Chapter 26 Getting Mines
Dexter
I sat at my desk with a huge smile on my face.
The game director of G.T. Games had sent me an email celebrating The Warriors of the Seven Suns and complimenting on how much he loved my game prototype.
The director wanted to schedule a one-on-one investment meeting with me for the following week.
I had worked so hard on this game, and now I could see everything paying off.
My dreams of being a game designer and then eventually owning my own game studio were right at the tip of my fingers.
I grabbed my phone and immediately went to Natalie's phone number.
She was the first person who popped into my mind as soon as I read through the email, and I wanted to share the great news with her.
Then I remembered we weren't on speaking terms, technically.
I was still giving her space, but I felt stupid.
I should reach out to her and explain how much she means to me.
However, I couldn't shake off the idea of another man being next to her. I didn’t care if it was pretend.
I wanted Natalie to myself, and I told her the truth when I said I didn't want to share.
I mean, if I really thought about it, if she had to play pretend in public, that meant they would have to hold hands.
Or he will have to kiss her and be loving towards her.
I'd be damned if I sat by and watched that shit.
I wanted her all to myself, and until she got rid of her ex, I would have to wait.
My phone vibrated on my desk, letting me know I had a text.
When Natalie’s name appeared on the screen, my heart raced.
My thumb shook as I hovered over the messaging icon.
She was really reaching out to me. Wait, what if this was a message of her telling me she and her ex were going to try to make things work?
Or what if it was a text message because technically, she was still my boss, and she was letting me go?
I could feel my heart rate increasing with each probable outcome until I slowed down and closed my eyes.
Taking a few deep breaths, I whispered to myself. “Okay, Dexter. You don't know what's going to happen until you open the message.” Releasing my breath, I opened her text.
Natalie:
Come outside
My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at her message.
Come outside? Standing up from my seat, I glanced out the window to see Natalie's car.
Sprinting out of my room and down the front stairs, I rushed to my front patio.
Natalie's passenger door opened, and she stepped out.
I threw my hands up over my mouth as I observed what she had on.
Natalie, standing in the middle of the lawn, wore an outfit resembling one of my main character options in my game.
She had on a dark brown and orange crop top with a matching skirt that was split up both sides of her legs.
She sported a rustic orange robe wrapped around her neck, which flowed idly behind her in the wind.
The brown leather belt around her waist and a make-shift weapons holder over her shoulder was a close replica of what I designed.
Natalie held a toy sword in her hand and completed the outfit with a plastic crown on her head.
“Warrior Dexter, I humbly come before you and ask for your forgiveness. During my day’s journey, I contemplated my life and realized how big a fool I've been. I almost lost the best thing that has ever happened to me, all because of lies. I would have allowed the person who hurt me to continue to hurt me had I not realized that you are for me. Warrior Dexter, do you forgive Lady Natalie and agree to come back on her side as she begins her trial to fight for the goddess of love and defeat the goddess of power?”
I threw my head back in laughter as I ran up and scooped Natalie into my arms.
“Lady Natalie, you are amazing,” I said as I pulled her closer to me and pressed my lips against hers.
“I feel like a dork,” she chuckled on my lips.
“At least you're a sexy one!”
She kissed my lips again. At first slow and gentle, but quickly turned into something more.
I missed her, and from the way her hands clawed at my shirt, I knew she missed me, too.
I don't know how one look at this strange woman from a club months ago turned into the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.
For years, my focus has always been on my career and completing my game, but the moment my eyes landed on Natalie, I couldn't have cared less about either.
All I wanted was her. All I needed was her.
Placing Natalie back on her feet, I put both of my hands on each side of her face so that her eyes met mine. “I love you, Natalie.”
A single tear fell down her cheek as she pulled my head down and leaned her forehead against mine. “I love you too, Dexter.”
I couldn't help the wide grin on my face as I picked her back up to spin us around in a circle. Natalie's laughter surrounded us as she threw her hands in the air. I would do anything in my power to hear her laugh like this and to see her happy.
“Oh, wait!” I said, stopping our movement. “We have to tell your brother. I mean, I care about you, and if he wants to fight me for how I feel about you, then unfortunately, I will. I will not let you go freely.”
“Dexter!” Natalie laughed. “It's okay. I already told him, and surprisingly, he had already figured it out. I guess we weren't being as subtle as we thought we were.”
I expelled a breath of relief as I pulled her into my arms.
“You were willing to fight my brothers to be with me?”
“I don't want to fight them, but I would've.
I probably would've got my ass beat too because I've seen the way Black and Key throw hands.
I mean, I ain't no punk, but I pick and choose my battles. However, when it came to you, I would gladly take a punch to the face if I knew I could keep you by my side.”
Natalie shook her head laughing. “Nobody's going to lay a hand on my dorky baby. Especially with his glasses on.”
“I'm the dork, but you're standing in my front yard dressed up in cosplay for my game.”
“Hey! I was doing this for you. Besides, you have to admit, I look pretty damn good in this,” Natalie said, modeling for me.
I bit my bottom lip and groaned. “Yes, the fuck you do! Come on, I never showed you my bedroom.”
“Oh, no!” Natalie laughed, taking a step back. “Aren't your parents’ home?”
I shook my head as I stepped forward. “No, they left this morning to go out of town for an investment meeting.” I snapped my fingers. “Speaking of meetings. I want to show you something in my bedroom.”
Nat lifted an eyebrow.
“I promise not to bend you over until after I show you what I need to show you.”
Grabbing her, I pulled her into the house and led her up the stairs.
Sitting her down at my desk, I opened the email that I had retrieved this morning.
I watched Natalie's face as her eyebrows scrunched up as she read until they jumped up with surprise.
She spun in my seat as she squealed out in excitement.
“Dexter, baby, this is amazing!” she yelled, jumping out of the seat and into my arms. “Congratulations! I am so proud of you. I know how hard you've been working on that game, and look, you're about to get it made. This is incredible.”
“You know, you were the first person I wanted to tell, but we were fighting, so I've kind of been sitting at my desk for a while trying to figure out who to talk to. I mean, I know I have Key, but like I said, you've been the only one on my mind.”
Natalie got on her tiptoes and planted soft kisses on my lips. “Thank you, baby. That is so sweet, and I couldn't be happier for you, but now, go call my brother before he really beats you up because he's definitely going to want to know the great news.”
I laughed and grabbed my phone. “Okay, okay, but as soon as I get off the phone, you better be ready because you are looking too damn good in this outfit. I hope you didn't plan on returning it because I am about to ruin it.”
She playfully yelped as I slapped her on the ass before she shooed me out of the room.
As I listened to the phone ringing on the other end, I couldn't help but wonder.
I'm not sure what will happen between Natalie and me down the road, but I have faith that everything will be all right.
We decided to let go of our lies and secrets that we had hidden from our loved ones.
Then we let go of our fear of the unknown by pursuing one another.
After everything we've been through, I had only one regret: wasting time when I should have gone after Natalie sooner.
The future ahead of us was bright. I couldn't be more excited about it because I knew that the love of my life was going to be by my side.
The End