Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NATALIE
Last night Tobias and I did exactly as we planned and watched TV with takeout. We’ve planned out a schedule for writing, and in two months’ time, I will have finished my very first novel.
Two months.
Wow.
Last week, my two months from now looked a lot different.
I like this version much better.
As soon as Tobias left this morning, I set up his spare laptop and a notebook at his kitchen table, ready to work. Because, of course, despite wanting to write this book, I still have a job I love that requires my attention.
Not five minutes after I’ve logged into our platform and I’m done updating said schedules, my phone chirps with a new text. It’s from Nora and it’s in our girls’ group thread.
Nora
Should we have lunch soon?
Calla
Yes, please!
Paige
This week? I’m actually still in town. But you all knew that.
We do. Because she was here for my engagement party.
Willa
I’m free in an hour and a half.
Natalie
Lunch sounds good. I can make that work.
Calla
Me too!
Paige
I’m in.
Greer
Works for me!
Nora
I’ll be there!
Listen, I love my girls. I also know this lunch will turn into questions. Of course, it’ll be quiet at first because they all respect me, but Calla will budge first and start the line of fire.
I get to work, making sure sign-ups are open and graphics are still on schedule for social blasts and a few other random tasks before I head to lunch. Where, hopefully, it’ll be the last time I talk about Griffin to anyone.
I’m ready to move on.
It’s crazy to feel this so soon.
* * *
About a month into my last semester of college, Nora, Tobias, Hero, Graham, Simon, Zane, Beck, and I met for lunch. It was your average Tuesday, and we simply went to Plum’s Diner. It was nothing fancy, but that afternoon will always stand out to me.
Tobias had texted everyone with the invite, and everyone said they could come. I knew that day would be one of the last when our group could just drop everything to get together. So I told myself I would make it a point to make sure we met frequently to hold that bond.
But right now, as the girls come in one by one, I realize that I didn’t keep my word to myself.
A lot of what I wanted changed over the last few years, and I’m starting to think I was blind to it because I wanted what I had with Griffin to mean more than it did.
I changed for him. That much is clear.
And it wasn’t for the good.
But at what point in life did I decide to stop being who I wanted to be and become what he wanted?
I don't even know how I got there.
The past five days with Tobias have made me feel more like me than ever before, and now I’m meeting the girls for lunch. So what if it was an hour’s notice? This is living that life I always said I would. I need to fight for this and find a way to keep it.
My life. On my terms.
I should make the heroine in this book stronger. Use my own feelings to really get into her feelings.
“So, then I told him to just do me right there on the table again.”
My attention snaps to Calla.
“Ah, there she is.” Willa laughs and shakes her head. “We were wondering when you’d zone back into the group.”
“Sorry. My mind is just all over the place.”
“Understandable,” Nora says. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“There isn't much to talk about. The wedding is off, Griffin was cheating on me, I’m over it, and now I’m living with Tobias. Life is good.”
And it’s the truth. Do I wonder why Griffin did it? Sure I do. Any girl would think about it. A part of me thinks maybe there is more I could have done or said to keep him interested, been more fun, but the other half says I didn’t do anything, and he’s just stupid. I like the latter half more. I try to keep her around whenever the self-doubt hits.
“Talk about the shortest short version,” Calla says, grabbing a French fry off the plate in front of us. I was so much in my own world that I didn’t even know they’d ordered food or that it had already arrived. But cheese fries hit just right.
“Can we at least say what an idiot Griffin is?” Nora asks. “I feel like we can’t say it enough.”
“So do you think this means you and Tobias can stop pretending you don’t have feelings for each other and do something about it?”
That French fry I was just loving gets caught in my throat.
Willa hits my back. “Calla, slow down. Her wedding hasn’t even been off a week yet.”
“I know, but we’re all thinking about it, and Natalie just said she was over it.”
“That doesn't mean she’s ready to date yet,” Nora says.
“Especially Tobias,” Paige adds with a laugh.
“Honestly, I’m surprised someone hasn’t said something sooner,” I say and chew my next fry successfully.
“See, even she knows.”
“But I hate to break it to you. Tobias and I are not going to be more than friends. Well, unless you call co-writers more that friends.”
Nora squeals. “You’re going to write a book. Like actually, finally, do it?”
I nod. “I am.”
“It’s about damn time.” Willa beams a smile at me.
Calla is grinning too.
“What’s with the smiles?” I ask hesitantly.
“I just … I can’t speak for all of us, but you look much happier than you have in months. It makes me happy for you but sad I didn’t notice sooner.”
“Don’t be sad. Sometimes something bad has to happen in order for the good to make itself known.” I grab my phone and type that thought into the notes app for this book.
“So, you’re living with Tobias and writing a book with him? Then what?”
I shrug. “I’ll probably look for an apartment at some point.”
“If he lets you,” Calla says quietly.
“Calla, stop,” Nora scolds.
She tosses her hands up. “Fine, but when it happens, I’ll be the first to say I told you so.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time, I’m afraid.”
Calla makes a gesture as if she’s locking her lips.
“What kind of book are you going to write?” Greer asks.
I fill them in on what we have so far, and Paige raises her hand.
“Yes, Paige?”
“What happens when you write a hot scene, and it gets you both in the mood?”
First, his sister makes a comment, and now these girls. Of course, this topic would be mentioned again. “We’re both adults who can handle?—”
Calla chuckles.
“Okay, look, I doubt that’s going to happen.”
Then I sip my drink, because, shit, what if it does?