Chapter 26
Three years ago, I saw a show on the Travel Channel about floating markets in Thailand. I was enchanted by the traditional wooden boats with long, narrow hulls and a metal rod that extends behind the boat into the water, propelling it forward. From that moment, riding a long-tail boat through a floating market became a bucket-list item for me.
I just never imagined I’d be going down the river, sitting next to my office rival.
Trust me, I tried to go alone in my own boat by myself, but there were too many watchful gazes on us. Nate’s aunts are their own crazy version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding , meddling in our relationship with their eyes every time I turn around . Not to mention, his parents are in the boat behind us, and Isaac and Lauren are in the boat in front of us.
It never ends.
So here we sit, floating down a canal in what I would normally deem a romantic situation. The seat is small, pressing our hips and thighs together. My arms fold across my lap to minimize the possibility of unnecessary handholding, even though the chance is low with Nate’s arm draped behind me on the seatback. We drift in silence because continuing our last conversation about convincing me to like him is out of the question. The topic has already been filed under Things I Never Want to Think or Talk About Again.
My gaze flips ahead to where Isaac is wrestling with an umbrella to block the afternoon sun from hitting the side of Lauren’s face. The boat sways back and forth as he awkwardly tries to find an angle that satisfies her. She hits his arm away, irritated by his incompetence.
Nate laughs beside me, noticing the same thing.
“Lauren gives me Veruca Salt vibes,” I say mostly to myself.
Nate’s voice morphs into a British accent. “But Isaac, I want shade right now!”
A grin crawls across my lips as I eye him. “You know who Veruca Salt is?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “ Willy Wonka.” The same British accent taints his words when he speaks again. “But Daddy! I want an Oompa-Loompa!”
“I don’t know why I’m so surprised. You are more child than man.”
“Better than always being an uptight adult,” he playfully barks back.
“If I’m so uptight, would I do this?” I reach over my side of the boat, slapping the water hard, sending a splash in Nate’s direction.
He turns his head away, but it’s no use. Water douses him.
“You don’t want to start this with me, Carly.” His expression is cocky.
My brows lift, mocking him. “Oh, really?”
“Really.” A moment of peace hangs between us before Nate grabs me with one hand, holding me facing him. He uses his other hand to splash me.
“Okay! Okay!” I squeal when he’s sufficiently gotten his revenge—and then some. “I think that’s good.”
He lets go, sitting back in his seat with triumph. “I told you you didn’t want to start this with me.”
I wipe the droplets of water off my face and arms. “Well, the joke's on you because it’s so hot here. That actually felt nice.”
“Until you realize how polluted and dirty this water is.”
“Facts.”
Our long-tail boat slows in front of a single shop along the canal. A Thai woman, missing a few teeth, smiles at us as she holds up a wooden Buddha statue. We both nod in appreciation as the boat continues on.
“So what’s your souvenir?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“You know, what do you buy on your trips to take home?”
“Oh, well…” I pause, debating if I want to tell him. It’s not personal, but suddenly, it feels that way.
“Don’t you collect anything from destinations?”
“Yeah, I do.” I push my hair back into my bun, feeling pressure to answer. “A magnet. I usually buy one from each city that I visit. I have a whole magnet board back at my house where I display them.”
“Me too, except mine are on my fridge, but I’m running out of space.”
“Oh.”
“You look devastated that we have something in common.” He laughs.
“I’d hardly call it that. Everyone collects magnets.”
“Not everyone. Rodney collects shot glasses, Shelly collects postcards, Taryn collects maps and travel guides, and Lyle collects t-shirts.”
My brows cinch. “How do you know all of that?”
“This may surprise you, but I’m friends with everyone else in the office besides you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s because you bribe everyone with donuts while making them chant ‘Nate is great!’ like you’re brainwashing them into liking you.”
“Nah, I just do that to bug you.” An impish smile teeters on his mouth. “It’s so easy to do.”
“You really need to get a life if teasing me is your greatest accomplishment.”
“This is my life.” His arms go out to the side, highlighting the beautiful place we’re in. “Isn’t it great?”
“I didn’t think you cared about the destinations. Only the paychecks.”
“What made you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe how you regularly kick me off trips so you can get a bigger commission.”
“I’ll admit the bigger commission is always a plus, but that’s not why.”
I fold my arms across my chest, feeling my anger rise. “Then why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
My jaw hardens. “Not to me.”
“Because you’re rude. Why would I want to go on a trip with someone who hates me?”
His words sting.
I’m a lot of things, but I’ve never been labeled rude. Until now.
For better or worse, my defense mechanism clicks in. “You’re the one who’s rude to me, joking about my checklists and how I like to control everything.”
“Yeah, joking. I’m only ever reacting to you.”
“Well, your jokes aren’t funny.” I glance ahead at Isaac, thinking about all the similar things he’s said about me.
Nate’s eyes follow my stare, and like he’s just read my mind, he says, “If I had known that those jokes were hurtful, I wouldn’t have said them. It was low-hanging fruit. I’m sorry.”
Why does it feel like Nate doesn’t hate me as much as I hate him? That’s a scary thought.
“You don’t have to apologize. I wasn’t offended,” I lie to get our tumultuous relationship back on track.
“Well, I’m offended that you think I’m only here for the money. If I wanted money, I’d work for Pureskin. I’ve given up a lot to travel as much as I do.”
“What have you given up?”
“For starters, a relationship with my dad…or at least his respect. I was supposed to be next in line for taking over the company, but I’m not interested in working my life away.”
“Is that what he did?”
“He’s a workaholic through and through. Every soccer game, family vacation, school program, and family dinner, he was working. He might’ve been present—some of the time—but he was never really there.” He glances over his shoulder at his parents’ boat. “Just like right now.”
My eyes follow Nate’s to where Mack Farnsworth looks down at his phone, not enjoying the scenery at all.
“The man is good at building an empire but terrible at enjoying life and being a father.”
“So you wanted something different?”
“Yep, and now I pay the price. He critiques every choice I make, comparing me to my brother. Dawson is the example to follow, and I’m what not to do.” He lifts his shoulders. “That’s why when Dawson announced his engagement, I lied and said I had a serious girlfriend. I just didn’t need one more thing for my dad to say I’m failing at that my brother is succeeding in.”
“Your dad is a jerk.”
“Yeah, like father, like son , right?” he huffs.
“I said that last night, but I was wrong. The more I get to know you, the less jerky you become. You’re actually nothing like him.”
There’s something about Nate’s boyish smile that destroys my stronghold. “What is this I see? A rare sight of Carly paying me a genuine compliment?”
“Oh, shut up.” I roll my eyes, trying to play it off. “I still don’t like you.”
“If you say so.” His boyish grin grows into something big and delightful.
I turn my head and bite my cheeks, trying to rein in my own smile.
The long-tail boat floats from the canal into the river, where the main part of the market begins.
“Look at all the boats and shops.” I get my phone out to film. “This is so cool!”
The change in scenery allows me to shift the subject to something less flirtatious.
Because just now, things between us felt a lot like flirting.