Chapter 13
THE TOP, THE BAR, AND THE brIT
NATALIE
By Friday afternoon, my weekend without the kids had officially begun. For the first time in a while, I was looking forward to it. At first, these weekends felt daunting; quiet hours stretching endlessly, but tonight, I had a date. A real date. With a Brit, no less.
Lucas seemed charming, confident, and refreshingly uncomplicated. No ties, no ex-wife, no teenagers. Just a man with a great accent and an easy smile.
Before getting ready, I FaceTimed Meredith for wardrobe approval. She was my go-to for fashion advice, given her proximity to high-end designers. She never hesitated to send me pieces to elevate my closet, often with unsolicited commentary.
“I think I’ve nailed it,” I said, holding the phone up to show her my outfit: black, boot-cut jeans that made me feel tall, paired with sleek black booties, a sheer lace top that revealed just enough of my black bra, and a leather jacket to tone down the daring vibe.
Meredith grinned. “Your rack looks great in that top.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not too much?”
“Not at all. Trust me, everyone will be wearing something like that. You look amazing.”
By the time my Uber pulled up outside the restaurant, I was starting to feel the thrill of possibility. This was my chance to experience something new, to focus on a man without baggage.
Lucas was waiting outside when I arrived. His crisp button-up shirt and easy posture immediately put me at ease.
“Hello,” he said, his accent practically melting me on the spot.
“Hi,” I replied, smiling as he held the door open for me.
We stood in the small hallway by the hostess, and as Lucas gave her his last name, something caught my eye. For a brief second, I thought I saw Will standing at the bar behind a blonde woman.
It couldn’t be.
I shook the thought away as the hostess led us to our table, and I made a point not to look back. It couldn’t be him. There was no way he’d show up here, tonight, of all nights.
As Lucas and I ordered drinks, I reminded myself to stay present. Will didn’t matter right now. This was my time to enjoy a date with a man who was straightforward, unattached, and interested in me.
We talked easily about work. Lucas was insightful and curious, and his genuine interest in my life was refreshing. I told him about my kids, even showing him a picture.
“They’re adorable,” he said, smiling. “They look like their mother.”
I laughed softly, brushing off the compliment. “Thank you. It’s been a process, figuring out co-parenting, but we’re making it work. Honestly, I’ve gotten used to being on my own with them. Prior to the divorce, my ex traveled so much.”
Lucas shared that his ex-wife didn’t want children. “That ship’s sailed for me now,” he added. “I’m forty-two, and I’ve made peace with it.”
“You don’t think you’ll change your mind?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
He shook his head. “No. It’s just not in the cards for me. And I’m okay with that, I’m happy with my cat, Pete.” He studied me for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. “What about you? How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m thirty-seven,” I said. “Do you have a photo of Pete the cat?” I laughed.
He smiled. “You’re still young. Plenty of time to figure out what you want. And of course I have a photo.”
“Not that young,” I said, laughing. “But I feel like I’m at the right age for where I’m supposed to be and I’m more than happy with two children. Now let’s see this, Pete.”
He pulled out his phone to show me his orange cat, Pete.
The conversation flowed, and for a moment, I let myself relax. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the blonde woman from earlier walking past our table toward the bathroom.
Blake.
My gut twisted. If Blake was here, that man with her must be Will.
Before I could turn around to confirm, Lucas leaned in. “I think that’s Will over there at the bar,” he said casually. “Perhaps we should go say hello.”
Panic bubbled in my chest. “Nonsense,” I said quickly. “There’s no need to bother them.”
Lucas didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. “He just made eye contact with me. Let’s go say a quick hello.”
Before I could stop him, Lucas was already leading the way. I followed reluctantly, dreading whatever interaction awaited.
“Hello, mate,” Lucas said cheerfully. “Let’s have a drink.”
Will’s gaze flicked to mine, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Sure. What are you having, Natalie? White wine tonight, or something stronger?”
“Something stronger,” I said flatly, my tone betraying my nerves.
Blake appeared, her towering frame commanding attention. “Hi,” she said brightly.
Will introduced us. “This is Blake,” he said. “Blake, this is Natalie. She’s working on a project with me, and our daughters are in the same class at St. Isidore’s.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, forcing a polite smile.
Blake smiled back; her tone syrupy sweet. “Cute top. I have one just like it.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, swallowing the sharp retort that threatened to slip out. “Thanks,” I said stiffly.
Lucas stepped in, introducing himself to Blake. “How do you do?” he asked, his British accent on full display.
“Oh my gosh, I love your accent,” Blake gushed, her enthusiasm grating on me.
When our drinks arrived, I barely took a sip before suggesting we head back to our table.
“Well, join us for another drink after,” Will said, his smirk deepening.
“We’ll see,” I replied coolly.
“We’d love to,” Lucas added, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface.
As we walked back to our table, I heard Blake’s voice behind us. “They seem nice,” she said to Will.
I could barely focus for the rest of dinner. My mind kept drifting back to the bar, replaying every detail of Will and Blake together. Was it a coincidence they were here, or had Will figured out my plans and decided to crash my date?
After we finished eating, Lucas suggested grabbing a nightcap.
“Sure,” I said, though my heart wasn’t in it. All I wanted to do was go home and cry.
As we walked past the bar, I saw Blake leaning into Will, her leg brushing against his. She was looking at him with an intensity that made my pulse spike .
We stepped outside of the cramped restaurant, the open air breathing life back into me. I stopped abruptly at the end of the street. “You know what, Lucas? I’m so sorry, but I think I’m going to call it a night. I have a headache.”
“Oh,” he said, surprised. “Can I take you home? I’ll ride in the Uber with you.”
I laughed lightly. “I’ll be okay but thank you.”
Lucas waited with me on the corner until my car arrived. As the Uber pulled up, he spun me gently toward him and kissed me. It was a good kiss—soft, tender and sweet.
But he wasn’t Will.
“Thank you for a nice evening,” I said, stepping into the car.
On the ride home, I texted Meredith.
Natalie: Need to talk ASAP.
She called me the second I walked through the door. “What’s going on?”
I told her everything.
“What if I can’t get over Will?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Seeing him with Blake was maddening.”
Meredith was calm, as always. “Take a breath. Remember, he’d take you back if you were all in. But you have to decide, Natalie.”
“I think I should stick it out with the Brit,” I said half-heartedly.
“I think you need therapy,” she teased, laughing softly. “I’ll be there in two weeks. We’ll figure this out together.”
I laughed, despite the lump in my throat. “I love you. Thanks for letting me vent.”
After we hung up, I saw a text from Lucas.
Lucas: Listening to a record with Pete. He was hoping to meet you.
He was sweet. Perfect, really.
But with Will crashing in on every step I took, I didn’t know where my heart was anymore.