Chapter 8
Nate
Tomorrow we fly back home to reality, and although I’m looking forward to being in my own bed, I’m worried that it will give Hayleigh the opportunity to pull away from whatever this is between us.
So I need to make sure she understands she’s worth waiting for, and that just because she feels broken now doesn’t mean she can’t be fixed.
Taking out my phone, I search for the best way to show someone this, and the first thing that comes up is Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
That’s it, that’s what I need to do. I take out my phone.
Me
As a colour, do you prefer gold, silver or platinum?
I wait a few minutes before three little bubbles appear, and Hayleigh’s message comes through.
Shortcake
Hmm, I’d have to say gold, especially if it’s sparkly *smiley face emoji*
Me
Good to know. Meet you in an hour by the pool?
Shortcake
Sure, see you then
I put my phone in my pocket and grab my wallet. I’m going to need to hurry up to meet Hayleigh on time.
**********
I make it back with minutes to spare and find Hayleigh lounging by the pool, a magazine in her hands, completely oblivious to the world around her. That is, until I walk up to her and block out the sun.
“Your place or mine?” I waggle my brows at her, and she barks out a laugh.
She folds her magazine up and places it on her lap. “Well, that depends on what we’re doing?”
I hold my hand out for her to take, my heart beats wildly in my chest, but I don’t need to worry as she places her hand in mine.
“Lead the way.”
I offer her a smile before steering us towards the elevators, neither of us talking. I’m too nervous in case I mess this up. I don’t realise I’m holding my breath until the doors slide open and we step inside.
Hayleigh nudges my arm with her shoulder, her brow creasing. “Why are you so quiet?”
I take a good, long look at her. I know there’s no way she’d ever make fun of me, so I quietly admit. “I have something planned, and I’m worried you’re going to either hate it or find me a complete cheeseball because of it.”
The lift doors open to her floor, and we step out, walking silently down the hall until we reach her room. She opens it, then steps aside to let me in. I head straight for the kitchen area, setting the bag I brought with me aside.
Hayleigh walks over to the bag and peeks inside, her brows creasing. “What’s this for?”
Here goes nothing.
I take a deep breath. “Have you ever heard of Kintsugi?”
She shakes her head.
“Well, it’s the art of repairing something that’s broken and turning it into something more beautiful than it was before…” I trail off, unsure if I’m explaining this right.
I reach into the bag and dig out the bowl, the glue, and the golden, glittery paint. My options in Vegas were limited, so I don’t have the right things, but the principle is the same.
She eyes the objects, raising her brow. “Now what?”
I shrug. “Now, you break it.”
She laughs at me, but soon stops when she sees I’m serious.
“Nate, I can’t go around breaking bowls.”
I put down the bowl and walk closer to her, grabbing both her hands in mine, and I rub small circles on them. “Humour me, please?” Then I stick out my bottom lip and flutter my eyelashes at her.
She barks out a laugh and snorts, and it’s the most fucking adorable thing I’ve ever seen. Letting go of her hands, I pick up the bowl and hand it to her. She holds it out in front of her and drops it, pieces flying in all directions as it impacts the floor.
Placing her hands on her hips, she stares at me. “Okay, what now?”
I bend down and start picking up the pieces before carrying them to the dining table. I nod toward the counter where the other items lie. “Grab those first and bring them over here, then I’ll tell you.” She grabs the items and places them down before taking a seat next to me.
“That’s everything, now please tell me why you have me smashing bowls?” She sasses.
I can’t look her in the eye for this part, just in case she tells me I’m being stupid. “Well, the first thing we need to do is put this bowl back together.”
“After we just broke it?” She speaks slowly.
I chuckle. “Yes, but I promise it will be worth it in the end.”
We spend the next ten minutes putting the bowl back together. I grab the pieces while she glues them together, and when we’re done, we have a bowl full of cracks and a few small holes here and there.
Maybe I should have only broken off a smaller section because this is going to take ages to dry, then an idea hits me. “Do you have a hairdryer with you?”
She clicks her fingers. “I was just thinking this would be the perfect time to dry my hair.” She delivers it with a perfect deadpan expression.
I roll my eyes. “Har, har. I was referring to the bowl, smart arse.”
Her cheeks redden slightly. “Oh, that makes sense. One minute.” She heads towards her room and, a few seconds later, is back out with a hairdryer in hand.
While she plugs it in and starts drying the glue, I mix together some of the leftover glue and gold glitter paint, and when Hayleigh’s finished drying the bowl, I hand her the mixture with a brush.
She takes it from me, looking at me hesitantly. “What do I do now?”
Here goes.
