Page 28 of The Story of Us
“I’m still thinking about it.” Exactly how long did it take to figure out the correct hem length of a dress?
“And does a certain someone who you were making out with outside our house last night have anything to do with this hesitation?”
“No,” Eloise huffed.
“Hmmm.”
“He doesn’t!”
“Darling, I know you’ve been hoping something would happen with Nate for a long time, but you can’t let go of your own dreams.”
Eloise swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth. “That’s not what I’m doing. I can’t afford to go on the exchange, okay? I had the money put aside, but when I wasn’t selected, I used it to buy my car. I can’t just up and leave. Where would I live? How would I afford to eat? The exchange isn’t a paid position.”
“I could?—”
“I’m probably not going to get it anyway.”
“All done now. You can go and change. Watch out for the pins,” the seamstress interjected, and Eloise shuddered.
Once she was hidden in the change room, she released a long, frustrated breath. She closed her eyes and waited for her head to stop pounding.
There was a quiet knock on the door. “Do you need help with the hidden zip?” Joanie asked.
Eloise twisted and turned, fingers fumbling for the zipper. She opened the door and Joanie slipped into the cubicle. “Please.”
“I only want what’s best for you,” Joanie whispered.
“I know.”
“Besides, maybe it’s Nate’s turn to wait for you this time.”
But what if she missed her chance entirely?
* * *
“One more story!”
“I don’t have my books with me.” Eloise chuckled as she led the children who’d signed up for both her afternoon art class and then Nate’s training session to the oval. Sadly, Callum had been missing from her art class.
“You can make one up?”
Several other voices joined in, the sound mixing with the rustling leaves in the tall gums that encircled the field. Up in the distance, Nate was setting out some coloured cones, hopscotch mats and hula hoops with the help of a few other kids andugh. Eloise sighed. Why was Bianca here again? At least this time she was wearing long workout pants and talking to Teddy, who waved when he saw her and the kids. Nate still had his back turned and she took a moment to enjoy the way his tracksuit pants clung to his perfect ass. Some clothes got all the good jobs, didn’t they?
Eloise bit her lip and imagined sauntering over, wrapping her arms around him from behind and whispering all the things she’d like to do to him once they were finished here. She ignored the chastising voice in the back of her mind that sounded an awful lot like her grandmother.
“Hi,” she said softly when they reached Nate, her cheeks pulling tight as she tried and failed to smother her grin. But really, why shouldn’t he know she was happy to see him? If they weren’t surrounded by a bunch of kids, his brother and freaking Bianca, she might’ve even given him a quick peck.
Lies.
She’d used up all her bravery last night.
“Hey, everyone!” Nate greeted the group. Was it weird that he didn’t say hello to her directly? Eloise shook her head, telling herself she was being silly. He wasn’t going to single her out right now. And her groupwasa few minutes late.
“Ready to have some fun? After such a great session last week, I thought we could work on our coordination a bit more today. Do you remember your groups?” The chorus of sing-songy “yeses” normally would’ve made Eloise smile, but her stomach was sinking, an ominous feeling creeping over her skin as he avoided her gaze. Something was wrong.
“Let’s see …” Nate tapped on his chin. Made a big show of twisting from side to side as he surveyed the group in front of him. “Okay, you guys”—he pointed to the group to his left—“are going to be with Eloise and Bianca.”
Awesome.That’s exactly who she was hoping to be partnered with. Based on the sour expression on Bianca’s face and Teddy’s frown, the feeling was mutual.
