Page 52 of Waiting Forever
“I am, but the appetizer will fill me up and the grilled chicken Caesar salad looks amazing.” I nod at a nearby tablewhere a woman has a huge salad in front of her. The grilled chicken is thick and sliced into strips.
Nathan glances over his shoulder. “Yeah. That looks awesome.”
“Besides,” I add, “if I want steak, I can always have a bite of yours.”
“You think so, huh?” He grins.
“I know so.”
“And if I want some of your appetizer...?”
He knows the answer to that question. I don’t share my food. It’s silly, but ever since I was a child, my dad would sneak a huge bite of my food, usually teasing me by eating the last bit of my favorite side dish—hash browns, French fries, cheesy queso corn dip, or Buffalo cauliflower. I grew to be protective of my food.
The only reason why I offered him some pancakes last Monday at the Sugarloaf is because I was stuffed. The order was huge. I never could have finished it all. But it was so fun to watch Nathan squirm in his seat as I devoured the most amazing pancakes ever.
I had zero intention of turning him on. My taste buds were truly in heaven.
Nathan’s reaction was an added bonus.Leave it to Azure to be right, like always.
He said Nathan wouldn’t need much encouragement to become jealous. So far, the plan is working, and I’m not even trying. Azure and I have our “date” set for next Friday. I haven’t mentioned it to Nathan yet. If he makes a move before then, I won’t have to.
The waitress brings my appetizer and I dig in. The grilled artichoke is soft and delicious, but it’s a mess to eat. I’m licking my fingers and wiping my hands on my napkin every few seconds.
Nathan’s gaze is glued to my lips whenever I suck aioli sauce from my fingertip.
We talk, eat, and laugh until the sun starts to set. I don’t even know how much time has passed, and I don’t care. In a way, this feels like a date, except I know it isn’t.
After the bill is paid, Nathan and I stroll across the lawn to the dock. Twinkling lights hang from the top of the gazebo. It reminds me a little of the covered dock at Nathan’s house.
We stop near the railing and stare out over the lake. Orange and purple streak the sky as the sun slips behind the trees across the way.
I take my sweater from my waist and slide it on, chilled by the cooler night breeze.
“Cold?” Nathan moves to stand behind me, caging me between his body and the railing. He rests his hands on the banister on either side of me, his closeness warming me in more ways than one.
I fight the urge to rest my head against his chest. What if he moves away? We’re snuggled like a couple.
“Did you have a nice time tonight?” he asks.
“Yes. The best time. I love this place.” I love it because of him. “Did you?”
He draws in a deep, weighty sounding breath.
Why? What does it mean? What is he thinking?
Finally, he says, “Yes,” but his tone is troubled, maybe even sad.
Is he thinking about Harper, wishing he was here with her instead? As far as I know they haven’t spoken in a while, and she hasn’t been around. I don’t know if they’re broken up. I want to ask him about it, but I’m too afraid of the answer.
The once romantic moment feels different, as if something in Nathan has shifted and he’s drifting away from me, even though his body is as close as it was a moment ago.
“Are you okay?” I tilt my head to the side but not enough to make eye contact with him.
“Yeah. Just tired.”
I don’t think that’s it. “We can go.”
“Are you sure?” His response says it all. He’s staying because of me, not because hewantsto be here with me.Guess I’ll be keeping my date with Azure, after all. If it will even matter. This afternoon with Nathan was amazing. It was like the old us but a newer, better version. If that isn’t enough to get him to want me or make a move, I fear nothing will.
