Page 49 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“Yes, that makes sense.”

“How long are we staying, beautiful?”

“The more drunk people get, the less they notice anyone else. Well, I say at least an hour, as it would be rude not to, don’t you think?”

“For you, anything.” I want to tell her that I’m all in, but it’s been what? Twenty-four hours at best? Yesterday at this time, she was on another date with someone else. Maybe that’s why I should hold my feelings back a bit, or maybe it’s the crowded room here to celebrate her. Either way, I’ll take tonight andallit brings.

Time doesn’t matter when it comes to us.

“I’m glad you’re here, Nick.”

“Same here. First Catalina, then New York. And now we have each other’s last names and phone numbers.” We’ve made love and fucked, but I’m not sure here is the place to remind her ofthat. “Here’s to us.”

“It’s like we skipped the slow ride up the tracks and met at the top of the roller coaster. Now we’re shifting into warp speed, and I don’t know if I’m strapped in safely.”

I straighten the crown on top of her head. “Don’t worry, baby. If you fall, I’ll catch you.”

17

Natalie

I shouldn’t like beinghis baby as much as I do, but it’s amazing how views on things like that change when with the right person.

Is Nick the right person?

He’s been a great sport by staying and drinking, hanging out with Tatum and me. But there are so many people we know here that it’s usually a large crowd with everyone trying to add to the conversation.

Nick just fits right in—my life, my group of friends, my heart—like he’s always been a part of things. I listened to him regale everyone with stories from surfing with sharks to once falling for a girl who fell into his arms. His arm tightened around me, and I held him the same. In the brief span of a few hours here, we went from having fun to something more serious. I’m not sure if we’ll label it, give this relationship a formal title, but I’m not opposed to it.

It’s been a long time since I was in a committed relationship, and I wonder now if it was a good thing I waited. I know I’ll hate the geographical distance between us, but who knows what tomorrow brings?

After leaving the restroom, I stop at the end of the bar when I find him and Tatum across the room. From his looks to his charming personality to being a man with a real job that pays his bills, he’s perfect. Nick’s not just perfect on paper, but in real life.

Even with my friends, he’s a dream come true. Tatum’s always been hard on my boyfriends because she was right—they were losers. But with Nick, she laughs while showing him something on her phone.

Wait . . .photos!Incriminating photos. I run, squeezing between groups of friends and couples, guys trying to pick up women and bachelorette partiers. With my eye on the prize, I make a Hail Mary attempt to grab the phone and make a run for it. Practically diving for it, I say, “No!”

But in my haste, I didn’t calculate Tatum moving her arm to her chest and taking the phone with her. I bumble into the back of Nick, but being the wall of muscle that he is, I’m like a bouncy ball off him. Landing on the heels of my boots, I wave my arms frantically in the air to keep from tipping backward.

Tatum and Nick each are quick to grab a wrist and pull me forward so I can anchor my feet.

Angling his head, Nick stares at me in curiosity. “And I thought you falling in Catalina was a one-off. I’m reconsidering my position on this.”

I shake my head. “No need for considering or reconsidering anything of the sort. I’m usually not clumsy. Well, I wasn’t before you anyway.”

“I’m to blame?”

Nodding with confidence, I say, “Technically, yes. There’s some kind of weird gravitational pull you have on women that makes them fall at your feet.”

“Unless I catch them, of course. Don’t discount my catching skills.”

“I would never.Youcaught me. I’m living, breathing proof of your skills.”

Tatum interrupts to ask, “What are we talking about?”

I burst out laughing. “Nothing. Just flirting with Nick.”

She laughs as she glances around the bar. “That makes a lot more sense.” When she turns back, she looks back and forth between Nick and me. “You know, Harrison told me he’d never seen you instantly smitten before.”

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