“It came up because you remembered Natalie.”
“Yes,” he said. No reason to lie about it. “I thought I told you that.”
“How long have you held a torch for this girl?”
He plopped his ass on the sectional in the living room. It was more comfortable than pleasing to the eye.
His feet were up on the lounge section, his back leaning on the fluffy cushion, his eyes shut.
It was time to fess up to someone.
The only person he could trust.
“It feels like forever, but that would be a lie. I went about my life for a decade and so did she.”
“Because you were focused and driven. When you get that way, the rest of the world ceases to exist. You work harder than most, you burn out, you make yourself sick, and I get a call that you’re coming home for a few weeks and not to let anyone know you’re here.”
“You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”
“Not if I think you’re going to do it again,” his grandmother said sternly.
“We were nearing the end, and everything felt like it could fall apart. Even though it all worked out, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight. But I knew you’d be the one to pull me back.”
“That’s right. I used to be the only one who could. I’m thinking Natalie is joining that small list. So be honest with me.”
“I was. I’ve thought about Natalie more than I probably should have. What we shared in college felt like something just beginning, but we both had our own lives to live. Our timing wasn’t right. Now it is.”
“Because youmadeit that way. How do you think she’d feel if she knew?”
He wasn’t sure. Didn’t even want to think of it either.
“There’s nothing wrong with giving fate a nudge. That’s all I did. Something crossed my path that reminded me of her and I decided to see if what was then could be now.”
His grandmother sighed. “And is it?”
“You’re getting really personal.”
“Because I can,” his grandmother said. “I liked her a lot. I’m holding back getting to know her more because what is the use if you’re going to move again?”
She could. He’d never tell her no.
“Fine. It is. I’m in love with her, but she’s not ready to hear it.”
“She’s not ready to hear it or you’re not ready to say it?”
“Both. I have to convince her I’m here to stay. Moving into this house is the first step. Once she knew I would do this, she opened the door a crack more.”
“And you shoved it all the way to jump in, didn’t you?”
He laughed. “No. Not really.”
“Yes, really. So are you going to finally admit that when you brought her to the wedding you weren’t really in a relationship?”
There didn’t seem to be a reason to keep up the facade now.
“We’d been on a few dates. I told her I was dreading it. She laughed and said I needed a buddy to stick to my side.”
“And you decided to make up a relationship with her?” The confusion in his grandmother’s voice couldn’t be ignored.
