Page 91 of Faker
I let out an embarrassed laugh and babble a thanks. Tate shoves his hands in his pockets, a flustered grin on his face.
“Jesus, you make it sound like I’ve been downplaying her. Of course she’s stunning.”
Inside I’m bursting. He was right. Natalie is most definitely Miss Congeniality.
“Shall we head in?” Brendan asks.
Tate leads me down the hallway, his fingers pressed gently at the small of my back.
“You ready?” I ask.
He peers down at me with cool clouds for eyes, nerves nowhere to be found. “Absolutely.”
twenty-four
We maneuver through the crowd of bodies into the gym.
“Told you my sister would like you.”
“She’s incredible. A total sweetheart. I love her, and I’ve only known her for two minutes.”
The gym is nearly full by now. Most of the tables have a handful of people sitting at them. Everyone else stands around in groups, chatting with one another. There’s hugging, squealing, and laughing. Brendan and Jillian break off to join some people across the room. I notice several heads turn and stare in the direction of Tate and me. It’s odd, but not surprising given what I now know about him. No one must have expected a grumpy shut-in like him to show up.
Tate, Natalie, and I find an open space near a wall on the far end of the gym. Tate offers to grab us drinks, then walks to the beverage table.
“I guess it’s just me and you holding up this wall, then,” Natalie says, elbowing the wall behind her. I laugh. “How are you feeling? After your surgery, I mean?”
“A lot better. Tate was so sweet to take care of me. I feel badthough that he spent so much of the holiday weekend in a hospital.”
She beams. “You shouldn’t. He was happy to do it.”
“Oh, and I’m sorry to hear about your flat tire last night.”
“It figures. The week after I get rid of Triple A to save money, I blow a tire.” She flicks her hand in the air. “Tate saved the day though and changed my tire in record time. My boyfriend, Eli, is putting on a new one tomorrow. I’m all set.”
“Is he coming tonight?”
She nods. “He had a work call when we pulled up, but he should be in soon.”
Once our topics for small talk are exhausted, we share a few seconds of silence.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been dying to meet you.” Natalie studies me like she knows something I don’t. “I’ve never seen him this happy with anyone. He actually laughs now. Like, daily. No one’s ever gotten him to do that before. He’s a totally different person with you.”
I do my best not to smile so wide. “I don’t know about—”
Natalie rests her hand on my arm. Her studied stare turns sincere. “I mean it. You’re beyond special to him, you know.”
I want to ask just what exactly Tate Rasmussen thinks is so special about me, but he’s back before I can utter a word.
“Here we go.” He hands me a cup full of ice and what I assume is either Sprite or 7 Up. “No alcohol, unfortunately.”
Natalie takes a sip. “Lucas Waller is hosting an after-party for our class at the bar he owns. Remember him? Aced all the AP tests. Now he owns a bar. Go figure. There will be copious amounts of alcohol there, I’m sure.”
I chuckle.
“What?” she says.
“It’s nothing. Just, listening to you talk is like listening to your brother. I love it.” I playfully knock my hip into Tate. He bites his lip, marring his widening smile.
