Page 1 of No One Else

1

Natalie

––––––––

“YOU SHOULD HAVE SEENtheir faces, Carter.” I settle into the booth, thanking the hostess when she hands me a menu. “They just loved the gifts we gave them.” I hope our server brings out some of those cheddar biscuits soon. I’m starving.

“Mmm hmm,” he nods distractedly from across the table, not paying me a bit of attention.

“And then all the women started piling on each other and making out. It was like a big orgy in there.”

His eyes shoot up at that, all ears now. “What?”

“Oh, so you’re interested in that, but not my actual conversation?” I tease. Of course my boyfriend would perk up at the mention of any girl on girl action.

A flicker of annoyance crosses his face. “We haven’t seen each other in weeks and all you want to talk about is giving toys to orphans,” he grumbles.

“Weeks?” I laugh. “It hasn’t been that long.”

“It actually has.”

“No. The last time I saw you was... was...” I rack my brain to come up with a recent date, but I’m drawing a blank. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I’ve just been caught up with Suncoast Serves. It’s our busiest season with Thanksgiving and Christmas charity drives. Plus, end of term papers and finals and everything. I’m all finished with Toys for Tots, now-”

“I don’t care about toys for orphans or how you fed homeless people or whatever else it is you’ve done,” he barks in a rare display of anger, eyes flashing.

My jaw drops.

He runs a hand through that perfectly coiffed mahogany hair of his as he visibly pulls himself back together. “I’ve actually been thinking we should take a break.”

His lips are definitely moving, words coming out of his mouth, but they make no sense. I dig my pinkie in my ear, making sure there’s no impacted wax to affect my hearing.

“I’m sorry, what?” I glance around the crowded Red Lobster, the man and woman in the booth next to us holding hands and smiling at each other, the family at the table behind us raucously laughing. Do any of them understand what’s happening? And where are those damn biscuits?

“Natalie,” he croons, taking my hand gently, all ingratiating now, his earlier fit of temper gone. “We’re both twenty, but haven’t had the opportunity for a real college experience.”

Real college experience? Is that code for something?

“We’ve been joined at the hip for so long,” he continues, “I think it’s time we be free for a little while.” He smiles at me casually, the white of his teeth dazzling. How can he appear so perfectly at odds with what he’s saying?

“We see each other maybe three times a week normally. Usually less. How is that joined at the hip?” I blurt out before realizing the bigger issue. “Wait. Are you breaking up with me?” Both heads at the booth next to us swivel toward me. I must be louder than I realize.

“I wouldn’t call it breaking up,” he hedges, shifting in his seat. “Just a break. To explore what else is out there. Broaden our horizons.” His tone is placating, expression calm. It’s the face he uses with unreasonable people.

“So byreal college experience, you mean hooking up with a bunch of girls?”

He glances nervously at the couple, now staring unabashedly at us. “Maybe this was the wrong time to have this conversation. How about we finish it at my place?”

“No, I think this is the perfect time.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “You complain about me being so busy, but so are you with your precious fraternity. When else are we supposed to talk?”

His face darkens. “You were the one who didn’t want to join our sister sorority. And besides, I’m not the person always dealing with all that charity crap.” His lips twist, the calm facade crumbling.

I suck in a breath. “You think me volunteering, giving back to the community, is crap?”

He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. As if I’m a nuisance. “Do you know what it’s like being with Saint Natalie? It’d be nice to be with an actual human for a change.”

I roll my lips in between my teeth, eyebrows popping up. “Nice to see how you really feel.” I pick my napkin up off my lap and throw it on the table, scooting the chair back as I stand. The man and woman’s heads both pop up as they follow my movements.

“Nat - wait. I didn’t mean it like that. I just... want something new.”

---