Page 43 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“You got a problem with cat guys?” My mouth goes crooked.
“Absolutely not,” she says with a small laugh. “I think it’s kind of cute.”
“Ah. Onlykind ofcute, though.”
“On second thought, I’d say you’re pulling off the cat-guy thing very well.”
“Good to know,” I say. “Good to know.”
I hadn’t intended to flirt with Natalie, but we seem to be balancing on the edge of it. The fact that I don’t want to stop is probably dangerous.
“I think Willa’s getting tired,” I tell her. “We should head back after the next block.”
“Sure.” Natalie nods, but she doesn’t say anything more. I already miss the sound of her laughter. Maybe she doesn’t want this to end either. As we come up to the end of the street, rounding the corner to return to the clinic, there’s a spot where the concrete juts up.
“Careful.” I put a hand at the small of her back to guide her around the crack.
“Thanks.” Her voice is soft. We continue in silence for another half a block. Then she points at the moon rising just above the tree line. “That’s my favorite, you know.”
“The moon? Really?” My mouth quirks. “I didn’t peg you for a moon girl.”
“Not justanymoon,” she says. “The crescent moon.” She pauses for a beat. “Don’t make fun of me, okay?”
“Promise.”
“When I was a kid and grown-ups would talk about a crescent moon, I always pictured Pillsbury dough. Like they were saying the moon was a big roll, fresh from the oven.” She chuckles to herself. “So, that’s why a crescent moon is my favorite. And I can’t believe I just admitted that to you.”
“No, I’m glad you did. I like it.” I glance at her sideways. “And I’ve got one that’s more embarrassing.”
“Worse than a moon made of Pillsbury dough?” She pretends to scoff. “Prove it.”
“I can and I will,” I say. “WhenIwas a kid, my mom used to say the stars were winking on when it got dark. So I thought the sky was full of creatures. With eyes. But not scary ones like monsters. More like… friendly elves. And in my little-kid mind, the elves in the sky slept all day, then woke up at night to watch over us. When theywinked on, I thought everything would be okay. That we were always safe.”
“Wait.” Natalie stops in her tracks, and I stop too. We face one another, and even in the dim light, I can see the twitch of her mouth. “You’re telling me you thought the stars were the eyes of some kind of sky elves?”
“Yes, Iam,in fact, telling you that.”
“Wow.” Her lips make an oval. “That’s really… umm.” She taps her chin. “What’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Incredibly imaginative? Insanely embarrassing? Totally stupid? Weird? Ridiculous?”
“No.” She resumes walking. “I was going to say adorable.”
I fall in step beside her. “Iampretty adorable, aren’t I?”
“You are.” The whole side of her body bumps against mine, and a smile stretches across my face. I think something’s happening here—a connection growing between us. It’s like invisible strings pulling her closer. Like maybe the two of us together isn’t so wrong.
Is it so crazy to imagine Natalie might be feeling something too?
When we’ve almost reached the clinic, she lets out a long sigh. A happy sigh, I hope. I nudge her shoulder. “What?”
“I was thinking whoever you end up with will be one lucky woman.”
And just like that, my lungs deflate.
ChapterSeventeen
NATALIE
