things I just said either.
This time, the tears can’t be stopped. If I was worried about losing my best friend after I got married, I guess I can stop now.
I’m pretty sure it just happened.