Page 7 of Before I Tell You

Without a word, she takes the napkin from my hand, then I turn and walk to my car.

When I reach it, I look back to watch her. She’s still standing on the sidewalk, staring down at the napkin in confusion, until she finally unfolds it and sees my number scribbled inside.

Three

NATALIE

DID NATHAN THOMAS JUST give me his number?

I stare at the writing on the folded napkin and feel my cheeks flush, though I’m trying to get my heartbeat back to a normal pace. I look up to see Nathan slide into his car and then drive away, heading toward campus.

When I was sitting in the coffee shop readingPersuasion, my mind was miles away — overseas in the early 1800s — engulfed in a romance. That was until my thoughts were interrupted by that familiar masculine voice saying my name. The same voice that used to turn my stomach into an oasis of butterflies.

But as I looked up from my book, I instantly felt my stomach drop. No, not drop. More like plummet.

Why did it have to be him? I think, letting out a rather considerable sigh.

In middle school, I spent many hours doodling his name throughout my journals. It started with just his name, Nathan Thomas. Then it became both our names. Nathan and Natalie. And eventually, it became a combined name. Natalie Thomas.

Natalie Thomas.

I was pretty certain Natalie Thomas had a nice ring to it.

His friends always called him Nate, but I referred to him by his full name, Nathan. I don’t know why, but it made me feel closer to him. Like we shared some kind of private secret.

And in high school, I spent my summers by Vanessa’s pool wearing the most revealing bikinis to catch his attention. But no matter what I did, he never seemed to notice me as more than probably just Vanessa’s annoying friend.

When he went off to college, I figured he forgot about me and moved on with his life outside of Greenwich, so that’s what I planned on doing too. I forgot about him. Or at least I tried to.

I hadn’t even seen him since his—

But I cut off my train of thought with a shake of my head. I can’t think aboutthatnight right now. Not when I am in public surrounded by strangers. Not now. And not here.

My eyes are beginning to brim with tears, and my throat tightens and burns as I try to hold in every emotion as hard as I possibly can. I start feeling lightheaded, which is making me panic. I notice an empty bench a few feet away and immediately walk over to it.

Thankfully, the instant I sit down, the dizzy feeling subsides.

Breathe, Natalie.

I take some deep inhales and exhales and appreciate the gentle wind that is now pushing my hair behind my shoulders. But as I close my eyes, all I can see is Nathan’s face.

Just ten minutes ago, he was standing right in front of me with his gorgeous smile. The one that makes my heart instantly flutter.

And then, only two minutes ago, he rescued me from the complete humiliation of falling face-first in front of him. He moved quicker than I had ever seen anyone move, just so he could catch me.

Catch me and hold me in his arms.

His strong arms.

His arms that held me tight against his chest, making sure I was safe.

There might have been cars driving by and people talking loudly on their phones and whatever else around us, but the only thing I heard at that moment was both of our heartbeats pounding faster and faster. Matching each other’s rhythm.

And when he looked down at me with his incredibly dark eyes, I swear I could feel something building between us.

Something I had never felt before.

Nathan had changed over the past year, as evident from his athletic figure. The blue pullover hugged the contours of his toned body without being too tight, and his jeans hung on him just right.

---