Page 101 of Faker
Natalie: Negatory. If she’s a sweetie like you say she is, she’ll understand.
Tate called me a sweetie to his sister all those months ago? Something next to my heart thumps. I skim the rest of her reply and scan the messages from a couple months after that exchange.
Tate: Fuck. She’s pretty. Goddamn it, she’s pretty. I can’t focus.
Natalie: Good god. Go on about it why don’t you.
The next few texts are comments about how difficult it is not to stare when he sees me. I blush. I had no clue he felt that way about me. He was always brooding and eerily quiet. I honestly thought he was funneling all his energy into keeping himself fromsnapping at me every day. My heartbeat quickens. I’m flattered, but I feel silly. How did I not pick up on any of this?
My finger slides down the screen to reveal another chunk of texts.
Natalie: So?? Did you get that creeper fired or not?
Tate: I did.
Natalie: Well??? Details! Come on!
Natalie: You’re the worst. You arranged the firing of the sexist creeper who’s been pestering the woman you’re crazy about, and you go radio silent on me the whole day?
Natalie: Have you told her you like her yet?
Natalie: Quit ignoring me.
Natalie: Okay, I can handle your annoying professionalism and refusal to give me details on this prick getting fired, but I’m not going to just sit here while you blow this opportunity. Come on! Tell her you like her!
Tate: Please leave me alone. I’m trying to work.
Natalie: You’ve never spoken about anyone the way you talk about her. Your face lights up like a Christmas tree whenever I bring her up. I know when my twin brother is head over heels for someone.
Natalie: Your deafening silence proves I’m right. You won’t say otherwise because you know it would be a lie. Just talk to her. Get to know her. Make small talk. Ease your way into it.
I inhale sharply. The relentless teasing from his sister must have gotten on his nerves. I wonder how worked up he must have felt most of this past year.
Tate: I blew it.
Natalie: Blew what exactly?
Tate: She came to the rock climbing gym. I talked her down thewall when she panicked because I guess she’s afraid of heights so I calmed her down. She thanked me for helping her... she finally looked at me like she didn’t despise me... and I blew it. It completely threw me off seeing her like that. She looked so scared. It wrecked me. I should have said more, but I froze.
Natalie: Crap... it’s okay. You did a nice thing by helping her. I’m sure she appreciated that. Say something tomorrow at work to her.
Natalie: So?! Did you say anything to her today?!
Natalie: Do not ignore your sister.
Natalie: Taaaaaaate
Tate: Jesus. I don’t check my phone for one afternoon and this is what I come back to?
Tate: To answer your question, no. I didn’t have the nerve. She seems pretty into that contractor who asked her to the rock climbing gym. I should just leave it alone.
I can’t scan the texts fast enough. It’s like reading a page-turner, and I want to know how it all ends as soon as my eyes hit the first letters of each word. Only this book is about me, and I have a one-sided view of all the major plot points.
I get to the night of our first kiss.
Natalie: Work happy hour tonight, right? Perfect time to reveal your feelings for a certain coworker. Sack up, Rasmussen. Do it!
Tate: Shut up.
