Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
N athan’s finger hovered over the phone, wondering whether to add anything to the text message he’d sent Lacie several hours ago. It’d be bedtime over there, and she usually replied to him as soon as she finished work, but lately her replies had been delayed and… brief.
Hey. I noticed you’ve been a bit quiet lately, hope all is well. And I hope my flower delivery a couple of weeks ago wasn’t crossing a line or anything.
He put the phone down and went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. He needed to get out of the house, maybe catch up with a mate, or even better, do a good workout at the gym, something to get his mind off the ridiculousness that was his feelings for an unavailable woman.
His phone beeped and he rushed back to the coffee table where he’d left it. So much for that idea.
Hey, sorry for my delayed reply, I just got home after being out with a friend! I’ve been super busy and tired, but yes, all is well. Hope you are too. As for the flowers, no line crossed. They honestly made my day. You really are such a sweet guy. I’ve also
Nathan smiled in relief, then said, ‘Also what?’ The typing bubbles appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared, as though she was thinking of what to say.
Sorry, accidentally pressed send before I’d finished! I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking about my life, reprioritising, setting goals, that sort of thing. I’m in a bit of a ‘transition’ stage I guess, pondering my life’s direction.
Nathan nodded to himself. She had probably just needed some space for herself lately. He got that. The bubbles continued as though she hadn’t yet finished.
But I’m glad you texted. The past couple of weeks have flown by, and I’ve missed our daily Q I don’t go out to events that often.’
‘Yeah, you looked nice. Not that you don’t the other times, just that…’
Nathan smiled. ‘My occupation requires more… practical attire.’
‘Yes.’ She nodded with a slight smile, noticing he was wearing a plain grey T-shirt with a rip in one shoulder.
‘What’s on the agenda this weekend?’ he asked.
Visiting the baby shop for the first time to get an idea of what I’ll need so I can budget and research my shortlist of essential items.
‘Bit of shopping, some housework, replying to messages, life admin, that sort of stuff, I guess.’
‘Ah, never ends does it, there’s always something to keep on top of.’
‘Indeed. And you?’
‘Visit to the gym… gotta lift my game a bit so I can be fitter for when the beach season begins in mid-spring. I’ll be putting on my lifeguard hat for the next school holidays.’
Lacie’s eyebrows rose. She didn’t think with his practical occupation that he’d need to do much else. ‘How much fitter can you get? You seem pretty strong and fit to me already.’
‘One can always improve. Gardening, small landscaping and construction jobs are one thing, but being able to have endurance and aerobic fitness are another. I’ll start swimming again soon too in preparation.’
‘Do you ever rest?’
‘Only if I have a good documentary in front of me.’
‘Like Nigella Lawson?’
‘Haha.’ He laughed. ‘I wouldn’t say her shows are documentaries, but yeah I can definitely rest while watching her, or David.’ He smiled. ‘Who’s your favourite celebrity? You never told me before.’
It used to be Xavier Black.
‘You know, I don’t think I have one,’ she stated after a brief moment of thought. ‘After meeting so many in my line of work, actors at least, I feel like I can’t think of celebrities as celebrities anymore, I just see them as people who have a public occupation. So I can’t really determine a favourite unless I’ve met them and know more about them personally.’
‘Fair enough. Makes sense,’ he replied. ‘Let me think of another question then for our Q I bet you’re someone who’s been skinny dipping, am I right?’
As he scratched his head and diverted his gaze for a moment, Lacie winced, knowing she’d have to answer the same question. ‘Okay, let’s answer it at the same time so we can get it over with,’ she said.
‘Aha! That means you have,’ he said. ‘Okay then, one, two, three, go!’
‘I did it once in a lake when camping, purely as a substitute for a shower,’ he said quickly, at the same time as she said, ‘I did in a pool on holiday after I was dared to by a friend, but it was dark!’
They both laughed and Lacie fanned her hot cheeks with her hand, no longer feeling sleepy.
‘Phew, glad that one’s out of the way,’ she said.
The same look as before graced his face, and with a softer voice, he said, ‘If you were here right now, I’d…’
She locked eyes with his gaze. ‘You’d what?’ Her voice was barely audible.
He looked away and ran a hand over his head. ‘Nothing, it’s okay.’
‘You’d what, Nathan?’ Her breath paused halfway to her lungs, awaiting his answer.
He looked into her eyes again. ‘I’d do what we did in the car at the beach, the night before you left.’
She swallowed her breath quickly so she could take another. No words came out in response.
‘I miss you,’ he whispered.
She glanced away then returned his gaze. ‘I miss you too.’
Certain his heart was beating faster than ever like hers, the tension rising within like a boiling pot, she released a breath. ‘Life, huh?’ she mused. ‘Crazy how things work out.’
‘Yep.’ He nodded.
‘I should, ah…’ How to tell him?
‘Should what?’
Tell you that I want you to kiss me again like you did in the car that night. I wish I could teleport there right now, and any time I wish, so we can do it again and again. Have midnight snacks on the beach in the cold of night, and walk among the gardens talking about our favourite plants and flowers, discussing our very different childhoods, and hear your David Attenborough impersonation, and, and, and, I want … you. Also, I’m pregnant. Crazy, huh?
‘I should… invite you over for dinner! A virtual dinner, that is.’ Maybe that would be the next best thing.
His eyebrows rose. ‘Dinner?’
‘Yeah, why not? Since we can’t hang out in person. We only chat at random times, so why not…’
‘Make a date?’
She nodded.
A smile formed on his lips, and he nodded too. ‘A date it is then. Next weekend?’
‘Okay. Oh! But my dinner will be your breakfast.’
Nathan chuckled. ‘That’s perfectly fine. Maybe I can get Nigella to help me whip up a breakfast feast.’
‘I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with! And no pyjamas allowed.’ She winked.
‘Definitely not. I’ll wear my best outfit.’
‘Me too.’
‘Say, my Saturday morning, your Friday evening: 7pm?’
‘It’s a date.’ She smiled, waving him goodbye. Things had shifted between them now. She knew she had feelings for him and he had feelings for her, but they both knew it was futile. Maybe with a more formal conversation over dinner/breakfast, they would be able to enjoy the limited experience the distance allowed, at least in some way, but also she could tell him what was going on with her, before they got too close.