Page 114 of I Could Be Yours

“Do you want to check it?”

“Yes. No. Yes. It’s been two weeks. It feels like an eternity.” I open the message.

Nate

Hey. I’m so sorry for the silence. I’ve been working through my stuff. I don’t know if you’re up for it, but I’d really like to see you.

“He wants to meet up,” I whisper.

“What do you want?” Dred asks.

For my heart to stop hurting. To be able to trust my gut. To give my soft parts to the right person.“To hear what he has to say.”

“Then that’s what you should do.”

Essie

Okay.

Nate

Are you free tonight?

Essie

I’m with Dred right now.

Nate

Will you be available later? I could come to you.

My apartment is not ready for Nate, and I’m not ready for Nate to be in my apartment. Neutral territory would be better.

Essie

How about the Pancake House?

Nate

Just tell me what time, and I’ll meet you there.

Essie

Nine?

Nate

I’ll see you then.

Thank you.

“I’m meeting him in less than two hours,” I tell Dred. “Should I go home and change?”

“If you feel like you need to, but he’s woken up beside you plenty of times, hasn’t he?”

“He has.”

“So you don’t need to show him what he’s missing. He already knows.”

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