Page 11 of Fumbled Into Love

“What? Why?”

“She loves them.” Declan smiles softly. “It will break the ice,” I add the candy to the other snacks when Declan continues,shocking me. “She has a soft heart. Don’t take advantage of her.”

He cuts a serious look, and it strikes me how deeply he cares for Nathalie. Whatever relationship they have, it’s important to him.

I ignore the jealousy swirling in my chest.

“I would never,” I say, letting the truth creep into my words. I would never take advantage of her kindness. It’s one of the things I’m unable to banish from my thoughts. And the way she pushes her glasses up on the bridge of her nose when she’s deep in thought.

My stomach sours.

Does he truly believe I would hurt her?

“Good. Nathalie’s great!” he beams, “Maybe you two will be friends by the end of it.”

He laughs, walking out of the practice facility.

Yeah…maybe.

“Hi, Sandy.” I quickly greet the receptionist at GameChangers, the non-profit where Nathalie and Sawyer both work. Since I met them through Henry, the guys and I have been here a few times to volunteer and hang out with the kids during the after-school program.

“Nathalie told me you were coming,” she pauses, eyes roaming along my body. I refrain from shivering in discomfort. “She’s upstairs in her office.”

A ball of blonde hair bounds out of an office, and I drop my head, hoping Sawyer will simply walk past me as if I don’t exist.

“Hi, Deon,” Sawyer says, breezing past. I sigh in relief when I hear a quiet, “Wait, what?”

“There you are!” Nathalie’s head pops out of her office with a manic smile. “He’s here to talk about donating money!” she yells to Sawyer.

“I am?” I ask, confused.

Her eyes widen. “Yes,” she grits out, “you are.”

Oh. “Yep. Gonna sign a really big check.”

Sawyer smiles brightly. “Oh, Deon, that’s great! I can help with the paper—”

“I got it,” Nathalie says, “ Go enjoy your lunch with Henry.”

Sawyer nods, walking away, and I lean against the doorframe. Jeez, that was close. Maybe Nathalie was right. We do need a plan.

Nathalie pushes papers aside as I sit down across from her. She haphazardly tosses half of the items on her desk into a random drawer.

“I brought an offering.”

I slide the bag across the desk.

Her eyebrow jerks up, blue-rimmed glasses bobbling on her nose. She flings a long braid over her shoulder as she snatches the bag. Nathalie pulls the bag open, and an excited smile blossoms.

“Snacks!”

With her adorable, goofy grin, Nathalie pours the contents onto the desk, examining her plunder like a pirate. Her eyes snag on the gummy bears. I hold my breath. She releases a small squeal. “Thank you, Deon. I love these.”

A small kernel of warmth lodges beneath my breastbone. I resist the urge to rub the sensation away.

Nathalie opens the same drawer she threw everything into and pulls out two clipboards. Curiosity pricks at me. I want to know what’s stored in the drawer. It has to be a nightmare.

If the chaos of her desk is any indication, the drawer must be a treasure trove of junk.

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