I had a lot of fun with Nathan. I believe that he is present in every memory of my childhood, from the most beautiful to the most painful.
When the Duke of Weister comes to welcome us, it’s as if I’m a little girl again. I’d like to hide behind my father's legs or run away.
"Lucas, welcome."
"Gabriel, thank you. Look who accompanied me tonight!"
"Good evening,” I say with a smile. The duke hasn't changed at all. He always has a serious expression that inspires fear.
To my surprise, he smiles and hugs me. "Our little Izy. Honey, you’re gorgeous."
"Thank you."
"Nathan is back home too. I had to force him. He'll be joining us soon, but let's have a seat in the living room."
Nathan. This is a surprise.
After all, if Nathan is really here, this evening promises to be exciting.
I guess I haven't seen him for 15 years, if not more. Maybe it's just a feeling but it seems so strange to me that he, too, is back in London right now.
Who knows how he has changed? As I remember, he was enlisted after attending the military academy. I don't know if that was his choice or not. When he was a child, he said that he wanted to be an astronaut or a traveler. He had once confessed to me that if he ever met an alien, he would ask it to take his father away. That thought still makes me smile—Nathan selling his father to the aliens. That would be hilarious.
We go into the living room. Even if some furniture has changed, the atmosphere remains the same: cold and aristocratic. Everything is perfect. Nothing is out of place, not even the flowers in the vases. I’m distracted by a photo on the wall: Nathan and I hugging in front of the Christmas tree. If I remember correctly, it was the last Christmas we spent together.
"Sorry I'm late. Good evening. Prime Minister, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"Nathan, call me Lucas. We've known each other for a lifetime."
When I hear his voice, I pivot suddenly. I have the feeling that my heart has stopped. It can't be him. It must have been my imagination.
"Nate?"
"Isabel?"
We both look surprised, speechless.
"Aren't you going to say hello to Izy?" his mother scolds him.
"Yeah, sure. Sorry. It’s just been a lifetime since I’ve seen her."
"That's right. Hello, stranger." I support the game.
"You’re beautiful," he whispers, hugging me, holding me tight for a few more minutes. I know I'm blushing.God, I missed his perfume.
How likely is it that Nate is Nathan? Based on his surprised face at seeing me, I don't think he recognized me either.
I’d like to free myself from his embrace, but it’s as if my body refuses to let him go.
I still can’t believe it. Nathan, my best friend, the only person in the world capable of not making me lose hope that one day everything will be fine, is here. And not only is he here, but he's strong and sexy.
Now I can explain why, on the plane, there was that feeling of being at ease.
"You’ve grown up. You’re even more beautiful than I remembered,” he tells me as he pulls away with a smirk.
"It has been so many years. You've changed a lot, Nathan," I tell him as we go to the terrace. Our parents are talking to each other, so we take the opportunity to sit outside.
"Apparently, the dinner invitation will be sooner than we thought."
