Page 82 of I Replaced His Husband
"Look, if asking him about the layout would make things weird for you, forget it. I can find another designer."
Still feeling a bit dizzy, I typed back,
"Nah, it’s fine. I’ll ask."
Then Nathaniel added,
"Is this serious?"
Why not just say it out loud? Maybe if I did, it would feel less serious. Maybe I could laugh it off, pretend it didn’t matter, at least until it actually did.
"Hard to tell. It’s still new. I’m just… drawn to him. But yeah, it’s one-sided."
"He’s recently widowed, so of course he’s reserved. Maybe you just need to show him you’re willing to be patient. Don’t rush it, and don’t take it personally if he seems distant. He has a right to mourn."
"I know. But… today I actually thought we had a breakthrough. We had a solid talk. Yet later, something he said just… set everything back. I don’t know what to think anymore."
There was a short pause before Nate replied,
"That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a breakthrough, Rain. Maybe it just freaked him out a little. Maybe it hit him harder than he expected."
"Maybe."
"Speaking as someone who’s been shot down more times than I can count, try to stay chill. Don’t let your emotions run the show. Just let things play out. If you think there was something there, don’t give up on it just yet. I’d bet anything he’s stewing over this just as much as you are. And maybe he’ll come around."
Could he actually be right?
After a moment, I replied,
"Instead of being a programmer, you should’ve become a therapist, Nate."
"That’s just life experience talking, so don’t mock me," he wrote, tossing in an offended-face emoji.
"I’m not. That really helped." And I meant it. His message had sparked something, a shift, a tiny sense of peace creeping in.
"Just stay focused. Be there for him. And don’t let your brain spiral into overthinking."
"Yeah, I tend to do that a lot."
"Then stop. Just… don’t. Keep your cool. Promise?"
"Promise. Thanks, Nate."
"Gotta go. I’m packing for a few days on Veyron’s yacht. He’s been inviting me forever, and I finally caved."
"Of course, you’ve been working your ass off the last couple of years. You totally deserve to kick back on a luxury yacht. I heard it’s amazing. Veyron’s lucky his uncle picked him to inherit it."
"Yeah… but his brothers are seriously pissed. Apparently, they’re not even talking to him. Pretty much cut off by his own family."
"Well, if you’re gonna be isolated, might as well be isolated on a sleek yacht."
Nate threw in a few laughing emojis.
Letting out a deep breath, I stretched and turned back to my code.
My mind was finally starting to settle down, and I could focus without getting sucked into an emotional black hole that I had no control over.
But then I heard soft footsteps in the hallway, and I instinctively looked up. A slim silhouette stood in my doorway. Blinking, I stared at Kay like I was seeing a ghost. I never thought he’d come to my room.
