Chapter 808
Out of nowhere…
A sudden knock at the door made me jump, and I sprang up from the couch. Who on earth would come over this late at night? Could it be Melissa, my ride-or-die bestie, ditching her snug little paradise to hang out with me?
I hadn’t mentioned to anyone else that I was back in Hachester, so chances were high it was her. I rushed barefoot to the door and threw it open–only to find a tall figure standing outside. It was Nathan, wearing a sharp black coat, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands. My eyes went wide–I stared at him, totally stunned. “Wait… why are you here?”
Nathan looked a little sheepish, clearly feeling he might be intruding. He dropped his gaze, a bit embarrassed. “Ms. Jenkins told me you were back in Hachester and feeling… alone, maybe wanting someone to keep you company.”
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but think Melissa was being way too much about it. I did mention to her I was bored by myself and wanted someone to hang out with, but I meant her, not for her to send Nathan over unannounced. She really did her own thing this time.
“Uh…” I fumbled for words, awkwardly dragging my fingers through my messy, bedhead hair. “It’s really late—what brings you here at this hour?”
Nathan offered a gentle smile. “I just got off work and thought I’d drop by. Hope I’m not bothering you or anything.”
Catching the genuine look in his eyes, I couldn’t help but smile back, feeling unexpectedly lighter. “Not at all. Come on in—let me fix you some coffee.” Like I could just turn him away—even if I wanted to. I was a board member at his company, and he was one of our MVPs. No way I could get away with showing him the door.
Nathan walked in, and I grabbed him a pair of slippers. Once he put them on, he held out the bouquet, a little awkward. “Picked these up on my way here.”
I couldn’t help blurting out, “How did you even find a florist open this late?”
Nathan gave me a sheepish grin. “Slipped the owner a bit of extra cash and, voilà–he opened up.”
I froze mid-pour, then burst out laughing. “Seriously, Nathan, you’re just too honest for your own good. You can’t even make up a little story!”
Nathan let out a helpless little sigh. “I know you don’t like being lied to, so I figured it’s just better to be honest with you.”
Something twisted in my chest. I turned to face him, trying to play it off. “Guess you really do get me.”
“Yeah, I always thought I did,” Nathan replied, sounding calmer and more collected than he used to. There was a steady confidence about him now–he was honestly getting a lot better at keeping up with me in conversation, too.
I settled onto the couch with my cup of coffee, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Alright, then–tell me, what do you think you know about me?”
Nathan sat down with his own coffee and said, “Going through an unhappy marriage has made you want to break free and live a little, but you’re not someone who throws caution to the wind. You hold back and wrestle with it, always searching for the sense of security you think you need…”
I immediately raised my hand to stop him, feeling my cheeks get warm. “Okay, okay, don’t go any further–you’re making me blush.”
Nathan didn’t say another word, just looked at me with eyes so deep they were impossible to read.
“Maybe I’m just too insecure inside, so my relationships were never going to work out. Guess that’s just karma,” I muttered, my hand propping up my flushed face.
“Life isn’t really about right or wrong, and there’s no real finish line either. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Nathan said softly, trying to comfort me.
I chuckled self-mockingly. “Thanks for understanding.”
Silence settled over us for a while, just the sound of coffee quietly being sipped filling the room.
Nathan glanced back up at me, his eyes searching. “So… have you figured out what you want to do next?”
I smiled, reached into my bag, and handed him a business card. “Nathan, I’ve started my own company. Come over and check it out when you get a chance.”
Nathan’s eyes went wide with surprise, staring at me like he couldn’t believe it. “Wow, in just half a year, you’ve already got your own company.”
“Yeah, I just wanted to make some money,” I said with a grin. “If I stay busy, I don’t have time to stress about stuff.”
Nathan nodded. “That’s a really good decision.”
I glanced at the clock. “It’s getting late. Maybe you should head home and get some rest.”
Nathan looked at his half-finished cup of coffee and set it down gently. “Alright, I’ll head out now. You get some rest.”
I walked Nathan to the door. He paused, emotion burning behind his eyes, and spoke hesitantly, “Hey… would you let me take you out to lunch tomorrow?”