Chapter 22
A COOL GUY. I LIKE HIM
Starting Over by Chris Stapleton
Natalie
Roe:
Natalie, I see your sim at home. Is the date over?
Allie:
Leave her alone. She’ll tell us when she’s ready
Cara:
Are you happy? OMG, Natalie, are you fucking him? Please tell me you’re fucking
Roe:
Natalie doesn’t fuck, Cara. She makes love
Cara:
I bet Natalie is kinky as shit
Allie:
You two are impossible leave her alone
Natalie:
Sorry, I’m back
Roe:
Were you fucking?
I smile at how crass she is.
Natalie:
No. It actually wasn’t a date, I don’t think, number 1, and number 2, Bella got her period, and we had to go get her
Allie:
Oh, poor girl
Natalie:
at the water park
Cara:
Oh shit
Natalie:
Yeah, and guess what?
Allie:
what?
Natalie:
Holden is…Coach Clay. Bella’s hockey coach
The immediate four way videochat call was something I should’ve expected. I click answer, and all their faces pop up immediately.
“Roe, are you working?”
“No, I’m just tattooing Saint. He can wait.”
“Hi, girls.”
I shake my head. That poor man.
“Hi, Roe. Can you move for a minute, or maybe, I don’t know, call me later?”
It’s one thing to tell all these girls about the disaster that today was, but it’s another one to say it with Saint waiting to get tattooed.
I bring them all up to speed as quickly as I can; I’m exhausted, and I could use some rest before getting Vero.
They’re shocked, happy, and sad, all at once, and I don’t blame them. I was too.
“I cannot believe your Holden is her coach. He’s hot, Allie was right.
Not hotter than you, though!” she shouts at her boyfriend, who she left in the other room.
Allie doesn’t work right now since she stays home with Nico, and Cara is on summer break from school, so talking to them at all times of the day is pretty normal.
We have another group chat with the other girls, but the four of us will always have our own little group chat where we talk way more than with the others.
I’m sure they also have their own chat too.
"Yeah, that was a little wild. Another reason why dating him won’t work.”
“What? Why? Being good with your daughter should be a big reason why you should date him, no?”
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
“Nattie, be honest with us and yourself right now. Do you like him?” Allie asks, her hazel eyes filled with support.
Hazel eyes like Holden’s, but completely different somehow.
Hers have shades of green and brown while his are full of gold, green and yellow speckles in brown pools.
I feel sometimes like the little speckles are ready to welcome me in if I gaze into them.
It makes my heart skip a beat every time I look into his eyes. That alone should be indication enough.
I like him a lot. I’m sure they can see it in my eyes too.
“I think I like him.”
“I thought so,” Allie adds.
Cara smiles before saying, “Then babe, stop giving excuses and try it. Today went well, right? Even with Bella’s emergency, he handled it well.”
I nod.
“Then tell him. Give the man another date. Put yourself out there and try. You clearly want to.”
But how do I tell them it feels like I’m betraying Nick? It feels like I’m losing him. Like if I give a part of my life and possibly my heart to another man, to Holden, I will somehow forget Nick.
“You won’t forget him,” Allie says, as if she can read my thoughts. “You deserve companionship and happiness, sweetie. Nick would’ve wanted that too. He will always be a part of you, always. But you deserve love too.”
I nod, smiling and wiping away the tear sliding down my cheek.
“I think you’re ready and scared, but you should—”
“Do it anyway!” they all say in unison.
I smile at them, and they do the same. God, I love them. I’m so lucky to have them all. “I love you all.”
“We love you too, babe. Now go call your man,” Cara replies, hanging up so I don’t have time to object.
I should text or call him or something, but I also don’t want to push it. I want to wait and maybe talk to Bella and see how she feels. I want to talk to him and make sure we’re on the same page, because I might be spiraling over nothing. He actually may not even be interested.
Dinner goes by quickly. Mac and cheese and chicken tenders, Bella’s request, and now, we’re sitting watching a movie together.
Vero’s asleep, but I’m letting Bella stay home tomorrow, so when she requested we watch a movie, my only answer was yes.
We’re on round three of romantic comedies, watching ‘Just Like Heaven’ now.
“Do you remember when I told you the other day that it would be okay if you dated?” Bella asks, smacking the giant elephant in the room on the head.
“Mm, yeah.” I turn to look at her, but her eyes are glued to the TV while she’s covered in a giant puffy blanket.
“I meant every word. You deserve to find someone who loves you, Mom.”
I smile even if she can see me. I hope she can hear it in my voice. “Thanks, sweetie. I appreciate it, but today was not a date. We were having breakfast together, like friends do, you know?”
This time, she turns my way. “Sounds like a date to me.”
I let out a breath. “Honestly? I’m not sure.”
“I figured.”
“Uh, explain.”
“You’re pretty clueless sometimes when it comes to stuff like that.”
“Bella!”
“It’s true! Remember that time we were visiting Tata and Pops, and the guy at their winery was talking to you for like three hours?”
I remember that day vividly. He asked me so many questions about the history of the place and the wine, and I got to geek out about all the things I love about my parents’ work.
What was his name? It was something like a Disney prince name, but that’s not important right now. “Yes, actually, I do remember.”
“He literally asked you for your number, and you gave him the winery’s.”
“Mm, yeah. He had so many questions about it.”
“He wasn’t interested in the wine, Mom.”
“Oh, really? How do you know? He seemed pretty interested, if you ask me.”
She shakes her head. “See? Clueless. The guy drank water the entire time. He wanted to hear you talk about it. He was interested in you. Poor guy probably called later, just to find Tata answering instead.”
I don’t think so. He asked so many questions about the place, and yes, I had a blast answering them for him too.
“Anyway. Long story short, Mom. If you want to date, go for it.”
I open my mouth to speak, but don’t say anything. She goes back to watching her movie, rendering me speechless over here.
“And for the record, if it’s Coach Clay you end up dating, that would be fine with me too. He’s a cool guy. I like him.”
I almost choke on words but swallow them instead, looking at her and acknowledging her thoughts. That’s one less thing to worry about.