“Can you believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday? I’m so glad you guys don’t play again. I’m excited to have dinner with everyone.”
Nate grabs my hand as we walk down the sidewalk and it’s the first time we’re doing this. The first time we’re in public and he’s searching for my hand. His fingers grip mine, interlocking our hands. The warmth I feel from his touch moves all the way through my body.
“I’m looking forward to just spending the day with you,” he says, giving my hand a squeeze.
As we’re walking, I notice that we’re just near the corner of Main and Marshall. The lights are on in the building I had wanted to rent and it’s hard not to look into the windows to see what the new owners are doing with it.
“Oh, wow. Whoever bought this did a quick turn around,” I say as Nate stops us in front of the giant window.
“I can’t believe they’re making it a gym. See, I told you it was the perfect spot for it.” I shake my head, turning, but Nate’s hand lands on my stomach, stopping me in place.
“Look at it again,” he says.
I turn my head, looking into the window. “Why? It just upsets me. I mean look, they did exactly what I would do with the mirrors and the weight racks. I love the fridge up at the front too, such a cute touch. There’s even a new desk,” I scoff, shaking my head in annoyance how it’s almost like someone just went into my brain and took every idea I had in addition to taking the building from me.
“Let’s go in,” Nate says. “We have time.”
“Fine. I’d love to meet the new owner. They clearly have great taste.” I storm in ahead of Nate as he opens the door for me. But no one greets us. No one is here working out. There isn’t a single person in this building except for the two of us.
“Great ownership. They leave the door unlocked and the lights on and then just leave. Plus, where’s the sign for this place? What’s it called?”
Nate’s cheeks turn red as he shakes his head at me. His hands reach out to mine, holding them in front of us as we stand next to the front desk here. Soft music plays over the speakers and just another kick in the gut, it’s something I’d play in here too.
Nate’s long sleeves are pulled up just a little, showcasing his forearms as I stare down at our hands together. The way he’s holding my hand gives me a feeling that I can’t explain, but it’s just this sense of awareness, this realization that I don’t want to hold anyone else’s hand. Ever.
“It’s yours,” he says, in a low, smooth voice. My eyes slowly rise to meet his, confusion and shock swirling in my mind.
“Wh–what?” I step back, briefly and he brings his index finger to my chin and holds it in place.
“It’s yours. This building. Everything in it. Yours.”
Heat rises and seeps out of every inch of my skin as I take a full two steps back, completely out of his embrace and just stare at him. There’s no way I just heard him right. This ismine?
“Are you mad? Please don’t be mad.” Nate takes a step forward. His boots shuffle across the new flooring.
"Mad?" I ask through a shaky breath.
I know I told him I didn’t want his help, that I didn't want his charity. I didn’t want to feel like I owed him something, but this has to be one of, if not the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.
“No, God. No, I’m not mad… I just… I didn’t want to feel indebted to you, like I owed you.”
“What? I’d never—” His brows crease in concern, but I take his hand in mine again.
“I know,” I say, reassuring him. “The idea of having a friend buy you a literal building is intimidating, though. I think even you can admit that.” My eyebrows cock up at him.
But Nate shakes his back and forth, his lips turn down before he speaks.
“Maybe for just a friend, but Mia, you’re so much more than that. You always have been.”
My eyes begin to well up with tears as he pulls me into a hug. The lights in the room are dim and the music is changing between alternative rock and 2000’s hip hop, causing me to let out a laugh when the song changes from Foo Fighters to “Hot in Here” by Nelly.
“I can’t believe you did this. Thank you,” I say.
He tilts my chin up to him, planting a soft kiss on my lips. When I look around, everything is as I would’ve wanted it. The new desk is perfect, the paint on the walls, the inspiring quotes on the wall. Even down to the little calendar on the desk that has a quote of the day.
“I had help. A lot of it,” he says as he takes me by the hand down the hall to where the office is and stops us in front of the door.
“The only space I didn’t touch is this. I figured you can spend time here, envision how you want it, where you want things. I wasn’t sure if you were set on a name yet either, so I left that paperwork up front for you to decide. Right now, it’s just under your name. Once you decide, we’ll get a sign made. A really fucking big one. But behind this door is the office and I know you’ll spend the most time in here, so I wanted to make sure you have the final say on what goes in this room. But, can I suggest we get a lock for this door?” He smirks and twists the handle opening up the small room with fresh paint and new floors. The only thing in this room is a Post-it note on the far wall.
