I thought my heart would stop beating right then and there. Nothing could have prepared me for that.
"I have feelings for you."
Whoa.
His words were soft, like he worried that his confession would rattle me. His eyes were on his hands, but Nathan finally met my gaze. He was being genuine with me. There was a clarity and vulnerability in his eyes that I'd never seen on him before, and it sent an electric current through my body.
"I'd really like to have dinner with you tonight so you and I could get to know each other better. I mean… not like Tanner and McKenzie’s friends but like two people. On a date." He straightened his shoulders and waited for my response.
I turned to look at Nathan, resting my head against the tree and scanning his face for any signs that this was a joke. I couldn’t find any. "Really?"
He nodded. I couldn’t fight my grin.
"You want to have dinner with me tonight?"
"Yes," he said. "I want tomakedinner for you tonight." He had a sweet smile on his face as he placed the rest of his burger into the bag on top of mine. "Maybe show off a little." He shrugged.
I was so excited I thought my eyes might have turned into twinkling hearts like a cartoon.
“Wait... we just ate," I said, awkwardly. "I'm hardly ready for dinner."
Ugh, Elizabeth! Why are you sabotaging yourself.
I knew it was my fear talking. I wanted this to be real so badly. I wanted Nathan to ask me out on proper date, but I had to make sure that I wasn’t misunderstanding. That this wasn’t a cruel joke.
"I didn't mean right now, Elizabeth." He raised his eyebrow, amused, picked up his burger and took a bit.
The breeze blowed through his hair gently. He looked so handsome in the golden light of the sunset. "I meant I want to see youtonight. Like a date. A real date. Not a blind date that our friends dragged us on or a tag-along situation. An honest-to-Goddate.”
My nerves threatened to get the better of me, but I fought them back. I wanted this too much to get in my own way.
“I, um… I want to see you, too."
13
Elizabeth
"Hey,Elizabeth. Where are your measuring cups?" Nathan called from the kitchen.
"In the drawer on the left," I replied as I rounded the corner and joined him behind the island.
He was making something that smelled delicious, but wouldn't let me help. I had been busy setting up the table and tidying up some last-minute stuff around the house, so the goings-on in the kitchen were a complete surprise to me. "Can I see what the great Chef Nathan has in store for dinner tonight?"
"Well, I don't know aboutgreat chef' but I do make a mean spaghetti and meatballs," he said, slyly, as he measured out some tomato sauce and poured it into a pot on the stove.
My stomach instantly clenched. Spaghetti.Carbs. I was suddenly back in the halls of our high school in my too tight XXL sweater, trying to keep my head down as I walked past a bunch of the football players who always stared at thebig girl.. I had sworn away carbs as soon as I had graduated, which helped with my weight loss. A weight loss I hoped I could maintain. I’d already had the bun on the burger today. Not to mention the onion ring and fries. That alone was going to cost me a couple extra miles on the treadmill tomorrow.
Nathan didn't seem to notice my discomfort and kept on adding different spices into the pot. "It's my mom's recipe from her days traveling abroad. She spent a semester in Italy when she was in college and picked up a few good recipes while she was there," he said with a wink. "I’m not sure I can replicate it perfectly, but it may be the closest thing to authentic Italian cooking around here." He was in his element in the kitchen. Nathan moved quickly and confidently as he minced garlic, chopped the onion, and added seasoning in without measuring.
"I'm sure it will be great," I said, only half listening. I was still panicked about the pasta. Maybe I could just take a small portion and tell Nathan I’m not hungry. Or maybe, I could eat normally and just double up on the cardio tomorrow. "Is there anything I can do to help? Prep some veggies or a salad or something?”
"Tonight, I’m doing all of the heavy cooking.”
“I know, but… I want to help. Plus, this meal could use something green,” I said.
“Hmm… I guess I could let you prepare the salad." He gestured to the counter, where a package of fresh spinach waited.
"Perfect." I grabbed the spinach and a few toppings and started setting it all up. I wasn't sure how Nathan liked it, so I decided to make it like a salad bar with each of the toppings in its own bowl. I grabbed as many bowls as I could and filled them with cheeses, croutons, chopped tomatoes, and bacon bits.