“The bowl is you, Hayleigh. At first, it was perfect, not a blemish to be seen, but then it ended up broken, and so we fixed it, but you can still see the scars.” I take a breath, my heart thudding wildly.
“The art of Kintsugi is to take something that looks broken and transform it into something new. That’s you, that’s how I see you anyway.
It doesn't matter that you have scars; you’re still you, Hayleigh.
You’re even more beautiful with them, and so I want you to paint the scars on the bowl with the glittery paint, and when you’re done, I want you to look at that bowl.
Look at it and see that even though it was broken, it’s now stronger than ever.
” I raise my eyes to finally look at her, and as I do, she throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me tight.
“Thank you, Nate. You don’t realise what this means to me.”
Oh, Shortcake, I think I do.
**********
“So, what is it we’re looking for exactly?” Archie’s voice floats through the objects on the shelf in front of me.
My eyes flick up to find him trying on a bucket hat with a green wig attached and a questionable picture of a leaf printed all over it. I roll my eyes. “I need to find something for Hayleigh.”
“Is it her birthday?” He removes the stupid hat and is now trying on sunglasses that make him look like a cheesy TV cop from the seventies.
“No, but I want her to be able to document her list and make it her own…” I trail off, not knowing myself what I want to get her.
Then, sticking out from the bottom shelf are some scrapbooks with plain white covers. I pick it up and flick through the blank pages. This is perfect. Hayleigh can stick her list of memories in here.
“Archie, look on your phone for places that will print some pictures.”
Hopefully, she will love my gift.
**********
“You danced at the movies? Nate, do you realise how romantic that is?” Archie sits on my bed while I get ready, his legs crossed and a dreamy look on his face.
I shrug. “I didn’t mean to make it romantic. I was trying to be a good friend and tick off her list. I don’t want to push her too hard; it isn’t what she needs right now.”
“What about what you need, Nate?” I know he’s only trying to help me, but it still grates on me for some reason.
Sighing, I turn to look at him. “Arch, I’m only going to say this once.
I don’t care if this takes me one or one million days.
I think she’s worth it, and I want her to complete this list, and for every shit thing that prick ever did or her parents, I want to erase it with good memories, but I need your help to do that.
She already thinks people hate her…” I trail off, not wanting to break her confidence.
“Hey, I never said I hated her. This isn’t about Hayls, it’s about you.
You always go above and beyond for everyone, but you never take anything for yourself.
I want to make sure you’re okay. That’s all, but I’ll help anyway I can.
” With that, he gets off the bed, clapping me on the shoulder as he walks past. “You’re my brother and best friend, Nate. I only want you to be happy.”
I carry on packing my things away, we’re due to leave for the airport in two hours, and as usual, I leave everything to the last minute.
There’s one last thing I need to do, and that’s the gift for Hayleigh.
I want her to know that even when we get home, I’ll still be there for her and want to help her with her list.
I find the neatly wrapped gift, thanks to Archie, and set it aside because once I’m done packing, I need to see her.
**********
Packing took way longer than expected, and there are only thirty minutes till the taxi arrives to take us to the airport. I stand outside of her apartment door, my hands sweating and my heart beating out of my chest. I lift my hand to knock right as the door opens to a startled Hayleigh.
She places her hand over her heart and laughs. “Fuck. Nate! You scared the ever-loving shit out of me. What are you doing?”
I drop my arm because, like a dork, it’s still in the air, ready to knock. “Uhm.” Great job, dick. Now, words. “I…erm…” Holy shit, Nate, are you having a medical episode right now?
Hayleigh looks around, probably for a way to escape. “Nate, are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, my brain short-circuited for a minute there-” She giggles, and I smile. This is better. I hold the gift out. “This is for you…I wanted to, I don’t know, make sure that when we got back home, we could, you know, still work on your list.”
She takes the neatly wrapped package, smiling, her eyes shining. “Thank you, Nate. I almost wish we weren’t leaving this place.”
She sounds so sad, I find myself stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her.
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “This isn’t the end of anything, Hayleigh, it’s the beginning,” I whisper the words into her hair, and I think she’s going to reply, but the moment is broken by, you guessed it. ..
“Love birdies! The taxi’s here already! Nate, I’ve got your case!” Archie’s voice bellows down the corridor from the waiting lift, and I shake my head.
“He has the worst timing.”
Hayleigh chuckles. “Or the best, depending on how you look at it. Thank you for a magical trip, Nate.” She steps out of my embrace and closes the door behind her before walking towards Archie, and I can’t help feeling that this is her way of pulling away from me.
Shame she has no idea how stubborn I can be.