Page 79 of His To Unravel
Nathaniel has been right—about so many things. He saw theexhaustion I tried to hide, the weight of expectations I carried, and he reminded me in his calm, steadfast way, that I don’t have to carry it alone.
I stare at my mother’s messages for a long moment before tapping the screen. My finger hovers over the mute button, hesitation flickering for a split second before I press it. The small act feels monumental.
A wave of liberation washes over me, and I lean back into the soft cushions of the couch, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Everything okay?” Nathaniel’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I turn to find him standing in the doorway, concern etched into his expression.
I smile, slipping my phone back onto the table. “Yeah,” I say softly. “It’s more than okay.”
And for the first time, I truly mean it.
He crosses the room with that effortless grace that still undoes me, his lips curving into an easy smile. He leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead before brushing his lips against mine.
“Coffee?” he asks, his voice low and warm.
I nod gratefully. “Please.”
He heads toward the kitchen, and within moments, the scent of ground beans fills the space—warm, rich, unmistakably his.
I sink further into the cushions, letting my head rest against the back of the couch as I watch him work. He moves with practiced ease—grinding the beans, tamping them down, and pulling the perfect shot of espresso. It’s a ritual I’ve seen him perform countless times now, one of the many small acts of care he’s lavished on me during these weeks of “nesting.”
It was Nathaniel who suggested I stay here while we prepared for finals. “It’s more efficient,” he reasoned, framing it as a practicalsolution rather than what it really was: his way of keeping me close. But I didn’t put up a fight this time.
For once, I let myself be taken care of.
As a study partner, he’s helped me organize my notes, quizzed me on key concepts, and nudged me to take breaks when I started to spiral.
As a housemate, he takes care of everything else—cooking every meal, keeping the penthouse immaculate, and making sure I have nothing to think about but my exams.
And as a lover…
I feel my cheeks warm at the memory of how he soothed my anxieties in ways no one ever has, with an attentiveness that made me feel worshipped.
Thanks to him, for the first time, I’m going into finals without the suffocating grip of anxiety that has plagued me for years. Instead of drowning in pressure, I feel anchored.
Nathaniel returns a few moments later, holding two mugs of coffee. He eases into the seat beside me, his thigh brushing against mine, and offers me a cup.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip before letting out a contented sigh.
Before I can lose myself entirely in the bliss of the moment, my phone lights up on the coffee table. The subject line stops my breath:Second Round Interview Invitation from Castor & Wyatt
My heart stutters, a rush of anticipation stealing the air from my lungs.I set my mug down hastily, fingers trembling as I pick up the phone.
It had been weeks since that first interview—slotted in just before finals prep began, before Nathaniel had practically moved me in. I hadn’t told him about it. At least not yet.
With a swipe, the email opens, and the words blur for a moment before settling into clarity. I’ve advanced to the nextround. Relief mingles with disbelief, and giddy excitement floods through me.
“I got it,” I say breathlessly, the words spilling out before I can stop them. I turn to Nathaniel, wide-eyed. “Castor & Wyatt—I made it to the next round.”
For a moment, his expression is unreadable, the words still registering. Then, a radiant smile breaks across his face, one that makes my chest ache with its intensity. His joy isn’t just for me—it’swithme, as though my success is his as well.
“Of course you did,” he says, his voice laced with pride. He leans in, cradling my face in his hands as his lips press against my forehead, lingering there. “I’m so proud of you, baby. That’s my capable girl.”
Emotion wells up in my throat as I lean into his touch, his arms folding around me, enveloping me in his comforting scent.
