Page 21 of The Greatest Gift

“Okay, okay!” Athena laughs, letting Stevie drag her toward the couch. She pauses long enough to glance back at me. “You’ve got this. Do what feels natural and remember—you have all of us to support you.”

***

The restaurant is fancier than anything I’m used to—soft lighting, white tablecloths, the works. I spot Nakul near the entrance and my breath catches. He’s wearing a dark button-down and tailored slacks, and while he looks incredible, I can tell he’s as out of place as I feel.

“Hey,” he says, smiling as he pulls out my chair for me. “You look great.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, sitting down and trying not to feel self-conscious in my sweater and dress pants. “You too.”

We both glance at the menu, the silence between us heavy. When the waiter arrives, Nakul gestures for me to order first and I choose something simple—a grilled fish dish that seems safe. Nakul does the same and when the waiter leaves, we’re left with the awkwardness of trying to navigate whatever this is.

“So,” Nakul says after a moment, his smile a little strained. “What do you think of the place?”

“It’s… nice,” I say, though my voice wavers slightly. “Definitely… fancy.”

He chuckles, glancing around. “Yeah, maybe a little too fancy for us?”

The first course arrives and I immediately feel overwhelmed. The portions are small, the presentation meticulous, and I’m not even sure what half of it is. I glance at Nakul, who looks equally baffled and then suddenly starts laughing.

“I’m sorry,” he says, setting down his fork. “I thought… I don’t know, I thought a date was supposed to be nice. But I don’t think this is us.”

Relief washes over me and I can’t help but laugh too. “It’s definitely not us.”

He leans forward, his grin widening. “If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be?”

I meet his gaze, a spark of mischief igniting in my chest. “Do you trust me?”

His expression softens and he nods. “Yeah, I trust you.”

Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of a little burger joint on the edge of Windsor Creek. The neon sign flickers above the door and the smell of grease and salt hits me the second I step out of the car. It’s perfect.

We order greasy burgers, fries, nachos, and a couple of beers, then sit at a picnic table overlooking the icy water. The cold bites at my cheeks, but I barely notice. The atmosphere feels lighter here, more natural.

“This,” Nakul says, taking a bite of his burger, “is so much better.”

I laugh, nodding in agreement. “I thought the same thing. Ava was always the one with extravagant tastes. Fancy dinners, designer clothes, outlandish ideas.”

Nakul snorts. “She was like that with me too. Always chasing some fantasy life.”

As we talk, I realize how much of my life Ava managed to warp. Her expectations, her selfishness—it all left scars I’m still learning to recognize. But at the same time, I see Nakul differently now. He’s not just someone Ava left in her wake. He’s thoughtful, grounded, and there’s a quiet strength in him that I find myself drawn to more and more.

The conversation eventually slows, the noise of the water and the distant hum of traffic filling the space between us. Nakul leans in slightly, his eyes searching mine.

He hesitates, his lips hovering just a breath away. And then I close the distance, kissing him softly. His hands find my waist, pulling me closer, while mine grip his shoulders. It’s passionate but controlled, the kind of kiss that makes the world fade away.

When I finally pull back, my breathing is unsteady. “We should stop,” I murmur, though the words feel like a betrayal.

“Why?” he asks, his voice low and rough.

“Before I don’t want to.”

His eyes soften and he nods. “I don’t know where this leads,” he admits, his hands still resting on my hips. “But I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Me neither,” I say, though doubt creeps into my mind. “Are you sure this isn’t just… because of Ava? Because we have her in common?”

He shakes his head firmly. “No. This has nothing to do with her. I would like to date you, Judd Stathis. Officially. Not just go on dates or see each other.”

The sincerity in his voice hits me and I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “I'd like that,” I say softly. “Let’s see where this goes.”

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